Peer Review Process

Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to GENCARE: Journal of Community Service in Health undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality, originality, ethical integrity, practical relevance, and contribution of each publication. The journal employs a double-blind peer review system, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential to maintain objective and unbiased evaluation.

The review process is conducted by independent reviewers with relevant expertise in health sciences, community service, community empowerment, health promotion, community-based interventions, or related disciplines. Reviewers evaluate the quality of the manuscript, relevance of the community problem, appropriateness of the intervention, community participation, evaluation of outcomes, sustainability, clarity of presentation, and contribution to health practice.

The average time from submission to the first editorial decision is approximately 6–8 weeks, while the complete review process, including revisions, generally takes 8–12 weeks, depending on reviewer availability, manuscript complexity, and the number of revision rounds required.

Submission to GENCARE does not guarantee acceptance. In cases of unexpected delays, authors will be informed accordingly and may choose to withdraw their manuscript if they wish.

Initial Screening (Pre-Review)

Upon submission to GENCARE: Journal of Community Service in Health, each manuscript undergoes an initial screening conducted by the Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor. This stage typically takes 1–2 weeks and evaluates:

  • Alignment with the journal's focus and scope
  • Compliance with author and submission guidelines
  • Originality and scholarly quality
  • Relevance of the community or partner health problem
  • Clarity of the community service intervention or empowerment program
  • Ethical compliance and publication integrity
  • Completeness of manuscript structure and supporting documentation

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate. GENCARE applies a maximum similarity threshold of 20%.

Similarity within this range may be acceptable for certain sections, such as standard methodological descriptions, properly cited quotations, or materials derived from academic community service reports. However, plagiarism, inappropriate citation practices, duplication of previously published work, or excessive similarity may result in rejection or return to the authors for revision before peer review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening proceed to the formal peer-review stage.

Assignment of Reviewers

After passing the initial screening, a Section Editor or Handling Editor is assigned to manage the manuscript, typically within 1–3 days. The editor then appoints at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise, usually within one week.

To maintain the double-blind review system, authors must remove all identifying information from the manuscript, including author names, institutional affiliations, acknowledgements, and other information that may reveal the identity of the authors.

Reviewers are selected based on:

  • Expertise relevant to the manuscript topic
  • Experience in health sciences or community service
  • Academic and/or professional qualifications
  • Experience in community-based health programs where applicable
  • Absence of conflicts of interest

Where possible, reviewers are affiliated with institutions different from those of the authors to maintain objectivity and impartiality.

Review Process

Once reviewers accept the invitation, they are generally given approximately 4–6 weeks to complete the evaluation.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

  • Relevance and significance of the community health problem
  • Originality and innovation of the community service program
  • Clarity of objectives and target population or community partners
  • Appropriateness of the intervention, empowerment strategy, or health activity
  • Meaningful participation of community members or partners
  • Clarity and appropriateness of implementation procedures
  • Appropriateness of program evaluation methods
  • Accuracy and clarity of reported results
  • Demonstrated benefits or impact for the target community
  • Ethical appropriateness and participant protection
  • Potential sustainability, replication, or development of the program
  • Quality of discussion and linkage with relevant scientific literature
  • Clarity, organization, and quality of academic writing
  • Overall contribution to community service and health practice

Reviewers provide constructive comments and recommend one of the following decisions:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

If revisions are required, the manuscript is returned to the authors for improvement. Revised manuscripts may undergo additional review rounds, particularly in cases of major revisions. Each revision cycle generally takes 2–4 weeks.

Editorial Decision

After the peer-review process is completed, the Editor-in-Chief and/or Handling Editor evaluates the reviewers' comments and recommendations to reach an editorial decision. This stage typically requires approximately one week.

If substantial discrepancies occur between reviewer evaluations, the editor may invite an additional reviewer to provide an independent assessment.

Possible editorial decisions include:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

The editorial decision is communicated to the authors through the journal's online submission system together with anonymized reviewer comments.

Revision Process

If revisions are required, authors are generally given:

  • Minor Revision: 2 weeks
  • Major Revision: 4 weeks

Authors must submit:

  1. A revised manuscript with changes clearly indicated
  2. A response-to-reviewers letter addressing each reviewer comment point-by-point

For major revisions, the revised manuscript is generally returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation. For minor revisions, the Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor may make the final decision without additional external review.

Additional revision rounds may be conducted until the manuscript meets the journal's scientific, ethical, editorial, and community-service standards.

Publication Process

After a manuscript is formally accepted by the Editor-in-Chief, it proceeds to the production stage. The manuscript undergoes copyediting, proofreading, and layout formatting by the editorial team, usually within 1–2 weeks, to ensure clarity, consistency, and adherence to GENCARE standards.

