Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences
Journal Information
Peer Review Process

Peer Review Policies

 | Post date: 2019/10/12 | 
Peer Review Policies
Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing. To ensure impartial evaluation of submitted manuscripts, the journal employs a double-blind peer review process. In this regard, we strictly adhere to guidelines established by:
  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations for conducting, reporting, editing, and publishing scholarly work.

Peer Review Process
Publication decisions for the Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences are based on:
  1. Initial evaluation by the editorial team (Editor-in-Chief and specialist editors)
  2. Rigorous peer review process

Editorial Team Evaluation
All submissions undergo initial screening by our editorial team to assess:
  • Relevance to journal's scope
  • Compliance with quality standards
  • Novelty and significance
Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage. Letters to the Editor may be accepted without peer review. Authors of manuscripts requiring revisions will be notified to make necessary modifications before proceeding to peer review. Initial decisions (rejection/revision request) are typically communicated within 1-2 weeks of submission.

Peer Review Stage
Manuscripts passing initial screening enter double-blind peer review , where:
  • Authors and reviewers remain anonymous
  • Process is supervised by Editor-in-Chief
  • Managed by specialist editors
Standard review timeline: 8 weeks (may extend due to unforeseen delays)

Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining journal quality by:
  • Maintaining strict confidentiality
  • Reviewing only within their expertise
  • Disclosing conflicts of interest
  • Providing timely evaluations (typically within 4 weeks)

Reviewers must evaluate:
✓ Compliance with journal formatting guidelines
✓ Clarity of objectives
✓ Methodology appropriateness
✓ Result accuracy and validity
✓ Discussion and conclusion quality
✓ Reference relevance and accuracy
✓ Language quality (grammar, punctuation)
✓ Potential plagiarism

Review Guidelines
As a reviewer, you are expected to:
  1. Maintain confidentiality - Do not share manuscripts outside the review process
  2. Ensure objectivity - Base evaluations solely on scientific merit
  3. Provide constructive feedback - Offer specific suggestions for improvement
  4. Meet deadlines - Complete reviews within 4 weeks

Confidentiality Policy
Following ICMJE recommendations:
  • Reviewers must not discuss manuscripts with third parties
  • Editors must protect all submission details
  • Review copies must be deleted after evaluation
  • Confidentiality may be breached only to investigate ethical concerns

Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must:
  • Disclose any potential conflicts
  • Recuse themselves if bias is possible
  • Immediately report suspected ethical violations (plagiarism, duplicate submission etc.)

Ethical Guidelines Compliance
Our journal strictly follows:
  • COPE ethical standards
  • ICMJE recommendations for:
    • Authorship criteria
    • Editorial standards
    • Reviewer conduct

Additional Resources:
[COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors]
[ICMJE Recommendations for Editors]
[Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors (ICMJE)]
[COPE international standards for authors]
 
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