Becoming a peer reviewer to medical education journals

Samy A. AzerKing Saud University, Saudi Arabia; SAMY A. AZER, MD, PhD (USyd), MEd (UNSW), FACG, PhD (UNSW), is a Professor of Medical Education and the Head of Curriculum Development and Research Unit, College of Medicine, King Saud University. He was a Professor of Medical Education and Chair of Medical Education Research and Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Formerly, he was a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney. Over the last four years, he has conducted a number of seminars in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and several other countries titled, ‘Mastering the Art of Medical Education Research’, with the aim to develop peer review skills of participants. He has been a reviewer to many journals including Medical Education, Medical Teacher, BMC Medical Education, BMJ, Clinical Anatomy, Anatomical Sciences Education and others. He is one of the Associate Editors of BMC Medical Education and on the Editorial Board of MedEdWorld, UK.Correspondence[email protected]

Subha RamaniBoston University School of Medicine, USA; SUBHA RAMANI, MBBS, MMEd, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. She is a general internist with a major interest in medical education. She completed Internal Medicine residencies at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), India, as well as East Tennessee State University, USA, and a fellowship in General Internal Medicine at Boston University. She has participated in several medical education courses and completed a Masters in Medical Education at the University of Dundee, Scotland. Over the last 7 years, she has organised many staff development workshops and seminars for clinical educators at her institution and various educational conferences including the AMEE meeting. She has served as a peer reviewer for medical education journals including the Medical Teacher, Medical Education and Academic Medicine and is a contributing editor to MedEdWorld.

Ray PetersonUniversity of Adelaide, Australia; RAY PETERSON, BSc (Hon), MAppSc, PhD, DipEd, Grad DipScEd, is an Associate Professor in Education in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Adelaide. He trained in science education and moved into medical education in the mid-1990s. He has worked on major curriculum development and renewal projects in medicine and has wide ranging educational interests in teaching, learning and assessment. Prior to his current appointment, he was Head of the Discipline of Medical Education at the University of Queensland. He supervises post graduate research students in medical, dental and physiotherapy education and regularly reviews for international medical education journals.

Abstract

Background: Peer reviewing for medical education journals is an art, a privilege, a responsibility and a service to the profession. Writing a review report requires skills and commitment and takes time. Novice reviewers may be interested in participating in this service, but they might lack sufficient knowledge of their role as peer reviewers and the skills needed to conduct a comprehensive and fair review.

Aims: The aims of this article are to help novice reviewers in their preparation of manuscript review reports and improve their confidence and skills in their role as reviewers.

Methods: We reviewed the literature in this area and applied lessons learned from our experience as peer reviewers. In addition, one of the authors has presented several training workshops for faculty reviewers.

Results: Incorporating all the methods described, we have developed a series of simple strategies that medical educators can utilise to perform high-quality reviews of manuscripts.

Conclusions: Though the development of skills in reviewing medical education papers is the outcome of continuous practice and experience; the strategies described in this article will be of value to those starting their professional contribution as reviewers and enhance their skills in this area.

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Becoming a peer reviewer to medical education journals

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Becoming a peer reviewer to medical education journals

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