HEC Forum

Scope & Guideline

Transforming Health Policy through Rigorous Research

Introduction

Welcome to the HEC Forum information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of HEC Forum, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0956-2737
PublisherSPRINGER
Support Open AccessNo
CountryNetherlands
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1989 to 2024
AbbreviationHEC FORUM / HEC Forum
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressVAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS

Aims and Scopes

The HEC Forum focuses on exploring the complex interplay between ethics and healthcare practices, emphasizing the importance of moral reasoning in clinical decision-making and policy formation. It serves as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and ethical analysis, addressing contemporary issues in health and medicine.
  1. Clinical Ethics Consultation:
    The journal emphasizes the role and practice of clinical ethics consultations, exploring methodologies and frameworks for addressing ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals.
  2. Moral Distress and Ethical Decision-Making:
    A significant focus is placed on understanding moral distress among healthcare providers and patients, investigating its implications for ethical decision-making and healthcare delivery.
  3. Healthcare Policy and Ethics:
    The HEC Forum examines the ethical dimensions of healthcare policies, particularly in the context of emerging practices such as medical assistance in dying and the impact of public health crises on ethical standards.
  4. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Ethics:
    The journal advocates for interdisciplinary perspectives in ethical discussions, encouraging contributions from various fields such as law, sociology, and religious studies to enrich the discourse on healthcare ethics.
  5. Cultural and Social Considerations in Ethics:
    The exploration of cultural, social, and religious influences on ethical practices in healthcare is a core area, providing insights into how diverse perspectives shape ethical decision-making.
The HEC Forum has identified several emerging themes in healthcare ethics that reflect current societal challenges and advancements in medical practice. These trending scopes highlight the journal's responsiveness to contemporary ethical issues.
  1. Ethics in Emerging Medical Technologies:
    There is a growing focus on the ethical implications of new medical technologies, such as CRISPR and telemedicine, as the journal seeks to address the moral questions these innovations raise.
  2. Support for Moral Distress:
    An increasing number of publications are dedicated to strategies for mitigating moral distress among healthcare providers, indicating a recognition of the psychological impacts of ethical dilemmas in clinical settings.
  3. Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Ethics:
    The journal is placing greater emphasis on the intersection of race, gender, and social justice within healthcare ethics, reflecting broader societal movements towards equity and inclusion.
  4. Global Health Ethics:
    Emerging themes also include a focus on global health ethics, particularly in relation to pandemics and international health policies, underscoring the interconnectedness of ethical issues across borders.
  5. Patient Autonomy and Cultural Sensitivity:
    Recent publications highlight the importance of respecting patient autonomy while being sensitive to cultural differences, suggesting a trend towards personalized and culturally informed ethical practices.

Declining or Waning

While the HEC Forum continues to address a range of ethical issues in healthcare, certain themes have shown signs of declining prominence in recent publications. These waning scopes may reflect shifts in the journal's focus or changing priorities in the field of healthcare ethics.
  1. Conscientious Objection:
    The theme of conscientious objection in healthcare, while still relevant, has been less frequently addressed in recent publications, possibly due to a shift towards more pressing ethical dilemmas arising from contemporary health crises.
  2. Pharmaceutical Ethics:
    Discussions specifically centered around pharmaceutical ethics, such as debates on drug access and regulation, appear to be diminishing as the journal pivots towards broader ethical concerns in healthcare delivery.
  3. Historical Perspectives on Medical Ethics:
    Papers examining historical contexts of medical ethics have become less common, suggesting a move towards addressing more immediate and contemporary ethical challenges in healthcare practice.

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