Authors will then review the final proof and confirm the accuracy of names, affiliations, content, tables, figures, and other publication details. Authors must also complete any required copyright and publication agreement forms.

Following final approval, the article is prepared for online publication and assigned to the appropriate journal issue. The publication process generally takes approximately 1 week after final proof approval.

Through this structured and transparent editorial workflow, GENCARE: Journal of Community Service in Health is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, ethical publishing, community relevance, and scholarly quality, while supporting the development and dissemination of evidence-based community service activities across various fields of health.

GENCARE Peer Review Process

Proses Peer Review

Seluruh naskah yang dikirimkan ke GENCARE: Journal of Community Service in Health akan melalui proses peer review yang ketat untuk menjamin kualitas, orisinalitas, integritas etika, relevansi praktis, serta kontribusi setiap publikasi. Jurnal menerapkan sistem double-blind peer review, yaitu identitas penulis dan reviewer dirahasiakan untuk menjaga objektivitas dan mengurangi potensi bias dalam proses penilaian.

Proses review dilakukan oleh reviewer independen yang memiliki kompetensi relevan dalam bidang ilmu kesehatan, pengabdian kepada masyarakat, pemberdayaan masyarakat, promosi kesehatan, intervensi berbasis masyarakat, atau bidang terkait. Penilaian mencakup kualitas naskah, relevansi permasalahan mitra, kesesuaian intervensi, keterlibatan masyarakat, evaluasi hasil, keberlanjutan program, kejelasan penyajian, dan kontribusi terhadap praktik kesehatan.

Rata-rata waktu dari pengiriman naskah hingga keputusan editorial pertama adalah sekitar 6–8 minggu, sedangkan keseluruhan proses review termasuk revisi umumnya memerlukan waktu 8–12 minggu, bergantung pada ketersediaan reviewer, kompleksitas naskah, dan jumlah putaran revisi.

Pengiriman naskah ke GENCARE tidak menjamin penerimaan. Apabila terjadi keterlambatan yang tidak terduga, penulis akan diberi informasi dan dapat memilih untuk menarik naskahnya apabila diperlukan.

Skrining Awal (Pra-Review)

Setelah dikirim ke GENCARE: Journal of Community Service in Health, setiap naskah akan menjalani skrining awal oleh Editor-in-Chief atau Handling Editor. Tahap ini biasanya memerlukan waktu 1–2 minggu dan meliputi penilaian terhadap:

  • Kesesuaian dengan fokus dan ruang lingkup jurnal
  • Kepatuhan terhadap author guidelines dan ketentuan submission
  • Orisinalitas dan kualitas ilmiah naskah
  • Relevansi masalah kesehatan yang dihadapi masyarakat atau mitra
  • Kejelasan bentuk intervensi, pemberdayaan, atau kegiatan pengabdian
  • Kepatuhan terhadap prinsip etika dan integritas publikasi
  • Kelengkapan struktur naskah dan dokumen pendukung

Seluruh naskah diperiksa menggunakan perangkat deteksi plagiarisme seperti Turnitin atau iThenticate. GENCARE menerapkan batas maksimal similaritas sebesar 20%.

Similaritas dalam batas tersebut dapat diterima pada bagian tertentu seperti deskripsi metode standar, kutipan yang telah disitasi secara benar, atau materi yang berasal dari laporan akademik pengabdian kepada masyarakat. Namun, indikasi plagiarisme, penggunaan sitasi yang tidak tepat, duplikasi publikasi, atau tingkat similaritas yang berlebihan dapat menyebabkan penolakan atau pengembalian naskah kepada penulis untuk diperbaiki sebelum masuk proses peer review.

Naskah yang lolos skrining awal akan dilanjutkan ke tahap peer review formal.

Penugasan Reviewer

Setelah lolos skrining awal, seorang Section Editor atau Handling Editor akan ditugaskan untuk menangani naskah, biasanya dalam waktu 1–3 hari. Editor kemudian menunjuk setidaknya dua reviewer independen yang memiliki keahlian relevan, biasanya dalam waktu satu minggu.

Untuk menjaga sistem double-blind peer review, penulis harus menghapus seluruh informasi yang dapat mengidentifikasi penulis dari naskah, termasuk nama, afiliasi institusi, ucapan terima kasih, dan informasi lain yang dapat mengungkap identitas penulis.

Reviewer dipilih berdasarkan:

  • Keahlian yang relevan dengan topik naskah
  • Pengalaman di bidang kesehatan atau pengabdian kepada masyarakat
  • Kualifikasi akademik dan/atau profesional
  • Pengalaman dalam program kesehatan berbasis masyarakat apabila relevan
  • Tidak adanya konflik kepentingan

Jika memungkinkan, reviewer berasal dari institusi yang berbeda dengan penulis untuk menjaga objektivitas dan imparsialitas.

