For Reviewers

Journal of Global Medicine is always seeking qualified, dedicated reviewers to assist with the manuscript review process. Below you'll find information about becoming a reviewer and our guidelines. As a reviewer you will be asked to read and critique articles that are submitted to Journal of Global Medicine for publication. 

Why become a Reviewer?

• Play an integral part in ensuring the high standards of the journal are met
• Provide insight for our authors and help them strengthen their work
• Stay on top of the most up-to-date research
• Gain valuable experience in scientific publishing

How do I become a Reviewer for Journal of Global Medicine?

To become a reviewer for Journal of Global Medicine, you must register and create an account online with our manuscript submission and peer review system. If you already have an account, you must update your profile to register as a reviewer: Login to the site, click View Profile (top right), click Roles, select "Reviewer". Remember to also add your reviewing interests in the field below.

We recommend that all reviewers update their profile frequently to ensure the system is up to date with their contact information and reviewing interests.

To update your contact details: Login to the site, click View Profile (top right) and then Contact to update your contact details.

Keeping your reviewing interests up to date will ensure that you are being matched to manuscripts based on your expertise, and also improve your chances of being invited to review a manuscript.

To update your reviewing interests: Login to the site, click View Profile (top right), click Roles, add your Reviewing Interests in the designated field.

Reviewer Guidelines

Journal of Global Medicine and its editors, authors, and readers appreciate your willingness to review this manuscript and your dedication. We hope that these Guidelines will help make your job easier.

PEER REVIEW STEPS

Our online peer review is a four step process:

• Step 1 - Notify the submission's editor as to whether you will undertake the review (link provided in review request email).
• Step 2 - If you accept to do the review, consult the Reviewer Guidelines.
• Step 3 - Download the files associated with the submission and use the onine Review Form to submit your comments. You may also upload separate documents (optional) for the editor and/or author to consult. Register your recommendation (see options below) and click Submit Review.
• Step 4 - Confirmation page which lets you know that the review has been successfully submitted. The editor will be automatically notified so there is no need to alert the editor. Should you still want to communicate with the editor, use the Review Discussions field in Step 4.

INVITATION TO REVIEW

Authors submit their manuscripts electronically via Open Journal Systems (OJS) to Journal of Global Medicine. Each manuscript is reviewed by the Editor or Managing Editor for relevancy to Journal of Global Medicine and the section to which it was submitted. If retained, the manuscript is assigned to an editor, who in turn chooses one or more editorial board members or reviewers to review it. A Reviewer will receive an email requesting them to complete a review.  

Upon receipt of the request to review, you should immediately:

• Read the editor's transmittal e-mail, which includes the article abstract, to determine whether the subject is within your area of expertise and whether you can complete the review in the stated time period.
• Visit the SUBMISSION URL provided in the Review Request email and accept or decline the invitation to review (Step 1 of the Review Process).

If you decline the request to review:

• Indicate why you are declining.
• If possible, please suggest a colleague who may be able to review the manuscript. If appropriate, the editor will send an invitation to review to that individual. You may not “transfer” your invitation to review the manuscript to a colleague.

If you accept the request to review:

• Immediately double-check the manuscript to determine whether there is any conflict of interest for you.
• If you have either a time problem or a conflict of interest, contact the assigning editor for instructions. The editor may extend your deadline or cancel the review assignment as appropriate.

 

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Reviewers should only agree to review manuscripts for which they have the subject expertise required to carry out a proper assessment and which they can assess in a timely manner.

Reviewers must disclose to editors any conflicts of interest that could bias their opinions of the manuscript, and should recuse themselves from reviewing the manuscript if the potential for bias exists.  As stated by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), reviewers should “declare any potentially conflicting or competing interests (which may, for example, be personal, financial, intellectual, professional, political or religious), seeking advice from the journal if they are unsure whether something constitutes a relevant interest.”

The manuscript provided to you for review is a privileged document. Please protect it from any form of exploitation. Do not cite a manuscript or refer to the work it describes before it has been published and do not use the information that it contains for the advancement of your own research or in discussions with colleagues.

COMPLETING YOUR REVIEW (STEP 3)

Overall Comments about the Review

For all other articles you will be asked to enter your review in two open text boxes, the first "for author and editor," and the second "for editor”.  

In your overall comments about the article intended for the author, do not make statements about the acceptability of a paper; suggested revisions should be stated as such and not expressed as conditions of acceptance. Adopt a positive, impartial, but critical attitude toward the manuscript under review, with the aim of promoting effective, accurate, and relevant scientific communication. Organize your review so that an introductory paragraph summarizes the major findings of the article, gives your overall impression of the paper, and highlights the major shortcomings. This paragraph should be followed by specific, numbered comments, which, if appropriate, may be subdivided into major and minor points. (The numbering facilitates both the editor's letter to the author and evaluation of the author's rebuttal.). Criticism should be presented dispassionately; offensive remarks are not acceptable. Confidential remarks directed to the editor should be entered in the box labelled “For the Editor.”

Please consider the following aspects when reviewing a manuscript where applicable.

• Significance to the Global Medicine field
• Originality
• Appropriateness of the approach or evaluation/assessment
• Appropriateness of the statistical analyses
• Adherence to correct scientific nomenclature
• Appropriate literature citations
• Adequacy of experimental techniques or pedagogical approach
• Soundness of conclusions and interpretation
• Organization
• Adherence to the Instructions to Authors
• Adequacy of title and abstract
• Appropriateness of figures and tables
• Length

ENTERING A RECOMMENDATION

After completing your review, you will also be asked to select your recommendation (via a pull down menu) before clicking the Submit Review button. The recommendation options are as follows:

• Accept Submission: Accept paper in its present form, there is no need for author to submit a revision. Some minor copyediting may be necessary, but this can be caught at the copyediting stage.
• Revisions Required: The manuscript requires minor content and/or editorial changes before it’s suitable for publication. Revised manuscripts do not require a second round of review by the reviewers.
• Resubmit for Review: The paper contains one or more serious problems, and if corrected might result in a generally acceptable manuscript. Resubmitted manuscripts typically are reviewed again by the section editors and reviewers.
• Resubmit Elsewhere: The content of the manuscript does not fit the scope of the journal, but may be suited for another publication. 
• Decline Submission: The content, style, and/or preparation of the manuscript are flawed to the extent that it is unlikely that revisions can render the manuscript suitable for publication.
• See Comments: If none of the above options are applicable, you may select See Comments which will leave it to the editor to determine the appropriate recommendation based on your comments.