Financial Management and Sustainability Policy

The Critical Patient Journal (RDC) is managed in accordance with the principles of transparency, responsibility, rigor, sustainability and editorial independence, ensuring the continuity of the scientific project without compromising the quality, impartiality or credibility of the editorial process.

The financial management of the Journal aims to ensure the efficient and responsible use of available resources, promoting the sustainability of the editorial project in accordance with the mission and objectives of the Portuguese Society of Critical Care Nursing (SPEDC).

 

⮚      Funding Model

The financial sustainability of the Critical Patient Journal (RDC) may result from different sources of funding, namely:

●        Institutional support from the Portuguese Society of Critical Care Nursing (SPEDC);

●        Revenues from Article Processing Charges (APC), where applicable;

●        Support or sponsorship granted by public or private entities;

●        Funding obtained through scientific, academic or institutional projects;

●        Other sources of funding that are legally admissible and compatible with the mission of the Journal.

All sources of funding from the RDC are managed in a transparent manner and, where relevant, disclosed to readers and other stakeholders.

Whenever Article Processing Charges (APC) are applicable, the Journal will make available, in a clear, public and easily accessible manner, information regarding the respective values, application criteria, conditions for exemption or reduction and other applicable rules. This information is published in the Instructions for Authors and may be reviewed periodically, and any changes will be disclosed before they come into force.

The existence of funding, sponsorship or the payment of editorial processing fees does not confer any advantage in the editorial process nor does it influence, directly or indirectly, the selection, peer review, acceptance, rejection or publication of manuscripts. All editorial decisions are made exclusively based on scientific merit, methodological quality, originality, relevance and adequacy of the works to the scope and objectives of the Journal.

 

⮚      Budget Management

The budget management of the RDC is part of the annual budget of the Portuguese Society of Critical Care Nursing.

It is incumbent upon the Journal's Board, in conjunction with the SPEDC Board:

●        Plan the resources necessary for the operation of the Journal;

●        Ensure the efficient, transparent and sustainable management of available resources;

●        Promote the financial sustainability of the editorial project;

●        Monitor the revenues and expenses associated with the editorial activity;

●        To ensure the correct application of financial resources in the pursuit of the Journal's mission.

The following are expenses of the RDC, among others that are necessary for its operation:

●        Editorial production and management;

●        Technical, scientific and linguistic review;

●        Pagination, graphic design and editorial production;

●        Assignment and maintenance of persistent identifiers (doi) and other indexing services;

●        Digital preservation;

●        Maintenance, development and security of the editorial platform;

●        Training and development of the editorial team;

●        Travel and representation expenses related to the journal's institutional activities;

●        Other expenditure duly authorised and related to the pursuit of the objectives of the RDC.

The use of financial resources obeys the principles of legality, transparency, responsibility, good management and accountability.

 

⮚      Sponsorships, Advertising, and Sponsored Supplements

The RDC may accept institutional support, sponsorship or external funding compatible with its scientific mission, as long as they do not compromise the editorial independence, scientific integrity, credibility of the Journal or the trust of its readers.

The acceptance of this support is governed by the following principles:

●        Transparency;

●        Editorial independence;

●        Prevention and proper management of conflicts of interest;

●        No influence on the editorial process or on the scientific content published.

Sponsors or funding entities may not interfere:

●        In the selection of manuscripts;

●        In the choice of reviewers;

●        In the peer review process;

●        In editorial decisions;

●        In published scientific content;

●        In the preparation of the opinions issued by the reviewers or editors.

Any sponsored content or scientific supplements funded by external entities must be clearly identified, distinguishing itself unequivocally from the other editorial and scientific content of the Journal, remaining subject to the same criteria of scientific evaluation, peer review and editorial decision.

The RDC does not accept commercial advertising that may compromise, or appear to compromise, its editorial independence, namely advertising related to prescription medicines, medical devices, clinical products or other entities whose promotional content may interfere with the scientific credibility of the Journal.

 

⮚      Commitment to Transparency and Editorial Independence

This policy is articulated with the Editorial Independence Policy and the Conflicts of Interest Policy of the RDC, ensuring that all editorial decisions remain free from financial, commercial, institutional or political influences.

The RDC reaffirms its commitment to ethical, transparent and sustainable financial management, ensuring that all funding mechanisms exist exclusively to ensure the continuity and development of the Journal, never conditioning the scientific quality, impartiality or independence of the editorial process.