Your Role as a Reviewer for AJPE

Fundamental Concepts in Reviewing Manuscripts Why become an AJPE reviewer? What to do when you receive an invitation Suggestions for the review process Suggestions for the written review For more helpful suggestions, refer to: Your Role and Responsibilities in the Manuscript Peer Review Process –Gayle A. Brazeau, Joseph T. DiPiro, Jack E. Fincham, Bradley A. Boucher, and Timothy S. Tracy –AJPE 72(3), Article 69, 2008 –Available at:

Why become an AJPE reviewer? Professional responsibility –Ensure and enhance quality of the literature in pharmacy education Enhance your professional reputation Enhance your scholarly abilities Means to mentor junior colleagues, residents and students

When You Receive an Invitation Do you have the expertise needed to review this paper? Do you have a conflict of interest with the paper or authors? Do you have time to finish the review by the due date? (You may ask for a short extension if needed, but remember that the authors are awaiting your feedback.)

Suggestions for the Review Process Read Manuscript from three perspectives –You should seek understanding of the content of the manuscript. –You should read the manuscript with a critical, but fair and objective eye. –You should read the manuscript as a colleague who wants to improve the quality of the manuscript. The review is a confidential process It takes an experienced reviewer approximately 2-3 hours. It may take a new reviewer 5-6 hours.

Reviewers should not…. Contact authors to discuss a manuscript. Reveal, cite, or in any way disclose information about a manuscript prior to publication Provide specific comments on grammar, spelling, or style Additional reviewers –It is permissible to request the assistance of colleagues to review a manuscript. The names of the additional reviewers should be provided to the Editor.

Suggestions for the Written Review Read instructions to reviewers and consider the suggested questions. Provide a recommendation to the editor Include two sections Confidential comments to the editor Comments to the authors –General comments –Specific comments (give page or line number to help the author identify where the content to which you are referring is located)

Suggestions for the Written Review Cont. Address any questions from the Journal instructions to reviewers Follow the format for submitting the review

Instructions for Reviewers When you are invited to review, you will receive instructions on how to access the manuscript using AJPEs Editorial Manager site at Please answer the questions related to the manuscript at the site Please provide a rating for the manuscript Please make sure you put the appropriate comments in the correct area (Editor vs. Author)

Slide presentation created by Gayle Brazeau, PhD Associate Editor American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education