Peer Review Process

JSOCMED applies a rigorous double-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality, integrity, and scientific validity of all published articles. The journal follows good editorial practices and adheres to the principles recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Initial Submission and Screening

All submitted manuscripts must comply with the journal’s Author Guidelines. Each submission is initially assessed by the editorial office to determine whether it fits the journal’s scope and meets the required standards of formatting, originality, clarity, and overall scientific quality. Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be rejected without external review.

Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software prior to peer review. Submissions containing plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other forms of unethical content will be rejected.

Editorial Assessment 

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to the Editor-in-Chief or an Associate Editor for further evaluation of their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the aims and scope of the journal.

External Peer Review

All manuscripts are reviewed by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers may include members of the journal’s reviewer pool or external specialists, but all reviewers are independent of the editorial decision-making process. JSOCMED applies a double-blind peer-review system in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

Review Criteria

Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts based on scientific originality, methodological rigor, clinical or academic relevance, clarity of presentation, and ethical compliance.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts and related materials are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose or use any information obtained through the peer-review process for personal advantage.

Reviewer Comments

Reviewer comments are communicated anonymously to the authors and are intended to help improve the scientific quality, clarity, and integrity of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment. If a conflict exists, the reviewer must decline the invitation. Editors do not make decisions on manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

Editorial Decision

Based on the reviewers’ reports and the scientific merit of the manuscript, the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision.

The possible editorial decisions are:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject

Revision Process

If revisions are requested, authors must submit a revised manuscript together with a detailed point-by-point response to the reviewer comments within the specified timeframe, usually within 2 weeks. Revised manuscripts may be subject to further editorial assessment or additional peer review.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal request with a clear justification. Appeals and complaints are reviewed by the editorial board in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies.

Review Timeline

JSOCMED aims to provide an initial decision within approximately 4–8 weeks of submission. In the event of delays, the editorial office will communicate the reason to the authors.

Final Decision and Publication

Once a manuscript is accepted, it proceeds to copyediting, typesetting, and final proofing. The corresponding author will receive page proofs for review prior to publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the content at the proof stage.