International Journal of Thorax - Reviewer Guidelines
Standards for constructive and ethical peer review
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining International Journal of Thorax quality.
Reviews should focus on methodological rigor, clarity of reporting, and relevance to thoracic and respiratory medicine.
Feedback should be specific, respectful, and aimed at improving manuscript quality.
Reviewers should report ethical or integrity concerns confidentially to the editorial office.
Comment on originality, methodology, and whether conclusions are supported by the data.
Prioritize major validity issues first, then note secondary improvements for clarity and structure.
Reviewers should assess study design, statistics, and data transparency.
Confidentiality must be maintained for all manuscripts and review content.
Declare conflicts of interest and decline reviews when appropriate.
Timely reviews support efficient editorial decisions.
Evaluate originality, relevance, and contribution to thoracic and respiratory knowledge.
Check that methods are sufficiently detailed to allow replication.
Assess statistical reporting and whether conclusions align with data.
Identify missing citations or relevant literature when appropriate.
Flag ethical issues or data integrity risks.
Provide constructive, specific recommendations rather than general criticism.
Avoid using confidential manuscript information for personal research.
Submit reviews within the agreed timeline to support authors.
Reviewer Quick View
- Assess design and statistics
- Evaluate originality and scope
- Maintain confidentiality
- Declare conflicts of interest
- Provide constructive feedback
- Submit reviews on time
- Flag ethics concerns
- Use evidence based comments
Review Best Practices
Structured Feedback
Organize comments by major and minor issues.
Evidence Based
Tie recommendations to data and methodology.
Professional Tone
Provide respectful, constructive critique.
Confidentiality
Do not share manuscript content or review details.
Review Focus
SnapshotPrioritize these areas during assessment.
Quick Table
| Focus | What to Check | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Methods | Design and statistics | Reproducibility |
| Data integrity | Consistency with results | Check figures |
| Clarity | Conclusions match data | Suggest improvements |
Protect Manuscripts
Do not share manuscript content or use it for personal research.
Declare Conflicts
Decline reviews when conflicts of interest are present.
Review Focus Areas
Scientific Quality
Evaluate study design, statistics, and conclusions.
Ethics Compliance
Confirm ethics approvals and data requirements where required.
Clarity
Check whether conclusions reflect the data presented.
Confidentiality
Maintain confidentiality of manuscript content and review details.
Additional Guidance
Decline reviews if conflicts of interest or time constraints exist.
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