This page walks authors through each stage of the publishing process — from preparing a manuscript through to publication and beyond — and explains where standardized reporting guidance from the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) applies at each step. Following these steps closely gives your manuscript the best possible chance of moving smoothly through review.
Step 1: Choose the Right Manuscript Type and Reporting Guideline
Before you begin writing, identify which article type best fits your work (e.g., original research, systematic review, case report, brief report) and consult our Information for Authors page for the specific requirements and word limits for that category.
Wherever applicable, manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the relevant EQUATOR Network reporting guideline for your study design. Using the correct guideline from the start of the writing process — not just before submission — is the most efficient way to avoid delays at review. Commonly required guidelines include:
| Study Design | Reporting Guideline |
| Randomized controlled trials | CONSORT |
| Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) | STROBE |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA |
| Case reports | CARE |
| Diagnostic/prognostic accuracy studies | STARD |
| Study protocols | SPIRIT |
| Animal pre-clinical research | ARRIVE |
| Quality improvement studies | SQUIRE |
| Economic evaluations | CHEERS |
| Qualitative research | SRQR or COREQ |
A full, searchable library of over 400 reporting guidelines covering nearly every study type is maintained by the EQUATOR Network. If you are uncertain which guideline applies to your study, the EQUATOR Network’s guideline selector is a good starting point. Completed checklists (and, where applicable, flow diagrams such as the CONSORT or PRISMA flow diagram) should be submitted alongside your manuscript.
All clinical trials must additionally be prospectively registered in a recognized public trial registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov) before submission, with the registration number included in the manuscript.
Step 2: Prepare Your Submission
Assemble the required components of your submission package:
- Title page (title, running title, full author list with degrees and affiliations, corresponding author contact details)
- Structured abstract (where required for your manuscript type) Please use the following PRISMA checklist
- Main manuscript text, references, tables, and figures as separate files
- Completed reporting guideline checklist (see Step 1)
- Trial registration number, if applicable
- Signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form for each author
- Ethics approval documentation and, where applicable, evidence of informed consent
- Signed copyright transfer or license agreement
- Cover letter explaining the significance of the work and confirming it is original and not under consideration elsewhere
Step 3: Submission and Initial Acknowledgment
Manuscripts are submitted electronically to the editorial office. Submissions are typically acknowledged and assigned a manuscript number within one to two weeks. This number should be referenced in all future correspondence about the manuscript.
Step 4: Editorial Screening
An editor conducts an initial in-house evaluation to assess the manuscript’s fit with the journal’s scope, originality, completeness, and adherence to reporting standards. A significant proportion of manuscripts are declined at this stage without external peer review. Authors are notified promptly if their manuscript does not proceed further.
Step 5: Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass initial screening are sent for blinded peer review by two or more independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers assess the validity, originality, methodological rigor, and significance of the work, including whether the manuscript adequately follows the applicable EQUATOR reporting guideline. The peer review process typically takes several months, though manuscripts identified for expedited handling may be reviewed more quickly.
Step 6: Editorial Decision
Following peer review, the corresponding author is notified of one of the following outcomes:
- Accept — the manuscript is approved for publication, generally with minor edits.
- Revise — the manuscript may be reconsidered following specified revisions (minor or major).
- Reject — the manuscript is not accepted for publication.
Authors who believe a rejection decision was made in error may submit an appeal in accordance with our Author Complaints and Appeals Policy.
Step 7: Acceptance and Production
Once a manuscript is accepted:
- The manuscript undergoes copyediting for style, clarity, and consistency.
- Authors review and approve page proofs (galleys) prior to publication.
- Where applicable, the article processing charge (APC) is invoiced.
Step 8: Revision
If revisions are requested, authors should address each reviewer and editor comment point by point in an accompanying response letter, and clearly indicate corresponding changes in the manuscript. Revised manuscripts are typically sent back to the original reviewers for a further round of review.
Step 9: Publication
Accepted articles are typically published online ahead of the print issue and are assigned a permanent digital object identifier (DOI). The online version is identical to the final print version. Authors are notified in advance of the online publication date.
After Publication
Our commitment to the integrity of the published record continues after an article appears in print or online:
- Post-publication discussion. Readers may submit a Letter to the Editor regarding a published article; the original authors are typically given the opportunity to reply.
- Corrections. Errors that do not affect the scholarly validity of an article are addressed through a corrigendum (author error) or erratum (publisher error), linked to the original article.
- Retractions. Where serious concerns arise about the reliability of published findings, the journal follows COPE Retraction Guidelines to investigate and, where warranted, issue a retraction.
Full details on these processes are available in our Publication Ethics and Editorial Policies guide.
Questions about any stage of the publishing process can be directed to the editorial office at mary@innovisionhm.com.