1. Review the title, abstract, review type, and available submission details.
2. Check the response due date and the review due date.
3. Read the journal’s competing interests policy.
4. Select the appropriate declaration. If a potential competing interest exists, describe it clearly so the editorial team can determine how to proceed.
5. Select “Save and continue.”

Read the complete guidelines before downloading the manuscript. The evaluation must be objective, respectful, confidential, and based on sound scientific judgment.

• Assess consistency among the title, abstract, objectives, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions.
• Review the study design, interpretation of results, and quality of the references.
• Confidentially report potential ethical concerns, plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, or missing ethics approval.
• Do not share the manuscript or attempt to identify or contact its authors.

When finished, select “Continue to Step #3.”

1. Download the file from “Review Files” and check that it contains only material relevant to the review.
2. In “For author and editor,” provide constructive comments that may be shared with the authors: strengths, problems, the location of each issue, and requested changes.
3. In “For editor,” include confidential information only: ethical concerns, suspected plagiarism, undisclosed conflicts, serious limitations, or private reasoning supporting your recommendation.
4. To attach an annotated manuscript, use “Upload File” and remove names, initials, signed comments, and document properties that reveal your identity.
5. Use Review Discussions only when communication with the editorial team is necessary during the process.
6. Select a recommendation consistent with the content of your report.

1. Select “Submit Review” only when the report, files, and recommendation are complete.
2. In the confirmation dialog, select “OK.” Select “Cancel” if you need to review the information again.
3. Verify that the message “Review Submitted” appears.
4. Keep the confirmation and remain available in case the editor requests additional information.