Editorial Process
Article types accepted
ScientiAmericana accepts only the four types of contribution set out below. Review articles, opinion letters, book reviews and conference abstracts are not accepted.
Editorial
A reasoned opinion piece on a subject of relevance to the journal or to the health field, written at the invitation of the Editorial Committee. Maximum length 1,200 words and up to 10 references. No abstract or keywords. Not sent for external review; publication is decided by the Editor-in-Chief.
Original article
A report of previously unpublished research, following the IMRaD structure: introduction, materials and methods, results and discussion. Maximum length 4,000 words, excluding abstract, references, tables and figures. Up to 40 references, 5 tables or figures in total, and a structured abstract of up to 250 words. Subject to external double-blind peer review.
Case report
A description of one or more clinical cases of interest by reason of their rarity, atypical presentation or the contribution their management represents. It must include introduction, case presentation, discussion and conclusion. Maximum length 2,500 words, up to 20 references, 4 tables or figures, and an unstructured abstract of up to 200 words. Written informed consent from the patient or their legal representative is required. Subject to external double-blind peer review.
Letter to the editor
A brief comment on an article published in the journal within the previous twelve months, or a concise communication of a finding that does not warrant a full article. Maximum length 1,000 words, up to 10 references and one table or figure. No abstract. Assessed by the Editorial Committee; where it comments on a published article, the authors concerned are offered a right of reply.
Peer review process
All original articles and case reports received by ScientiAmericana undergo external peer review under a double-blind arrangement: reviewers do not know the identity of the authors, and authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.
Stages
- Receipt and preliminary screening. The editorial team verifies that the manuscript falls within the journal’s scope and complies with the author guidelines, and carries out the originality check. Submissions that do not meet the minimum requirements are rejected at this stage, without proceeding to review. Authors receive a response within ten calendar days of receipt.
- Reviewer assignment. Manuscripts that pass the preliminary stage are sent to a minimum of two reviewers external to Universidad Sudamericana, selected for their demonstrated expertise in the subject of the work.
- Reports are expected to be returned within four to six weeks.
- Editorial decision. The editor decides on the basis of the reports received and communicates one of the following decisions to the author: accept, accept with minor revisions, request major revisions with re-evaluation, or reject. Where reports conflict, a third reviewer is consulted and the final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief.
- Copy-editing and publication. Once a work is accepted, copy-editing, typesetting and author proof review are carried out prior to publication.
Assessment criteria
Reviewers assess the originality and relevance of the work, the soundness of the study design, the appropriateness of the analysis, the correspondence between results and conclusions, the currency of the references and the clarity of the exposition.
Conditions of review
Reviewers decline to assess manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists. Information contained in manuscripts is confidential and may not be used for personal benefit or disclosed before publication, and the identity of reviewers is not made public.
