Peer Review Policy

The review process at The Shahroud Journal of Medical Sciences (IJHS (Undergoing change to SJMS)) is designed to maintain integrity and quality of the research publish. Below is overview of the steps in this process:

  1. Initial Evaluation:

   - Upon submission, articles are first evaluated by our statisticians and internal screeners. They assess the articles for methodological flaws, adherence to formatting guidelines, and compliance with the journal’s instructions.

   - A submission code will be assigned to the manuscript, which must be referenced in all future communications regarding the submission.

  1. Double-Blind Review:

   - Each article is subjected to a double-blind peer review, where it is reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers selected by the Editorial Board. This process ensures that neither the authors nor the reviewers are aware of each other’s identities, promoting unbiased feedback.

  1. Reviewer Feedback:

   - The comments from the reviewers will be communicated to the authors. Authors are then given the opportunity to respond to the comments provided.

  1. Evaluation by Section Editor:

   - The section editor will evaluate the authors' responses alongside the reviewers’ comments to make a decision regarding the manuscript.

  1. Notification of Decision:

   - The corresponding author will be promptly notified of the editor's decision to accept, reject, or request modifications to the manuscript.

  1. Publication Scheduling:

   - If the manuscript is deemed fully acceptable according to the journal’s criteria, it will be scheduled for inclusion in the next available issue.

This structured process ensures that all submissions receive thorough evaluation and constructive feedback, aligning with our commitment to scholarly excellence.

Review Timeline, Publication Schedule, and Editorial Metrics

The Shahroud Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS) aims to provide a transparent, rigorous, and efficient evaluation process. Our publication workflow and timelines are outlined below:

  • Initial Screening & Fast-Track Desk Rejection: All submissions undergo an immediate initial assessment. If a manuscript does not align with the journal’s scope or meet basic editorial/methodological standards, a desk-rejection decision is issued within one week.
  • Peer-Review Duration: The comprehensive peer-review process takes a minimum of 2 months. This duration may be extended depending on the availability, responsiveness, and feedback cycles of both the reviewers and the authors.
  • Acceptance and Official Documentation: Once accepted, an official acceptance notification is sent via the journal system. In addition, upon the author’s request, an official Acceptance Letter can be issued and sent by the journal office.
  • Publication Queue & Issue Capacity: Following acceptance, manuscripts enter the publication queue. Due to a high volume of accepted submissions, the time from acceptance to final publication depends on the publication schedule. The journal is published bimonthly (every two months), with each issue featuring 9 original/review articles and 1 Letter to the Editor (a total of 10 articles per issue). Articles are published in chronological order according to queue availability.