Peer Review Process

Peer Review Process — Journal of Health Research (JPK)

Every manuscript submitted to the Journal of Health Research (JPK) undergoes an initial screening by the Editorial Board to ensure its relevance, quality, and compliance with the journal’s author guidelines. Manuscripts that pass this stage are then assigned to qualified Mitra Bestari (peer reviewers) for a double-blind peer review process, where both reviewers and authors remain anonymous to each other.

After review, manuscripts are returned to the authors for revision based on the reviewers’ comments and recommendations. The overall review process is expected to take up to one month, depending on the number of review rounds required. Each manuscript is evaluated by reviewers from both substantive (scientific content) and technical (presentation and format) aspects.

All submitted manuscripts are evaluated by the editorial staff. Manuscripts considered inappropriate or not aligned with the journal’s focus and scope are rejected without external review. Manuscripts deemed potentially valuable are sent for external double-blind peer review. The Editor-in-Chief then makes a final decision based on the reviewers’ recommendations, choosing from the following options:

  • Accepted

  • Minor Revision Required

  • Major Revision Required

  • Rejected

The editorial team reserves the right to make the final decision on all submitted manuscripts.

Review Process Flow

  1. Author submits the manuscript

  2. Editorial evaluation (some manuscripts may be rejected or returned prior to review)

  3. Double-blind peer review

  4. Editorial decision

  5. Notification and confirmation to the author

Peer Reviewer Responsibilities

Peer reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, and confidentially. Reviewers must assess the originality, scientific quality, clarity, and relevance of the manuscript to the field of health research.

Reviewers should declare any potential conflicts of interest regarding the research, authors, or funding sources. If the manuscript lies outside their area of expertise or cannot be reviewed within the allocated time, reviewers are encouraged to inform the editor immediately.

Reviewers are also responsible for identifying relevant published work that has not been cited, and for reporting any suspicion of plagiarism, data fabrication, or ethical misconduct to the editorial team.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors hold full authority and responsibility for accepting or rejecting articles. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editors must avoid any conflict of interest concerning accepted or rejected articles.

When errors are discovered after publication, editors will promote correction, retraction, or clarification as necessary. Editors also ensure the anonymity of reviewers and maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.

Review Guidelines

The Journal of Health Research (JPK) greatly values the contribution of peer reviewers who dedicate their time and expertise to evaluate submitted manuscripts. Before agreeing to review, reviewers should consider the following:

  • Accept only if the manuscript matches their area of expertise.

  • Decline if they are unable to complete the review within the given timeframe.

  • Inform the editor of any conflict of interest or prior knowledge of the work or authors.

All manuscripts are checked for originality using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin). However, reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism or duplication that may have been missed by the software.

Reviewers are requested to provide constructive feedback within the manuscript and in the review form, focusing on clarity, methodology, scientific rigor, relevance, and overall contribution to the field of health research.

Based on the evaluation, reviewers should recommend one of the following decisions:

  • Accept as is

  • Accept with minor revisions

  • Revise and resubmit (major revisions)

  • Reject

These decisions should be made solely on the scholarly merits and ethical integrity of the work.

 

All communication between authors, reviewers, and editors is handled through the Journal of Health Research (JPK)’s Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform to ensure transparency, confidentiality, and accountability throughout the review process.