JDHII is committed to a transparent, efficient, and high-quality publication process that upholds rigorous scientific standards while ensuring timely dissemination of research in digital health informatics and intelligence. Below is a step-by-step overview of the typical journey from manuscript submission to final publication.
- Manuscript Preparation and Submission
- Authors prepare their manuscript following the journal’s ‘Instructions for Authors’ (available on the Submissions page), including adherence to relevant reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE), formatting requirements, and ethical declarations.
- Ensure all required elements are included: cover letter, title page, blinded manuscript, figures/tables, supplementary materials, conflict of interest statement, data availability statement, and ethics approvals where applicable.
- Submit the manuscript via the journal’s online submission system (e.g., Editorial Manager or similar platform).
- Upon submission, the corresponding author receives an automated confirmation with a manuscript ID.
- Initial Editorial Screening (Desk Review)
- The Editor-in-Chief or an Associate Editor conducts a preliminary assessment within 5–10 days.
- Checks include: fit with journal scope, originality, scientific quality, adherence to guidelines, ethical compliance, and overall suitability for peer review.
- Manuscripts that do not meet minimum standards may be desk-rejected at this stage with brief feedback.
- Manuscripts passing screening are assigned to a handling editor.
Typical duration: 1–2 weeks.
- Peer Review Process
- JDHII uses double-blind peer review (authors and reviewers remain anonymous).
- The handling editor invites at least two independent expert reviewers (often 2–4), selected based on expertise, avoiding conflicts of interest.
- Reviewers evaluate the manuscript for scientific validity, methodological rigor, novelty, clarity, relevance, and ethical aspects, typically within 3–4 weeks.
- Reviewers submit detailed reports with recommendations: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, Reject with resubmission encouraged, or Reject.
- The handling editor synthesizes reviewer comments and makes a recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief.
Typical duration: 3–4 weeks for the first round (may vary depending on reviewer availability).
- Revision and Re-review
- Authors receive decision letters with reviewer comments and are invited to revise and resubmit (usually within 3–4 weeks for major revisions, 1–2 weeks for minor).
- Authors must provide a point-by-point response to reviewers and indicate all changes made (tracked changes or highlighted in the revised manuscript).
- Revised manuscripts may undergo additional review rounds (1–2 more common) until the handling editor and reviewers are satisfied.
- Once revisions are deemed acceptable, the manuscript receives a provisional acceptance.
Typical duration: 1–2 weeks per revision cycle (total process often 2–4 rounds).
- Final Acceptance and Production
- Upon final acceptance by the Editor-in-Chief, authors receive a formal acceptance notification.
- Authors complete post-acceptance tasks:
- Sign the ‘License to Publish’ agreement (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 open access license).
- Pay the Article Processing Charge (APC), if applicable (waivers/discounts available for eligible authors).
- Provide final high-resolution figures, corrected proofs, and any supplementary files.
- The manuscript enters production: copyediting, typesetting, proofreading, and author query resolution (authors review and approve proofs within 48–72 hours).
Typical duration: 1–2 weeks from acceptance to proofs; 1 week for author approval.
- Online Publication and Indexing
- The article is published online-first (ahead-of-print) with a DOI immediately after proof approval and final checks.
- Articles appear in the journal’s current issue shortly thereafter.
- Metadata is deposited with indexing services (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, etc.) for discoverability.
- The final version of record is permanently archived and openly accessible under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Overall timeline (from submission to online publication): Typically 3–4 months, depending on revision needs, reviewer responsiveness, and complexity. We aim for efficient yet thorough review.
Key Principles Throughout the Process
- Transparency: Authors receive regular status updates via the submission system.
- Fairness: Decisions are based on scientific merit, free from bias.
- Ethics: Strict adherence to COPE, ICMJE, and journal policies.
- Speed with quality: We prioritize timely decisions without compromising rigor.
We encourage authors to submit manuscripts through the submission link or email to < jdhii@ciir.in >.