Editorial Process
The International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health (IJMSPH) follows a rigorous and transparent editorial and peer-review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research.
1. Submission Requirements
- Manuscripts must be submitted to one journal at a time. Submissions under consideration elsewhere will not be reviewed.
- Submitted work must be original and not previously published.
- The corresponding author acts as the guarantor of the work and is responsible for communication with the journal.
2. Initial Editorial Screening
All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial team.
Manuscripts may be rejected at this stage if they:
- Lack originality
- Have significant scientific or methodological flaws
- Fall outside the journal’s scope
- Do not provide a meaningful contribution
All submissions are acknowledged upon receipt.
3. Peer Review Process
- IJMSPH follows a peer-review process to assess the quality and validity of submissions.
- Manuscripts are typically reviewed by at least two independent reviewers.
- Editorial board members may also serve as reviewers when appropriate.
- The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision on acceptance or rejection.
- Authors are informed of reviewers’ comments and editorial decisions.
Average time to first decision: approximately 30 days.
4. Reviewer Suggestions
Authors may suggest potential reviewers; however:
- Suggested reviewers must not be affiliated with the same institution
- The journal is not obligated to use the suggested reviewers
- Reviewer suggestions may be considered for future evaluations
5. Editorial Decision and Revision
Based on peer review, manuscripts may be:
- Accepted
- Accepted with minor or major revisions
- Rejected
Revised manuscripts are evaluated to ensure that reviewer comments have been adequately addressed.
6. Copyediting and Production
Accepted manuscripts undergo:
- Copyediting for grammar, clarity, and formatting
- Technical checks and layout formatting
- Final proofreading
Page proofs are sent to the corresponding author before publication and must be returned within 3 days. Delayed corrections may not be incorporated.
7. Plagiarism Screening
All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software.
- Authors must ensure proper citation of all sources
- Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited
If plagiarism is detected:
- The manuscript may be rejected
- Authors may be banned from future submissions
- Serious cases may be reported to the authors’ institutions
Commitment to Publishing Negative Results
IJMSPH supports the publication of negative and null results, in line with international guidelines.
Studies addressing important research questions will be considered for publication regardless of whether the results are positive, negative, or inconclusive, provided the methodology is sound and scientifically valid.
Media and Pre-Publication Policy
IJMSPH follows the recommendations of international publishing standards regarding communication with the media:
- Manuscripts that have been publicly disseminated prior to submission may be rejected
- Authors must not release findings to the media before publication without prior approval
- In exceptional cases involving urgent public health concerns, early dissemination may be allowed with prior approval from the Editor-in-Chief
- Any media release must coincide with or follow official publication
