Reviewer Guidelines

Welcome to the Hyrcanian Journal of Clinical Medicine Reviewer Community

As a reviewer for Hyrcanian Journal of Clinical Medicine, you are helping uphold scientific quality and credibility. Your expertise is critical in shaping the research we publish.

What to Assess

Please evaluate the manuscript for:

  • Originality & contribution to the field
  • Scientific rigor and methodology
  • Relevance and significance to clinical medicine
  • Ethical compliance (approval, consent, clinical trial registration, etc.)
  • Clarity, structure, grammar, and overall presentation

Adherence to reporting standards, where applicable, should also be considered, including STROBE for observational studies, CONSORT for clinical trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews, ARRIVE for animal research, and other relevant reporting guidelines.

Review Form and Format

Hyrcanian Journal of Clinical Medicine uses structured review forms in OJS with:

  • Scored criteria (e.g., significance, design, clarity)
  • Free-text fields for detailed feedback
  • Separate sections for author comments and confidential editor comments
  • Final recommendation

Tone and Constructive Criticism

  • Be objective, respectful, and professional.
  • Avoid personal or dismissive language.
  • Provide specific, actionable feedback to help authors improve.
  • Flag serious concerns confidentially to the editor.

Ethical Concerns

If you identify:

  • Plagiarism
  • Unethical research or lack of ethics approval
  • Data or image manipulation

Please report it immediately in the confidential section. Do not contact the author directly.

Confidentiality & Data Protection

  • Do not share or discuss manuscripts with others.
  • Do not use any data or ideas from the manuscript in your own work.
  • Delete any manuscript files after submitting your review.

Recommendation

You may recommend:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

Please justify your recommendation clearly. The final decision rests with the editor.

Conflicts of Interest

Please decline the review if you:

  • Work at the same institution as the author(s).
  • Have collaborated with the authors in recent years.
  • Have a financial or personal interest that may affect your judgment.

Reviewer Tools

  • Use your OJS dashboard to track assignments and past reviews.
  • You may export reviews to ORCID, where applicable and at the reviewer's discretion.
  • You may request a certificate of recognition from the editorial office.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality: All manuscripts received for review are treated as confidential documents.

Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, with clear and supported arguments.

Conflict of interest: Reviewers must declare any potential conflicts of interest and refrain from reviewing manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to respond promptly and complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.