Peer Review Process

The Journal of Pericardiology (JOP) follows a strict double-blind peer review process to ensure the scientific quality, clinical relevance, and ethical integrity of all published articles.

1. Initial Editorial Evaluation

Each submitted manuscript undergoes an initial assessment by the editorial office to evaluate:

  • Alignment with the aims and scope of the journal
  • Compliance with author guidelines
  • Originality and academic merit

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected without external peer review.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to two or more independent expert reviewers in pericardiology or cardiovascular medicine. The identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed to ensure an objective and unbiased evaluation.

3. Reviewer Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on the following criteria:

  • Originality and scientific or clinical contribution
  • Methodological rigor and research design
  • Accuracy of data analysis and interpretation
  • Relevance to clinical practice and pericardial diseases
  • Clarity of presentation, structure, and organization
  • Ethical compliance and patient safety considerations

4. Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer reports, the editorial decision may be:

  • Accept
  • Accept with minor revisions
  • Major revisions required
  • Reject

Authors receive detailed and constructive feedback to support manuscript revision.

5. Revision and Re-evaluation

Revised manuscripts are assessed by the handling editor and, when necessary, returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation.

6. Final Decision

The final publication decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief, based on editorial assessment and reviewer recommendations.

7. Timeliness and Transparency

JOP is committed to a timely, transparent, and efficient peer review process while maintaining the highest standards of scientific and clinical quality.

8. Ethical Responsibilities

Editors and reviewers are required to adhere to ethical standards including:

  • Confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Disclosure of conflicts of interest
  • Professionalism, fairness, and objectivity

Article Processing Charges (APC)

The Journal of Pericardiology (JOP) is an open-access journal. An Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied to accepted manuscripts to support editorial management, peer review, online hosting, production, and long-term digital preservation.

APC Details

  • Article Processing Charge: USD 500
  • Submission Fee: None
  • Applicable to: All accepted articles
  • Payment Timing: Payable only after final acceptance

Waiver and Discount Policy

APC waivers or partial discounts may be considered in exceptional cases, including authors from low-income or developing countries, early-career researchers, or invited submissions. All waiver requests are subject to editorial approval.

Transparency Policy

JOP maintains a clear and transparent fee structure. There are no hidden charges at any stage of submission, peer review, or publication.