Last Updated: December 12, 2024
SECTION 1: SUBMISSION PROCESS
1. Initial Submission
□ Requirements:
- Complete manuscript file
- Cover letter
- Author statements
- Ethical approvals
- Reporting guidelines checklist
- Suggested reviewers (3-5)
- Conflict of interest declarations
2. Technical Check
□ Editorial office verifies:
- File format compliance
- Word count
- Reference style
- Figure quality
- Required statements
- Plagiarism check
- Author guidelines compliance
SECTION 2: EDITORIAL SCREENING
1. Editor-in-Chief Review
□ Assessment of:
- Scientific merit
- Scope alignment
- Novelty
- Clinical relevance
- Ethical compliance
2. Initial Decision
□ Options:
- Send for peer review
- Reject without review
- Request revisions before review
- Transfer to sister journal
SECTION 3: PEER REVIEW PROCESS
1. Reviewer Selection
□ Criteria:
- Expertise in subject area
- Publication history
- Review quality history
- Availability
- No conflicts of interest
2. Review Timeline
□ Standard deadlines:
- Reviewer invitation response: 7 days
- Review completion: 21 days
- Author revision: 30 days
- Revised manuscript review: 14 days
3. Review Guidelines
□ Reviewers assess:
- Scientific validity
- Methodology
- Statistical analysis
- Result interpretation
- Literature coverage
- Presentation quality
SECTION 4: DECISION MAKING
1. Editorial Decision
□ Types:
- Accept
- Minor revision
- Major revision
- Reject and resubmit
- Reject
2. Decision Communication
□ Requirements:
- Clear decision rationale
- Reviewer comments
- Revision instructions
- Timeline for response
SECTION 5: REVISION PROCESS
1. Author Guidelines
□ Requirements:
- Point-by-point response
- Track changes in manuscript
- Supporting documentation
- Cover letter explaining changes
2. Quality Control
□ Check for:
- Complete response to reviews
- Updated manuscript sections
- New analyses if required
- Updated figures/tables
SECTION 6: PRODUCTION PROCESS
1. Acceptance
□ Steps:
- Final technical check
- Copyright transfer
- Article processing charge
- Language editing
2. Proof Stage
□ Requirements:
- Author proof review
- Figure quality check
- Reference verification
- Layout approval
SECTION 7: PUBLICATION
1. Online First
□ Process:
- DOI assignment
- XML conversion
- Online posting
- Citation activation
2. Issue Assignment
□ Considerations:
- Subject grouping
- Publication priority
- Special issue inclusion
SECTION 8: POST-PUBLICATION
1. Corrections
□ Handling:
- Errata
- Corrigenda
- Retractions
- Expressions of concern
2. Monitoring
□ Track:
- Citations
- Downloads
- Social media metrics
- Reader feedback
APPENDIX A: TIMELINE OVERVIEW
1. Initial Processing
□ Target times:
- Technical check: 2-3 days
- Editorial screening: 5-7 days
- Reviewer assignment: 7-14 days
2. Review Process
□ Expected duration:
- First review: 3-4 weeks
- Revision: 4-6 weeks
- Final decision: 2-3 weeks
3. Production
□ Timeline:
- Copy editing: 1-2 weeks
- Proof preparation: 1 week
- Author review: 1 week
- Online publication: 1-2 weeks
Note: This process aligns with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines,
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations,
and best practices in scientific publishing.