Peer Evaluation

Peer Review Process

The Revista Hispanoamericana de Ciencias de la Salud (RHCS) applies a double-blind peer review process to all submitted manuscripts, with the aim of ensuring the scientific quality, methodological validity, originality, thematic relevance, and academic contribution of the articles it publishes.

1. Preliminary editorial assessment

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial evaluation conducted by the RHCS Editorial Board. At this stage, the following aspects are assessed:

  • Compliance with the Instructions for Authors and formatting requirements.

  • Originality of the manuscript and absence of duplicate or redundant publication.

  • Thematic relevance and consistency with the journal’s editorial scope.

  • Fulfillment of ethical requirements and mandatory declarations.

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage without external peer review. Authors will be duly informed of this decision.

2. Double-blind peer review

Manuscripts that pass the preliminary editorial assessment are sent to two external peer reviewers, either national or international, selected based on their academic expertise and subject-matter competence.

The review is conducted under a double-blind model, whereby:

  • Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors.

  • Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.

Reviewers provide an independent technical report using a standardized evaluation form and may recommend one of the following decisions:

  • Acceptance without modifications.

  • Acceptance with minor revisions.

  • Major revision.

  • Rejection.

3. Resolution of discrepant reviews

If the reviewers’ recommendations are conflicting or substantially divergent, the manuscript may be submitted to a third independent reviewer, whose assessment will support the final editorial decision.

4. Author revision and response to reviewers

When revisions are required, the manuscript is returned to the authors along with the reviewers’ comments. Authors must:

  • Submit a revised version of the manuscript, and

  • Provide a detailed response document explaining how each comment was addressed.

The Editorial Board will evaluate the adequacy of the revisions and may, if deemed necessary, send the revised manuscript back to the reviewers.

5. Editorial decision and final editing

Based on the peer review reports and editorial evaluation, the Editorial Board makes the final decision regarding publication.

Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, language editing, and layout preparation. The final proof version (PDF) is sent to the authors for review and approval prior to publication.
At this stage, only minor formal or typographical corrections are permitted; substantive changes to content are not allowed.

An article will be published only after all stages of the editorial process have been satisfactorily completed.