Manuscript Review Guidelines

1. Brief Summary of Manuscript:

Intent of the Study: Begin with a concise summary of the manuscript's purpose, highlighting the study's objectives and research focus.

Conclusions: Outline the key conclusions drawn by the authors based on their study findings.

Previous Publication: Express whether you believe this study has been previously published, in whole or in part, and if so, provide relevant details.

2. The Title:

Title Reflecting Content: Assess whether the title effectively represents the content and scope of the manuscript.

3. The Abstract:

Structure: Determine if the abstract is well-structured and organized.

Adequate Summary: Assess if the abstract provides a comprehensive summary of the entire manuscript.

Comprehensibility: Evaluate whether the abstract can be understood without the need to read the entire manuscript.

Outcome Measures and Statistics: Check if the abstract specifies outcome measures and includes essential statistical information.

Consistency with the Manuscript: Identify any discrepancies between the abstract and the rest of the paper.

4. The Keywords:

Appropriateness of Keywords: Evaluate whether the chosen keywords are relevant and appropriate to the subject matter.

5. The Introduction:

Brevity: Assess the brevity of the introduction.

Rationale: Determine if the rationale for the study is clearly explained and based on a review of relevant literature.

Study Purpose: Evaluate whether the purpose of the study is well-defined, including a clear hypothesis if applicable.

6. Materials and Methods:

Appropriateness of Methods: Determine if the methods chosen are suitable for testing the stated hypothesis.

Reproducibility: Assess if the methods are described in a way that would allow another investigator to replicate the study.

Sample/Participant Recruitment: Check if the sample or participant recruitment is described in detail, including inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Ethical Considerations: Verify if the authors have obtained informed consent and ethical committee approval when relevant.

Data Acquisition and Evaluation: Evaluate whether the data acquisition and evaluation methods are clearly specified.

Statistical Methods: Assess the clarity and appropriateness of the statistical methods used.

7. Results:

Clarity: Determine if the results are presented in a clear and understandable manner.

Order of Presentation: Check if the order of presentation of the results parallels the order of presentation of the methods.

Convincing Results: Assess whether the results are convincing and reasonable.

Appropriate Discussion: Identify if all results are adequately discussed in the methods section.

8. Discussion:

Conciseness: Evaluate the conciseness of the discussion section.

Key Findings: Check if the discussion begins with the most important finding and summarizes key results.

Relation to Literature: Assess whether the discussion compares the results with the relevant literature.

Justification of Conclusions: Determine if the conclusions are justified by the study's results.

Explanation of Unexpected Results: Ensure that unexpected results are explained sufficiently.

Clinical Applicability: Check if the clinical applicability of the study findings is discussed.

Stating Limitations: Verify if the limitations of the study are clearly stated.

9. Figures and Graphs:

Inclusion and Labeling: Ensure that all figures mentioned in the text are included and correctly labeled.

Correctness: Check if the figures and graphs are accurate.

Number of Figures: Ensure that the number of figures complies with journal guidelines.

Clarity of Presentation: Assess if figures and graphs effectively convey important results.

Legend Self-sufficiency: Verify if figure legends are self-sufficient and understandable without reference to the rest of the manuscript.

10. Tables:

Relevance: Determine if the tables appropriately describe the results.

Abbreviations Explanation: Check if any abbreviations used in the tables are explained at the bottom.

11. References:

Style Compliance: Ensure that the reference list follows the journal's style guidelines.

Number of References: Verify if the number of references adheres to journal guidelines.

Mistakes: Identify any obvious mistakes in the reference list.

Completeness: Assess if any important references need to be added.

12. Final Appraisal and Decision:

Major Strengths and Weaknesses: Summarize the major strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript.

Decision Criteria: Base your decision on the following questions:

1. Does the manuscript provide novel information not already available in the literature?

2. Is there a solid rationale for conducting the study?

3. Are the methods chosen suitable for testing the stated hypothesis.

4. Is the data analysis appropriate?

5. Are the results clear and accurate?

6. Is the article scientifically acceptable, even if the text needs improvement?