Peer Review

Every manuscript submitted to IJCI undergoes independent peer review. Submissions are first assessed editorially for scope, completeness, and adherence to ethical and reporting requirements. Manuscripts that meet these criteria are sent to external reviewers who are not members of the authors' research groups or institutions.

Reviewers provide written assessments and recommendations. Editorial decisions are made by the journal's editors after considering all reviews; recommendations are advisory and are not binding on the editors.

Reviewers are invited on the basis of documented expertise relevant to the specific subject, methodology, and clinical context of the submitted work. Where a manuscript relies on advanced statistical, surgical, technological, or educational methods, the journal seeks reviewers with corresponding methodological experience.

Manuscripts are confidential documents. Reviewers and editors must not share, distribute, or discuss a submission or its contents with third parties, and may not use unpublished material or ideas obtained through review for their own purposes. Reviewers are asked to destroy or delete manuscript files after completing their assessment.

Reviewers and editors must disclose any financial, professional, personal, or institutional relationship that could reasonably be perceived to affect their judgment, and must recuse themselves when a material conflict exists. Editors with a conflict relating to a submission are excluded from that manuscript's handling and decision.

Reviews evaluate the scientific validity, methodological rigor, clarity, ethical conduct, and clinical relevance of the work. Assessments are expected to be constructive, evidence-based, and free from personal criticism or bias relating to authors' nationality, institution, career stage, training background, or geographic location.

Editorial decisions rest solely with the journal's editors and are based on the scientific quality and relevance of the work. No institution, sponsor, advertiser, or third party influences acceptance, rejection, or the content of published articles.