Manuscripts describing research involving animals
For any submissions of original research involving animals, authors must have sought consent from owners for their animals to participate in the research study. Manuscripts describing research involving animals:
Manuscripts describing research involving people
For any submissions of original research involving human participants, such as veterinary staff or clients, authors are required to obtain informed consent from study participants and follow the ICMJE requirements on privacy..
Ethics approval should be sought from a recognised ethics review panel such as from the University or RCVS, and to provide documentation when requested by Veterinary Evidence.
Authors must include a statement to confirm that any participant in research of any kind has given informed consent to participate in the research. If an individual can be potentially identified, authors must include a statement to confirm that they have obtained written informed consent to publish the details relating to that individual. For participants who are not adults or who are unable to give informed consent, their parent or guardian must give consent. For participants who are deceased, their next of kin must give consent.
Personal data must be handled to prevent identification of individuals (e.g. by avoiding specific gender or location details that could reveal identity). In epidemiological studies, identifiers like postcode should be limited (e.g. only the first half). If there is a risk of identification, such as in single-practice studies, signed consent for publication is required. For further information, see the RCVS Ethics Review Panel (ERP) Guidance on Informed Consent for Clinical Veterinary Research.
The process of obtaining consent to publish includes sharing the article with the individual (or whoever is consenting on their behalf), so that they are fully aware of the content of the article before it is published.
Authors must keep a copy of any completed and signed informed consent forms and be able to share the forms with the Veterinary Evidence editorial office if requested.
Example statements
Consent to participate
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Informed consent was obtained by the/parent/guardian/next of kin.
Consent to publish
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants/the/parent/guardian/next of kin for submission to the Veterinary Evidence journal.