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Review
. 2023 Nov 21;82(21):2054-2062.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.08.056.

Challenges and Controversies in Peer Review: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Fred M Kusumoto  1 , John A Bittl  2 , Mark A Creager  3 , Harold L Dauerman  4 , Anuradha Lala  5 , Mary M McDermott  6 , Justine Varieur Turco  7 , Viviany R Taqueti  8 , Valentin Fuster  9 ; Peer Review Task Force of the Scientific Publications Committee
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Challenges and Controversies in Peer Review: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Fred M Kusumoto et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. .
Free article

Abstract

The process of peer review has been the gold standard for evaluating medical science, but significant pressures from the recent COVID-19 pandemic, new methods of communication, larger amounts of research, and an evolving publication landscape have placed significant pressures on this system. A task force convened by the American College of Cardiology identified the 5 most significant controversies associated with the current peer-review process: the effect of preprints, reviewer blinding, reviewer selection, reviewer incentivization, and publication of peer reviewer comments. Although specific solutions to these issues will vary, regardless of how scientific communication evolves, peer review must remain an essential process for ensuring scientific integrity, timely dissemination of information, and better patient care. In medicine, the peer-review process is crucial because harm can occur if poor-quality data or incorrect conclusions are published. With the dramatic increase in scientific publications and new methods of communication, high-quality peer review is more important now than ever.

Keywords: peer review; preprints; scientific communication.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Kusumoto is chair of the Peer Review Task Force; and is chair of the ACC Scientific Publications Committee. Dr Bittl is a member of the ACC Scientific Publications Committee. Dr Creager is a member of the ACC Scientific Publications Committee. Dr Dauerman is associate editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology; has received research funding from Medtronic and Boston Scientific; and is a consultant for Medtronic and Boston Scientific. Dr Lala is deputy editor of the Journal of Cardiac Failure; and has received speaker honoraria from Zoll Medical and Abbott. Dr McDermott is deputy editor of JAMA; has received research funding from Regeneron and Helixmith; and has received other research support from Helixmith, ArtAssist, Hershey, Mars, Chromadex, and ResearveAge. Ms Varieur Turco is divisional senior director of publishing for the ACC. Dr Taqueti is immediate past chair of the ACC Scientific Publications Committee; and is chair of the ACC Digital Transformation Committee. Dr Fuster is editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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