Peer Review Process
Introduction to Peer Review
What is Peer Review?
Peer review is a critical evaluation system used to assess the quality, originality, validity, and significance of a manuscript before publication. Independent researchers within the relevant field evaluate submitted manuscripts to help the editorial team determine whether the article should be published in the journal.
Why is it Peer-Reviewed?
Peer review is an integral part of scientific publication that confirms the validity of the manuscript. Reviewers are volunteer experts who dedicate their time to help improve the research. Through this process, a manuscript becomes:
- Stronger: Reviewers identify gaps in the paper that require further explanation or additional data.
- Easier to Read: Reviewers suggest changes for sections that are difficult to understand.
- More Useful: Reviewers assess the importance and relevance of the paper to others in the health information field.
The Peer Review Workflow
1. Article Submission & 1st Submission Round
When an article is submitted, the editorial team conducts an initial assessment to determine if it meets the basic criteria and formatting guidelines.
Outcome: The manuscript is either Accepted for the 2nd Round or Rejected.
2. Double-Blind Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass the first round are assigned to at least 1 or 2 independent reviewers. We use a Double-Blind Review system, meaning the identities of both the authors and the reviewers remain strictly confidential.
Outcome: Based on reviewer recommendations, the manuscript proceeds to revision or is Rejected.
3. Final Revision
The authors receive the reviewers' feedback and are given the opportunity to make necessary corrections and improvements to their manuscript. The revised manuscript is then submitted for final editorial checking.
4. Acceptance & Online Publication
Once the final revisions are approved and all quality standards are met, the manuscript is officially Accepted for Publication. It is then copyedited, formatted, and Published Online.
