The Pacific Journal of Advanced Obstetrics & Gynecology (PJAOG) follows a rigorous and transparent peer-review process to maintain high academic standards, ensuring the quality and credibility of the research it publishes. This structured and thorough process is designed to uphold the journal’s commitment to scholarly excellence and impartiality. The peer-review process at PJAOG is carried out through the following stages:

 

1. Submission and Initial Evaluation

• Manuscript Submission: Authors submit their manuscripts through the PJAOG online submission portal. A cover letter highlighting the research's significance, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope must accompany the submission. Authors are required to ensure that their manuscript follows the journal's formatting guidelines, ethical standards, and includes conflict of interest disclosures.
• Initial Screening: The editorial office conducts an initial screening of the manuscript for compliance with formatting guidelines and originality using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage.

2. Assignment to an Editor

• Editor-in-Chief Assignment: Manuscripts passing the initial screening are assigned to the Editor-in-Chief or a Senior Editor, who assesses the manuscript’s novelty, significance, and alignment with the journal's objectives.
• Selection of Handling Editor: The manuscript is then assigned to a Handling Editor with expertise in the relevant field to manage the peer-review process.

3. Peer Reviewer Selection

• Reviewer Identification: The Handling Editor selects potential peer reviewers based on their expertise and publication history. Typically, two to three reviewers are invited to evaluate the manuscript, ensuring a comprehensive and thorough assessment.
• Invitation to Review: Reviewers receive an invitation email containing the manuscript’s title, abstract, and instructions. Reviewers must confirm their availability and disclose any potential conflicts of interest before agreeing to review.
• Conflict of Interest Check: Reviewers are required to disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality. If conflicts are identified, an alternative reviewer will be chosen.

4. Double-Blind Review

• Anonymity: PJAOG follows a double-blind review process to ensure that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous, promoting an objective evaluation free from bias.
• Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on the following:

• Originality and Novelty
• Methodological Rigor
• Data and Results
• Relevance and Impact
• Clarity and Structure

• Reviewer’s Report: Reviewers provide a detailed report with specific comments, suggestions, and recommendations regarding whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected.

5. Editorial Decision

• Handling Editor’s Assessment: Based on the feedback from the reviewers, the Handling Editor formulates a recommendation. If necessary, additional reviews may be requested.
• Decision Categories:

• Accept: Manuscript is accepted for publication without further revisions.
• Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor revisions, and authors must resubmit after making the changes.
• Major Revisions: Significant revisions are needed before resubmission, with possible additional reviews.
• Reject: The manuscript is deemed unsuitable for publication due to significant flaws or misalignment with the journal’s scope.

• Final Decision: The Handling Editor’s recommendation is sent to the Editor-in-Chief, who makes the final decision. Authors are then notified of the decision and any required revisions.

6. Revision and Resubmission

• Author Revisions: Authors are given a set timeframe to address the reviewer comments and submit a revised manuscript. A detailed response letter outlining the changes made must accompany the revised submission.
• Re-Review (if applicable): For significant revisions, the manuscript may be sent back to the original reviewers for a second evaluation.

7. Final Acceptance and Publication

• Final Check: The editorial office conducts a final review to ensure that all revisions have been incorporated and that the manuscript adheres to the journal’s standards.
• Proofing: Authors receive proofs of the accepted manuscript for final approval. This allows for minor corrections before publication.
• Online Publication: Once accepted, the manuscript is published in the next available issue of PJAOG. Articles are immediately accessible under the journal’s open-access policy and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license.

8. Post-Publication

• Post-Publication Review: PJAOG encourages ongoing scholarly discussion and feedback. If significant new information or concerns arise post-publication, the editorial team may issue corrections, retractions, or updates.
• Author and Reviewer Recognition: PJAOG acknowledges the contributions of authors and reviewers in advancing the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Reviewers providing high-quality feedback may be invited to join the editorial board or serve as guest editors.