Instruction For Reviewers
Overview
As a reviewer, you play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of research and upholding the high standards of our journal. Your expertise and insight into the manuscripts you review, particularly regarding their quality, originality, and significance, are highly valued.
The feedback you provide is essential to the editorial process. Your comments will significantly impact the Editors’ decision on the manuscript and offer valuable guidance to the authors. While your review will remain anonymous, you have the option to reveal your identity.
Reviewer Guidelines
Conflict Of Interest
If you are invited to review a manuscript and believe you may have a potential conflict of interest, please contact the Editor. Where a conflict is certain, you should decline the invitation. Conflicts of interest may be academic, professional, financial, or personal. If you are uncertain, we encourage you to seek guidance from the Editor.
Confidentiality
Please ensure confidentiality throughout and after the review process. Do not disclose any information about the manuscript, its content, or your review to any individual or organization. Additionally, reviewers are instructed not to submit confidential manuscripts, abstracts, or other text into chatbots, language models, or similar tools.
General Considerations For Preparing Author Feedback
Be specific and clear in your feedback. Provide detailed recommendations, including full citations for any referenced papers and precise descriptions of any suggested analyses or simulations. If you find any disorganization in the paper, offer specific suggestions for reorganization. Clearly state the problems you have identified and explain what you want the authors to do and why.
Be concise in your review. Emphasize the major strengths and weaknesses of the paper to aid the editor’s decision-making. Avoid excessive detailed edits. If the paper requires substantial proofreading or editing for language, mention this and provide specific examples. Aim to keep your comments to one or two single-spaced pages, with fewer than 1,000 words.
Use the third person in your comments, addressing them primarily to the editor, even though they will be shared with the authors. This approach helps maintain a respectful tone and ensures your feedback is focused on aiding the editor’s decision and improving the paper. Avoid using the second person, as it can come across as harsh or overly assertive. Be clear, specific, and respectful, and focus on helping both the editor and the authors.
Criteria For Evaluating Manuscripts
Significance
Is the research question or problem important? Does the paper clearly state its aims and/or hypotheses?
Originality
Is the article novel and engaging? Does it contribute new knowledge or insights?
Title and Abstract
Do they accurately reflect the content of the article and clearly describe its purpose?
Approach/Methods
Are the methods appropriate for the research question or aim? Are procedures and instruments described in detail? Is the data collection process explained? Was the sampling method appropriate? Are validity, reliability, trustworthiness, or rigor addressed?
Discussion/Conclusion
Do the authors relate the results to expectations and previous research? Does the paper support or challenge existing theories? Does the conclusion explain how the research advances scientific knowledge? Are strengths and weaknesses described, and is the conclusion supported by the results?
Analysis
Are the statistical analyses suitable and are the assumptions (e.g., independence, normality, linearity) met? Is the sample size adequate for the statistical tests? For qualitative research, is the data analysis method described?
Context
Is there a relevant discussion of the study’s aims, methods, and findings in relation to existing literature? Are strengths and limitations adequately discussed?
Results
Are the results presented clearly and accurately, with sufficient detail? Are tables and figures appropriately described and used in moderation?
Presentation
Is the paper well-organized? Is the use of English appropriate?
Assessment Of Supplementary Material
If the submission includes supplemental materials, you should assess them with the same level of rigor as the main manuscript. Provide feedback to the authors and/or editors if:
Any supplemental materials are essential for understanding the main article and should be incorporated into the main manuscript.
Reviewer Recommendations and Decision
In addition to providing written comments to the authors and editors, you will need to answer several questions on the review form available on the website. You will be asked to choose one of the following recommendations for the manuscript:
Accept
The manuscript is suitable for publication as it is or requires only minor revisions or clarifications.
Revision
The manuscript may be accepted once the authors address necessary revisions, which should not involve major changes to data analysis, presentation, or organization. If substantial changes are needed, or if the manuscript’s novelty and importance are unlikely to improve, the recommendation should be rejected
Reject
The manuscript does not meet the required quality, novelty, or importance for publication.
Re-Evaluation Of Revised Manuscripts
We frequently request that original reviewers evaluate revised manuscripts and assess how authors have addressed reviewer comments. We appreciate your availability for re-review and any questions from the editors.
Editing Reviewer Reports
The editors will not alter reviewer comments intended for authors, except with prior approval from the reviewer before the decision letter is sent. Changes may be requested if the language is deemed unprofessional or if the comments include confidential information, such as declarations of competing interests.
Becoming A Peer Reviewer
If you are interested in joining our team as a peer reviewer, please email us at.
We welcome qualified individuals who are committed to maintaining high standards in medical research and are eager to contribute to the advancement of medical science.