Peer Review Process

Every manuscript submitted to Osteology and Rheumatology (OROJ) passes through a structured review workflow, from initial submission to final publication decision, consistent with COPE's core practices for peer-reviewed journals.

Step 1: Manuscript Submission

Authors submit manuscripts through the journal's online submission system, following the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Step 2: Editorial Screening

Upon receipt, the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned Associate Editor conducts an initial screening to confirm the manuscript falls within the journal's Aims and Scope, meets basic formatting requirements, and shows no immediate red flags such as suspected plagiarism (see Plagiarism Policy) or incomplete ethical documentation (see Ethical Approvals & Human/Animal Rights).

Step 3: Reviewer Assignment

Manuscripts that pass editorial screening are assigned to a minimum of two independent peer reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise, selected according to the standards outlined in the journal's Reviewer Guidelines.

Step 4: Independent Review

Each reviewer independently evaluates the manuscript against the criteria set out in the Peer Review Policy and submits detailed written feedback using the journal's Reviewer Evaluation Form, including a recommendation of Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

Step 5: Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editor considers all reviewer feedback and renders a decision, consistent with the journal's Editorial Process. Where reviewer recommendations diverge significantly, the editor may seek an additional reviewer opinion or make an independent editorial judgment.

Step 6: Author Revision

If revisions are requested, authors are given a defined period to submit a revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. Revised manuscripts may undergo an additional round of review at the editor's discretion.

Step 7: Final Decision

Once all review rounds are complete, the Editor-in-Chief issues a final decision. Rejected manuscripts are returned to the author with reviewer feedback where appropriate; accepted manuscripts proceed to production.

Step 8: Publication

Accepted manuscripts are prepared for publication, assigned a DOI through the journal's Crossref membership, and published in the current issue, in line with the journal's Open Access Policy.