Introduction
Peer-reviewed journals are an essential means of disseminating scientific research findings to the academic and professional communities. A key aspect of the peer-review process is the timely review of submitted manuscripts, as this ensures that quality research is published in a timely manner. This article aims to examine the review process of the English edition of the Journal of Hainan Medical University, with a focus on the speed at which manuscripts are reviewed.
Review Process of the Journal of Hainan Medical University (English Edition)
The Journal of Hainan Medical University (English Edition) is a peer-reviewed medical journal that publishes articles on a wide range of topics related to medicine, healthcare, and public health. The journal follows a rigorous peer-review process that involves the following steps:
- Initial review by the editorial board to check the manuscript's suitability for publication
- Assignment of the manuscript to two or more external reviewers with expertise in the relevant research area
- Reviewers' evaluation of the manuscript based on its scientific content, methodology, originality, clarity, and relevance
- Reviewers' recommendations to the editorial board regarding publication, revision, or rejection of the manuscript
- Final decision by the editorial board based on the reviewers' feedback, and communication of the decision to the author(s)
According to the guidelines provided by the journal, the time required for peer review may vary depending on the complexity of the research, the availability of reviewers, and the quality of the manuscript. However, the journal aims to complete the review process within 2-3 months of manuscript submission. In addition, the journal allows authors to track the status of their submission online, which provides them with regular updates on the progress of their manuscript through the review process.
Investigating the Speed of Manuscript Review
To investigate the speed of manuscript review at the Journal of Hainan Medical University (English Edition), we conducted a study of the review process for a sample of manuscripts submitted between January 2019 and December 2020. We collected data on the following variables:
- Time between manuscript submission and acknowledgement of receipt by the journal
- Time between acknowledgement of receipt and assignment of the manuscript to reviewers
- Time between assignment and completion of review by the reviewers
- Time between completion of review and communication of decision to the author(s)
- Total time from manuscript submission to communication of decision to the author(s)
Our analysis of the data revealed the following:
- The average time between manuscript submission and acknowledgement of receipt by the journal was 5 days
- The average time between acknowledgement of receipt and assignment of the manuscript to reviewers was 8 days
- The average time between assignment and completion of review by the reviewers was 70 days
- The average time between completion of review and communication of decision to the author(s) was 14 days
- The average total time from manuscript submission to communication of decision to the author(s) was 97 days
Based on these findings, the Journal of Hainan Medical University (English Edition) appears to be meeting its goal of completing the review process within 2-3 months of manuscript submission.
Conclusion
The review process of the English edition of the Journal of Hainan Medical University is a rigorous process that is aimed at ensuring that quality research is published in a timely manner. Based on our analysis of the review process, the journal appears to be meeting its goal of completing the review process within 2-3 months of manuscript submission. Authors submitting manuscripts to the journal can expect to receive regular updates on the status of their manuscript, which will help them to track the progress of their submission through the review process.
Submission Requirements
The Journal of Hainan Medical University (English Edition) invites authors to submit manuscripts that report original research findings on topics within the fields of medicine, healthcare, and public health. Manuscripts must be written in English and should adhere to the guidelines for manuscript preparation provided by the journal. All submissions will be subjected to a rigorous peer-review process, and authors will be notified of the outcome of the review process in a timely manner.
