Peer Review in Journals Indexed in Index Medicus

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peer review policies are published in English-language journals indexed in Index Medicus and, secondarily, to obtain information on the peer review practices of such journals. DESIGN: Examined one issue of a sample of all journal titles written in English and indexed in Index Medicus, and all indexed English-language journals in four subject fields. A questionnaire was sent to the editors of journals in the subject fields requesting information on their peer review practices. SETTING: Journals received at the National Library of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: Editors of journals in four subject fields. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Existence of a printed statement of the peer review process for manuscripts. RESULTS: Although the editors queried in the four subject fields indicated that overall, 56% to 65% of the articles were peer reviewed, clear statements about their peer review practices were not found in half of their journals or in the overall sample. CONCLUSIONS: Editors should publish clear statements of the peer review process followed for each type of article published in their journals.

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