Reviewer's Responsibilities

Reviewers play a vital role in safeguarding the scientific integrity, quality, and credibility of the Clinical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CJOG). Their independent assessments ensure that submitted manuscripts meet the journal’s standards of methodological rigor, ethical compliance, clinical relevance, and scholarly excellence. This comprehensive guide outlines the responsibilities, ethical duties, and professional expectations of CJOG reviewers, aligned with COPE, ICMJE, and WAME peer-review ethics.

1. Core Reviewer Responsibilities

Every reviewer entrusted with a CJOG manuscript must fulfill the following core duties:

1.1 Scientific Evaluation

• Assess the study’s scientific soundness and methodology.
• Evaluate statistical analyses for appropriateness and accuracy.
• Verify consistency between data and conclusions.
• Determine whether the manuscript advances knowledge in obstetrics/gynecology.

1.2 Ethical Assessment

• Identify ethical concerns in study design.
• Check for required IRB/ethics committee approvals.
• Confirm the presence of informed consent in clinical case reports.
• Detect potential misconduct or ethical irregularities.

1.3 Constructive Feedback

1.4 Timely Completion of Reviews

• Respond to invitations within 48 hours
• Complete reviews within 14 days (standard)
• Request extensions only when necessary

2. Confidentiality Responsibilities

Confidentiality is central to the peer-review process. Manuscripts contain unpublished findings and sensitive information that must remain protected.

2.1 What Must Be Kept Confidential?

• Manuscript content, including data, images, and analyses
• Author identities (in double-blind review)
• Reviewer identities (always protected)
• Correspondence with the editorial team
• Internal comments or discussions

2.2 Prohibited Actions

2.3 Post-Review Confidentiality

• Personal devices
• Email attachments
• Cloud storage

3. Conflict of Interest (COI) Management

Reviewers must evaluate their own potential conflicts carefully.

3.1 Common Reviewer COIs

• Recent co-authorship with the submitting authors
• Shared institutional affiliation
• Personal or professional relationships
• Financial stakes in study outcomes
• Academic rivalry or competition

3.2 Required Reviewer Action

• Declare conflicts immediately upon receiving the invitation
• Decline the review if impartiality cannot be assured

4. Evaluating Manuscripts: What Reviewers Must Assess

4.1 Scientific Merit

• Novelty of the research question
• Relevance to current clinical practice
• Contribution to the field

4.2 Study Design

• The methodology is clearly described
• The study design is appropriate for the research question
• Bias is minimized and controlled for

4.3 Data and Statistical Analysis

• Are statistical tests appropriate?
• Are confidence intervals provided?
• Are results reproducible?
• Is data integrity maintained?

4.4 Ethical Compliance

• IRB approval explicitly stated?
• Informed consent documented?
• Animal ethics approval included (if applicable)?

4.5 Figures, Tables, and Images

• Clarity and accuracy of figures (especially ultrasounds or fetal imaging)
• If image manipulation is suspected
• Appropriate captions and labeling

5. Responsibilities in Providing Feedback

CJOG reviewers must offer feedback that is constructive, respectful, and helpful for authors.

5.1 General Feedback

• Describe strengths and weaknesses clearly
• Suggest improvements, not rewrites
• Focus critiques on content, not authors

5.2 Major Concerns

• Serious methodological issues
• Ethical concerns
• Missing critical data
• Statistical flaws

5.3 Minor Concerns

• Minor wording or clarity issues
• Formatting inconsistencies
• Additional references to strengthen background

6. Professional Conduct and Tone

6.1 Required Tone

• Professional and respectful
• Evidence-based
• Objective and neutral
• Encouraging of improvements

6.2 Unacceptable Tone

7. Responsibilities in Detecting Misconduct

Reviewers must remain vigilant and report concerns discreetly to editors.

7.1 Types of Misconduct Reviewers May Encounter

• Plagiarism or recycled content
• Fabricated or manipulated data
• Image falsification (e.g., altered clinical images)
• Duplicate publication
• Missing or unclear ethical approvals

7.2 Reporting Misconduct

• Use the confidential comment box
• Provide evidence or reasoning
• Avoid accusations; remain objective

8. Responsibilities After Reviewing

8.1 File Deletion

• Delete all manuscript files
• Clear downloaded attachments
• Avoid retaining personal copies

8.2 Continuing Confidentiality

• Keep review content private
• Not disclose decisions or reviewer identities

9. Use of AI and Digital Tools by Reviewers

9.1 Permitted Uses

• Language polishing of review text
• Summarizing notes (if manuscript content is not uploaded to AI tools)

9.2 Prohibited Uses

9.3 Required Disclosure

AI was used only for grammar refinement in writing this review. All analysis and
scientific conclusions are entirely my own.

10. Responsibilities in Re-Reviewing Revised Manuscripts

Reviewers must evaluate whether authors have responded adequately to comments.

10.1 What Reviewers Must Check

• All concerns addressed point-by-point
• New data added is valid and documented
• Revisions improve clarity and rigor

10.2 Re-Review Best Practices

• Be concise, focusing on revised sections
• Avoid reopening previously resolved issues
• Highlight remaining gaps clearly

11. Responsibilities in Recommendations

11.1 Decision Categories Reviewers Must Choose From

• Accept
• Minor Revision
• Major Revision
• Reject

11.2 Reviewer’s Recommendation Must Be

• Evidence-based
• Aligned with comments
• Constructive and fair

12. Recognizing Reviewer Contributions

CJOG acknowledges the generosity and expertise of reviewers through:

• Annual reviewer certificates
• Recognition on Publons/ORCID
• Potential editorial board invitations
• Preferred reviewer status for excellent performance

Conclusion

Reviewers are integral to the scientific integrity and clinical relevance of CJOG. Their contributions ensure that published manuscripts meet the highest standards of accuracy, ethics, and scholarly merit. By fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in this document, reviewers support the advancement of obstetrics and gynecology and uphold the trust placed in CJOG by researchers worldwide.