Editors Guidelines
Editors manage scope screening, reviewer selection, and decision consistency.
Core Responsibilities
Editors ensure manuscripts align with journal scope and ethical standards.
- Confirm scope alignment and ethics compliance
- Select reviewers with appropriate expertise
- Provide clear decision letters and revision guidance
- Document rationale for complex decisions
Editors should balance clinical and methodological expertise when selecting reviewers for critical care and emergency studies.
Screening and Review
Initial checks include scope, ethics, data availability, and manuscript completeness.
Use at least two independent reviewers when possible and confirm availability before assignment.
Decision letters should summarize key reviewer concerns and clarify required revisions.
Reviewer Selection
Select reviewers with complementary clinical and methodological expertise.
- Match reviewer expertise to study design
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Confirm reviewer availability before assignment
- Balance clinical and statistical perspectives
Decision Letters
Decision letters should be clear, structured, and actionable.
Summaries should highlight major concerns and required revisions. Clear guidance reduces revision cycles and supports timely decisions.
Quality Checks
Editors should verify reporting clarity and alignment with study design.
Check that outcomes match the stated objectives and that conclusions align with the results. Flag missing data or unclear limitations for revision.
Clear limitations help readers interpret applicability to clinical practice.
Decision Criteria
Decisions should be based on scientific merit, clinical relevance, and ethical compliance.
- Assess methodological rigor and clarity of outcomes
- Evaluate clinical relevance and translational impact
- Confirm ethical approvals and data availability
- Ensure conclusions align with the evidence
Timelines and Communication
Editors should manage review timelines and communicate delays promptly.
Timely decisions support author satisfaction and publication schedules. Clear communication strengthens trust in the editorial process.
If delays occur, editors should update authors with revised timelines and clear next steps.
Conflict Management
Editors must disclose conflicts and recuse themselves when necessary.
Conflicts include financial interests, personal relationships, or direct competition. If a conflict exists, the manuscript should be reassigned.
Appeals and Reconsideration
Editors should document decision rationale and support fair appeals.
Appeals are handled by senior editors who were not involved in the original decision. Clear documentation supports transparency.
Editorial Support
The editorial office provides guidance on policy questions and complex cases.
Editors can consult the office on ethical questions, reviewer disagreements, and scope clarifications.
Support helps maintain consistent editorial outcomes.
Join the Editorial Board
Share your expertise and help shape critical care and emergency publishing.
