- Reviewer guidance
- Single-blind by default
For Reviewers
Peer reviewers evaluate manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Arthritis Research and Therapy for validity, rigor, and clarity, and advise the editors on whether the conclusions are supported by the evidence.
Responding to an invitation
- Expertise
- Accept when the manuscript falls within your expertise, or tell the editor which parts you can assess.
- Conflicts of interest
- Decline, or consult the editor, if you have a competing interest such as recent collaboration with an author, a shared institution, a personal relationship or a financial interest in the work.
- Availability
- Each invitation states the date by which the report is requested. Accept when you can meet it, and tell the editorial office promptly if you need more time.
- Reply
- Accept or decline promptly. When declining, suggestions of independent alternative reviewers are welcome.
Confidentiality, files and AI tools
Manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Reviewers do not share them, discuss them with others, or contact the authors, and consult a colleague only with the editor’s permission.
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request. For double-blind manuscripts, reviewers must not attempt to identify the authors.
After submitting the review, reviewers should securely delete downloaded manuscript files and must not retain or use unpublished material. Reviewers must obtain journal permission before using AI to assist with a review. Any permitted use must be disclosed, and confidential manuscript content must not be uploaded where confidentiality cannot be assured.
What to assess
Questions apply where applicable to the study design and article type. A reviewer may assess only part of a manuscript, such as the statistical analysis, if the editor is told.
| Aspect | Questions to consider |
|---|---|
| Relevance | Does the manuscript address a question about arthritis or rheumatic disease within the journal’s Aims and Scope, and is its contribution clear? |
| Design | Is the design appropriate to the question, for example a laboratory, animal, cohort, trial, qualitative or evidence-synthesis design? |
| Methods and analysis | Are materials, measures and statistical or qualitative analysis appropriate and described in enough detail to be evaluated? |
| Results | Are the findings presented clearly and consistently with the data, tables and figures? |
| Interpretation | Are the conclusions proportionate to the evidence, with limitations and alternative explanations discussed? |
| Ethics and reporting | Are ethics approval and informed consent, or a documented waiver, reported where applicable? Is the relevant reporting guideline, such as CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE or ARRIVE, followed? |
| Presentation | Do the title and abstract reflect the content accurately, and are the writing, tables and figures clear? |
Points of emphasis by article type
| Article type | Emphasis |
|---|---|
| Original Research | The research question, design, analysis, and whether the conclusions follow from the results. |
| Review | A defined question, a transparent account of literature selection, and a balanced, critical synthesis. |
| Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Protocol or registration where available, search strategy, study selection, risk-of-bias assessment, synthesis methods and PRISMA reporting. |
| Methods | Validity and usefulness of the method, comparison with existing approaches, and enough detail for others to apply it. |
| Short Communication | A focused finding reported with sufficient methods to judge it. |
| Data Note | Description of the dataset, collection methods, quality control, access conditions and potential uses. |
| Case Report | The new insight the case adds, completeness of the account, consent, and CARE reporting where applicable. |
| Commentary | Clarity and support of the argument, use of evidence, and relevance to the field. |
| Letter | Pertinence to published work, and accuracy of its claims. |
Structure of the report
Comments to authors are specific, constructive and courteous. Reviewers make a recommendation; the editor makes the decision. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
- Summary. The manuscript’s question, approach and main claims, in a few sentences.
- Overall assessment. Strengths of the work and whether the conclusions are supported.
- Major points. Issues of design, analysis or interpretation that affect the conclusions, numbered for reference.
- Minor points. Clarity, presentation, references and other corrections.
- Confidential comments to the editor. Concerns about ethics, overlap with other work or competing interests.
- Recommendation. Accept, minor revision, major revision or reject.
Joining as a reviewer
Researchers and clinicians with expertise in arthritis and rheumatic disease are welcome to join the journal’s reviewer panel. Apply online or write to info@openaccesspub.org with your field of expertise. Reviewing confers no advantage in the review of the reviewer’s own submissions.