As promised at the outset(1), we have kept our
commitment of timely decision on manuscripts, making life easier for the
authors, added international reviewers to our database, and tried our
level best to be transparent (and approachable) in the peer review
process. We have moved to research based editorials; and publishing at
least one state of the art review article/perspective every month. Besides
this, there is more material now for practitioners to help in their day to
day working that include guidelines/recommendations/consensus statements,
focus, evidence based medicine etc. Another first for Indian Pediatrics
is the compendium of all the practice oriented articles in a book form,
released recently. The Journal received its first Impact Factor in mid
2008, which was 0.756. Within a year, it increased by almost 30% to 0.956.
By the time, you are reading this piece; the 2010 list of impact factor
would have also been released. We are now ranked fourth amongst all the
biomedical journals in India. Our website attracts 6-8 lakh hits per month
and is rated as number 1 in its category. For the young faculty, Indian
Pediatrics has started a unique venture in the form of workshops on
‘Art and Science of Paper Writing’ to inculcate the culture of publishing
in upcoming researchers and teachers. For the authors, we have started the
facility of e-publication ahead of print (and getting it indexed with
PubMed) so that they do not have to wait for long to see their work in
print.
All this could not have been possible without the love,
affection and support of our authors, reviewers, more than 18000
subscribers of print version, and lakhs of people in more than 50
countries who view our electronic version to access its contents. We are
proud to say that we have achieved all this maintaining the editorial
independence and not letting the personal, financial, or other
relationships affect our decisions.
And now, we proudly announce the launch of the
International edition of Indian Pediatrics (for overseas distribution).
The contents will essentially remain the same (sans advertisements);
however, the cover will be different. Simultaneously, we are delighted to
announce that on 19th May 2010, the online manuscript submission, tracking
and peer review system Editorial Manager has been successfully implemented
for the journal and is now open for new submissions at https://www.editorialmanager.com/inpe/.
The system has been configured and tailored according to the needs of ‘Indian
Pediatrics’. The channel is now open for users after extensive
in-house testing and training at the journal office. From 1st July, 2010,
we have made it compulsory for authors to submit all their manuscripts
through this system only. The peer review and decision process would also
be managed through this system.
The International Edition and Editorial Manager are the
result of a unique collaboration with Springer, a global scientific,
technical and medical publisher. Springer will now host Indian
Pediatrics on its website and will have the exclusive rights to
distribute the International edition. However, unlike its contemporaries,
the journal will continue to host its contents on its website and the open
access status of the journal will be maintained for authors and readers
who access the journal through www.indianpediatrics.net, which will
remain fully functional as before with the added link for online
submission. Indian Pediatrics can also be accessed through springer
webpage by clicking on to www.springer.com/medicine/pediatrics/journal/13312.
Features of Online Manuscript Management System
Though Indian Pediatrics is receiving and processing
the manuscripts online for many years, the online manuscript management
system (MMS) aims to make your work as author and reviewer easier. The
system enables faster review times and transparency of workflow, such as
the ability to keep track of the manuscript. Authors need to do a one-time
registration in the system by clicking on the ‘Register’ button from the
menu at the above website and enter the requested information. Upon
successful registration, authors are sent an automatic e-mail with
instructions to verify the registration. Authors can start submitting the
manuscripts from this point onwards. They can also respond to reviewers’
comments and revise the manuscript using the same system. The biggest
advantage, however, is to track the progress of all manuscripts submitted
to the journal at the click of the mouse. The system is user-friendly and
follows a step-by-step process for manuscript submission, revision and
tracking, with instructions prominently displayed at each step. There is
an easy process of retrieving the password from the system if one forgets
the same.
For reviewers, the system offers the option of agreeing
or not agreeing to review a manuscript, after seeing the abstract on their
mail. All existing reviewers of the journal are already registered with
the system. Once they agree to review, the reviewers can access the
manuscript and submit comments using the same system. The system links the
references in the manuscript to the PubMed and allows reviewers to check
their authenticity and style. The reviewer also gets to know of the final
decision on the manuscript. Reviewers can submit the manuscripts to the
journal as authors using the same username and password.
For editors, a variety of features are available which
help in more organized and faster workflow. The system enables faster
review times and transparency, such as the ability to keep track of
individual editor’s and reviewer’s performance. The facility for automatic
reminders and organization of manuscripts according to their current
status, minimizes the paperwork and need to send individual mails to
authors and reviewers.
Challenges Ahead
Technology comes with its own caveats. With the start
of the MMS, the journal expects increase in number of submissions from
different parts of the world. With increase in submissions, the rejection
rate is likely to further increase because of the limited number of pages
available for publication per month. The authors need to be careful in
submitting the manuscripts taking care to correctly enter the necessary
details. They need to ensure that the details that are entered in the
system while submitting the manuscript are same as those on the title page
of the manuscript. Authors need to refer to the ‘Instructions for
Authors’, which have been updated at the journal website, for details and
information on how to prepare the manuscript to meet the journal’s
requirements. Minimum errors in the submission process are likely to
expedite the review and publication process. We hope that this new MMS
will make your work as author and reviewer easier.
The story does not end here. Picture abhi baki hai
mere dost….. it would not be inappropriate here to quote Robert Frost
to express our sentiments "the woods are lovely, dark and deep; but I have
promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep… and miles to go before I
sleep." There are many more horizons waiting to be conquered. Jai Hind,
Jai IAP.