Peer review in journals indexed in Index Medicus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether peer review policies are published in English-language journals indexed in Index Medicus and, secondarily, to obtain information on the peer review practices of such journals.


METHODS
Examined one issue of a sample of all journal titles written in English and indexed in Index Medicus, and all indexed English-language journals in four subject fields. A questionnaire was sent to the editors of journals in the subject fields requesting information on their peer review practices.


METHODS
Journals received at the National Library of Medicine.


METHODS
Editors of journals in four subject fields.


METHODS
Existence of a printed statement of the peer review process for manuscripts.


RESULTS
Although the editors queried in the four subject fields indicated that overall, 56% to 65% of the articles were peer reviewed, clear statements about their peer review practices were not found in half of their journals or in the overall sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Editors should publish clear statements of the peer review process followed for each type of article published in their journals.
National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md 20894.
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Colaianni
D008523:MEDLARS; D009317:National Library of Medicine (U.S.); D017712:Peer Review, Research; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States