Evolution and Validation of Practice Standards, Training, and Professional Development

Typical recommendation categories are as follows: Accept, minor revision, major revision, or

reject.

vi.

Reviewers provide detailed comments and critique to be shared with the authors, and, often,

comments to the editor that are not shared with the authors.

Editor response

The editor (or designee) uses reviewer input to formulate a response to the authors.

ii.

If minor or major revision is requested, details of the required revisions are provided, often

including the reviewers’ specific comments. The editor often adds requests for revision.

iii.

A timeline for response is included. If manuscript is not resubmitted by deadline, opportunity

to publish is usually surrendered.

iv.

A rejection decision is usually final.

The authors need to respond to each request. The authors need not agree with each request, but

each must be responded to and defended if not revised as advised.

ii.

Common format is a letter to the editor restating each request, with the response to the request

immediately following.

iii.

A manuscript incorporating all revisions is submitted with the letter. Some journals request a

“track changes” version of the manuscript to ease the rereview process.

iv.

All authors must review the revisions and indicate their agreement with all changes.

Revised manuscripts are often returned to the original peer reviewers for a second review,

especially with major revisions. That may result in another round of revision and review.

After acceptance

At some point (timelines vary by journal), the corresponding author will receive the galley proof.

This is a copyedited, typeset version of the paper that will look like the final publication.

The galley proof will come with comments that must be addressed.

Deadline for galley submission may be as short as 48 hours.

copyediting changes do not affect the meaning, tables are formatted as intended, figures and legends

are correct, and references are in the correct order and format (there are often errors with references

– better with electronic confirmation).

Ideally, all authors should review the galley proof; however, that may not be practical. All authors

should approve a review by the corresponding author.

Timelines (highly variable by journal)

Important competitive metric for biomedical journals

From submission to response – Can be 2–4 months

Reply to decision – Can be 1 week to 3 months (depends on whether rereview occurs)

Sometimes an important consideration when selecting a journal – Manuscript can be tied up for

long periods.

Open-access and e-journals have a speed advantage – May have fees.

Selecting a meeting

Quality and relevance of presentation

Prestige of the meeting relative to authors’ career goals

Membership and desire to support an organization