Peer Review Process

KYAMC Journal: Peer Review Policy and Process

  1. Core Submission Policies
  • Exclusive Consideration: Manuscripts are accepted with the explicit understanding that they are being considered solely by the KYAMC Journal.
  • Originality: Submissions must not be previously published, concurrently submitted, or accepted elsewhere (in whole or in part, in any language).
  • Acknowledgment: Authors will receive a formal acknowledgment immediately upon receipt of submission.
  • Review Model: The journal operates on a single-anonymized (reviewer identity is hidden; author identity is known) or open peer review model (if the reviewer opts to disclose their identity).
  1. Evaluation Criteria

Manuscripts are rigorously evaluated based on the following six benchmarks:

  • Originality & Timeliness: Novelty and relevance of the content.
  • Clarity & Compliance: Adherence to the journal's author guidelines and clear writing style.
  • Methodological Rigor: Appropriate and accurate use of study methods.
  • Data Validity: Authenticity and integrity of the presented data.
  • Supported Conclusions: Reasonable deductions firmly backed by evidence.
  • Clinical Significance: Medical importance and relevance to the field.
  1. Step-by-Step Peer Review Workflow

All submissions processed through the electronic Open Journal Systems (OJS) follow this timeline:

[Submission] ➔ [Mechanical Review (7 Days)] ➔ [Handling Editor Assessment] ➔ [Peer Review (2+ Reviewers)] ➔ [Copyediting] ➔ [Author Proofing] ➔ [Online Publication]

  1. Initial Mechanical Review (Within 7 Days): The editorial office screens the manuscript for scope alignment, plagiarism, and structural adherence to guidelines. Submissions lacking merit or originality are promptly rejected.
  2. Handling Editor Assessment: Successfully screened papers are forwarded to a Handling Editor to evaluate scientific depth and novelty.
  3. Peer Evaluation: The Handling Editor assigns at least two expert reviewers (typically one subject matter expert and one methodological/statistical reviewer).
    • Note on Reviewer Selection: Authors may optionally suggest 2–3 qualified external reviewers who are not affiliated with their own institution. Final selection rests with the Editor.
  4. Report Submission: Reviewers submit constructive, impartial reports via the OJS portal under strict confidentiality.
  5. Copyediting: Accepted manuscripts undergo thorough editing for grammar, punctuation, and formatting.
  6. Author Proofing: The corresponding author reviews the page proofs. Only grammatical and typographical corrections are permitted at this stage.
  7. Publication: The final version is published live on the journal’s website.
  1. Special Policies and Conflict of Interest

To maintain absolute impartiality and fairness, the journal enforces strict firewalls for internal submissions:

Editorial Team Submissions

  • Editorials, News, & Interviews: Authored by the journal’s editors; these are not subject to external peer review.
  • Original Research: Authored by editors; these must undergo independent external peer review.
  • Conflict of Interest Firewall: Editorial members are entirely excluded from the handling, reviewing, or decision-making processes of their own papers. For example, submissions by the Editor-in-Chief are assigned entirely to an Associate Editor or Editorial Board Member.

Special Series

  • Guest Editors are strictly prohibited from participating in the peer review of manuscripts within their own collection. Final decisions are deferred to the Executive Editor in consultation with the Editorial Board.
  1. Estimated Turnaround Times

Phase

Duration

In-House / Initial Review

1–2 weeks

External Peer Review

1–3 months

Formal Publication

Within 1 month following final acceptance

 

  1. Reviewer Recognition

KYAMC Journal deeply values peer reviewers as pillars of research integrity. Reviewers receive:

  • Annual Recognition: Inclusion in the journal's published annual list of contributors.
  • Documentation: Official certificates of review.
  • Academic Credit: Verification via ORCID by syncing review credentials through their Web of Science profile.