Proses Review

Setelah menerima undangan review, reviewer diberikan waktu sekitar 4–6 minggu untuk menyelesaikan evaluasi.

Reviewer menilai naskah berdasarkan:

  • Relevansi dan signifikansi permasalahan kesehatan masyarakat atau mitra
  • Orisinalitas dan inovasi program pengabdian
  • Kejelasan tujuan dan sasaran kegiatan
  • Kesesuaian intervensi, metode pemberdayaan, atau kegiatan kesehatan
  • Keterlibatan bermakna masyarakat atau mitra
  • Kejelasan dan kelayakan proses pelaksanaan program
  • Kesesuaian metode evaluasi kegiatan
  • Keakuratan dan kejelasan hasil yang dilaporkan
  • Manfaat atau dampak yang dihasilkan bagi masyarakat
  • Kepatuhan terhadap prinsip etika dan perlindungan peserta
  • Potensi keberlanjutan, replikasi, atau pengembangan program
  • Kualitas pembahasan dan keterkaitan dengan literatur ilmiah
  • Kejelasan, sistematika, dan kualitas penulisan akademik
  • Kontribusi terhadap pengembangan pengabdian kepada masyarakat di bidang kesehatan

Reviewer memberikan komentar konstruktif dan merekomendasikan salah satu keputusan berikut:

  • Diterima
  • Revisi Minor
  • Revisi Mayor
  • Ditolak

Jika diperlukan revisi, naskah dikembalikan kepada penulis untuk diperbaiki. Naskah hasil revisi dapat melalui putaran review tambahan, khususnya untuk revisi mayor. Setiap siklus revisi umumnya memerlukan waktu 2–4 minggu.

Keputusan Editorial

Setelah proses peer review selesai, Editor-in-Chief dan/atau Handling Editor mengevaluasi komentar dan rekomendasi reviewer untuk menentukan keputusan editorial. Tahap ini umumnya memerlukan waktu sekitar satu minggu.

Apabila terdapat perbedaan substansial antara hasil penilaian reviewer, editor dapat menunjuk reviewer tambahan untuk memberikan penilaian independen.

Kemungkinan keputusan editorial meliputi:

  • Diterima
  • Revisi Minor
  • Revisi Mayor
  • Ditolak

Keputusan disampaikan kepada penulis melalui sistem submission online jurnal beserta komentar reviewer yang telah dianonimkan.

Proses Revisi

Apabila revisi diperlukan, penulis diberikan batas waktu:

  • Revisi Minor: 2 minggu
  • Revisi Mayor: 4 minggu

Penulis harus mengirimkan:

  1. Naskah revisi dengan perubahan yang ditandai secara jelas
  2. Surat tanggapan kepada reviewer yang menjawab komentar reviewer secara point-by-point

Untuk revisi mayor, naskah hasil revisi umumnya dikembalikan kepada reviewer awal untuk evaluasi lanjutan. Untuk revisi minor, Editor-in-Chief atau Handling Editor dapat mengambil keputusan akhir tanpa review eksternal tambahan.

Putaran revisi tambahan dapat dilakukan hingga naskah memenuhi standar ilmiah, etika, editorial, dan pengabdian kepada masyarakat yang ditetapkan GENCARE.

Proses Publikasi

Setelah naskah secara resmi diterima oleh Editor-in-Chief, naskah akan masuk ke tahap produksi. Naskah melalui proses copyediting, proofreading, dan layout formatting oleh tim editorial, biasanya dalam waktu 1–2 minggu, untuk memastikan kejelasan, konsistensi, dan kesesuaian dengan standar GENCARE.

Penulis kemudian memeriksa proof final dan mengonfirmasi keakuratan nama, afiliasi, isi naskah, tabel, gambar, dan informasi publikasi lainnya. Penulis juga harus melengkapi dokumen hak cipta dan perjanjian publikasi yang diperlukan.

Setelah persetujuan final, artikel dipersiapkan untuk publikasi online dan ditempatkan pada edisi jurnal yang sesuai. Proses publikasi umumnya membutuhkan waktu sekitar 1 minggu setelah proof final disetujui.

Melalui alur editorial yang terstruktur dan transparan, GENCARE: Journal of Community Service in Health berkomitmen menjaga standar tinggi dalam integritas akademik, etika publikasi, relevansi bagi masyarakat, dan kualitas ilmiah, serta mendukung pengembangan dan diseminasi kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat berbasis bukti di berbagai bidang kesehatan.

Proses Peer Review GENCARE