Introduction

Welcome to the Journal of Independent Medicine. We deeply appreciate your willingness to contribute your expertise and time to the peer review process. Your work ensures that the research published in our journal meets the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and integrity. This document provides comprehensive instructions to guide you through the review process.

Reviewer Responsibilities

As a reviewer, your primary responsibilities are to:

1. Provide an Objective Assessment: Evaluate the manuscript's scientific merit, originality, and relevance.
2. Ensure Quality and Accuracy: Check the accuracy of the methodology, data, results, and conclusions.
3. Maintain Confidentiality: Treat the manuscript as a confidential document. Do not share or discuss it with anyone outside the review process.
4. Submit a Timely Review: Complete your review within 21 days from the date you receive the manuscript.
5. Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer specific and actionable feedback to help authors improve their manuscript.

Review Process Overview

1. Invitation to Review: You will receive an email invitation to review a manuscript. Please respond promptly, indicating whether you can complete the review within the 21-day timeframe.
2. Accessing the Manuscript: Upon accepting the invitation, you will be granted access to the manuscript and any supplementary materials through our online submission system.
3. Conducting the Review: Thoroughly read the manuscript and provide your evaluation using the provided review form.
4. Submitting Your Review: Complete your review in the online system, ensuring all sections of the review form are filled out.
5. Post-Review Communication: You may be asked to respond to the authors' revisions or to discuss your review with the editorial team.

Detailed Review Guidelines

Initial Assessment

• Relevance and Scope: Confirm that the manuscript falls within the scope of the Journal of Independent Medicine.
• Originality: Assess whether the work is original and adds significant value to the field.
• Ethical Considerations: Ensure that the research complies with ethical standards, including proper handling of human or animal subjects and conflict of interest disclosures.

Detailed Review Criteria

1. Title and Abstract
   • Clarity: Is the title clear and concise? Does the abstract accurately summarize the key points of the study?
   • Relevance: Does the abstract highlight the importance and relevance of the research?
2. Introduction
   • Background: Does the introduction provide sufficient background and context?
   • Objectives: Are the research questions or hypotheses clearly stated?
3. Methods
   • Design and Methodology: Is the study design appropriate for the research questions? Are the methods described in sufficient detail to allow replication?
   • Data Analysis: Are the statistical methods appropriate and correctly applied?
4. Results
   • Presentation: Are the results presented clearly and logically? Are tables and figures used effectively?
   • Data Integrity: Are the data accurate and consistent? Are any discrepancies or errors adequately addressed?
5. Discussion
   • Interpretation: Are the results interpreted appropriately? Do the authors provide a balanced discussion of their findings?
   • Limitations: Are the limitations of the study acknowledged and discussed?
6. Conclusions
   • Summary: Does the conclusion summarize the key findings and their implications?
   • Future Research: Are suggestions for future research provided?
7. References
   • Relevance and Recency: Are the references current and relevant? Are key studies in the field cited?

Overall Recommendation

Based on your assessment, please provide one of the following recommendations:

• Accept: The manuscript is suitable for publication with minor or no revisions.
• Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor changes before it can be accepted.
• Major Revisions: The manuscript requires substantial changes and should be re-evaluated after revision.
• Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in its current form.

Review Submission

1. Complete the Review Form: Use the online submission system to complete the review form. Provide detailed comments in each section and summarize your overall recommendation. We suggest you add general comments from reviewer to authors and specific comments as well.
2. Submit Additional Documents: If applicable, upload any annotated documents or additional files that support your review.
3. Submit Your Review: Ensure that all required fields are completed and submit your review through the online system.

Confidentiality and Ethical Considerations

• Confidentiality: Treat the manuscript and your review as confidential. Do not share or discuss them with anyone not directly involved in the review process.
• Conflict of Interest: If you have any potential conflicts of interest, disclose them immediately to the editorial office.
• Ethical Standards: Uphold the highest ethical standards in your review. Provide an unbiased, honest, and constructive assessment.