What does compliance refer to in medical publications?

Compliance in the context of medical publications primarily pertains to conformity with official regulations and guidelines. This includes adhering to ethical standards, legal requirements, and specific policies that govern the publication of medical research. Regulatory bodies, such as the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other institutional guidelines set forth various protocols that must be followed to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in medical publishing.

Adherence to these guidelines helps safeguard the credibility of the research process, ensures the protection of human subjects, maintains publication ethics, and addresses issues such as conflict of interest and authorship criteria. By ensuring compliance with these established standards, researchers and authors can contribute to the scientific community's trust and the overall advancement of medical knowledge.