Guidelines for Reviewers

The International Journal of Health Disciplines (IJHD) greatly values the contribution of peer reviewers in maintaining the quality, integrity, and credibility of the research we publish. As a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal, IJHD relies on objective, timely, and constructive feedback from experts in the field to make informed editorial decisions.

These guidelines are intended to assist reviewers in performing their role effectively, ethically, and in alignment with international standards.

 

 

1. Confidentiality

  • Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.
  • Do not share, discuss, or distribute manuscript content with others unless explicitly authorised by the editorial office.
  • Do not use any part of the manuscript for personal advantage or academic benefit prior to publication.

 

 

2. Timeliness

  • Reviews should be completed within 2 to 3 weeks of receiving the invitation.
  •  If you are unable to review the manuscript within the timeframe or believe it is outside your area of expertise, please decline promptly so we can reassign it without delay.

  • If additional time is needed, contact the editorial office to request an extension.

     

 

3. Objectivity and Constructive Feedback

  • Provide objective, balanced, and constructive assessments of the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses.
  • Avoid personal comments or offensive language
  • Highlight specific areas for improvement related to study design, analysis, clarity, references, or ethical concerns.
  • Support your critique with clear reasoning and, where applicable, relevant references.

 

 

4. Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing, please assess the manuscript based on the following:

  • Originality: Is the study novel, or does it add meaningful knowledge to the field?
  • Relevance: Does the manuscript align with the scope of IJHD and address current health issues?
  • Scientific Quality: Are the methods sound, ethical approval provided, and the data robust?
  • Clarity: Is the manuscript well-written and logically structured?
  • Ethical Compliance: Is there clear evidence of ethics committee approval for human and/or animal research? Was informed consent obtained where applicable?
  • References: Are they appropriate, recent, and properly cited?
  • Figures and Tables: Are they clear, relevant, and properly labelled?

 

 

5. Ethical Concerns and Misconduct

Reviewers are expected to notify the editorial office if they observe or suspect:

  • Plagiarism
  • Duplicate publication
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Lack of ethical approval for human or animal studies

All concerns will be handled confidentially and investigated according to COPE guidelines.

 

 

6. Conflict of Interest

You must disclose any conflicts of interest that could compromise your impartiality. Examples include:

  • Personal or professional relationships with any of the authors
  • Recent co-authorship or collaboration with the authors (within the last 3 years)
  • Financial or academic interests related to the manuscript topic

If in doubt, please consult the editorial office before proceeding with the review.

 

 

7. Recommendation Options

At the end of your review, you will be asked to choose one of the following recommendations:

  • Accept without revision
  • Minor revision
  • Major revision
  • Reject

Please provide detailed justification for your recommendation. The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief, who considers all reviewers’ input.

 

 

8. Anonymity

IJHD follows a double-blind review system:

  • Your identity will not be revealed to the authors.
  • Authors’ identities are not shared with reviewers.

Please avoid writing anything in your comments that may reveal your identity.

 

 

9. Use of AI Tools by Reviewers

Reviewers must not use generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Bard) to write or evaluate the review, as these tools cannot ensure confidentiality or accuracy. If language assistance tools (e.g., Grammarly) are used, reviewers must ensure they do not compromise privacy or ethical standards.

 

 

10. Reviewer Recognition

Reviewers are acknowledged annually for their contributions, and may request formal certificates of appreciation. Outstanding reviewers may be invited to join the IJHD Editorial Board.

Note: Editorial Board Members of IJHD can not publish their articles in this journal.