Reviewers are integral to the success of the Journal of Clinical Intensive Care and Medicine (JCICM). They ensure the quality, integrity, and advancement of published research by offering expert, unbiased, and constructive assessments. This section outlines the ethical and professional responsibilities of reviewers.

Core Responsibilities

Provide fair, objective, and evidence-based evaluations of manuscripts.
Identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection with clear justifications.
Respect confidentiality of all materials received.

Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They should not share content with colleagues or use it for personal research before publication.

Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts that could bias their evaluation, including:

Personal or professional relationships with authors.
Financial interests related to the manuscript’s findings.
Competing research in the same area.

If conflicts exist, reviewers should decline the assignment promptly.

Quality of Review

Reviews should be detailed, constructive, and respectful.
Feedback must focus on content and methodology, not personal criticism of authors.
Language should be professional and aimed at helping authors improve.

Timeliness

Reviewers should submit reviews within the agreed deadline (typically 2–3 weeks). If unable to complete the review, they must notify the editor promptly to avoid delays.

Ethical Oversight

Report suspected plagiarism, duplicate submission, or ethical misconduct to the editor.
Highlight potential ethical issues in human or animal research.
Avoid personal use of unpublished data from manuscripts.

Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Reviewers support editors in making publication decisions but do not make final decisions themselves. Their role is advisory, contributing expertise and objective judgment.

Recognition and Professional Development

JCICM recognizes the contributions of reviewers through annual acknowledgments, certificates, and opportunities for editorial board participation. Reviewing also helps professionals stay updated with emerging research in their fields.

FAQs

What if I lack expertise in some areas of the manuscript? Indicate your limitations and comment only within your expertise.

Can I suggest additional reviewers? Yes, suggestions are welcome but the final choice rests with editors.

What if I suspect fabricated data? Report suspicions confidentially to the editor with supporting observations.

Reviewer's Responsibilities