Thread by @SamirShahMD

📢 Tips for Responding to Peer Reviewer Recommendations (or, join me on my🧼box), a🧵 by the Editor-in-Chief @JHospMedicine

#LeadingByExample
#FindingYourBagel
#SagewisdomSecretsbySamirShah (this one's for you @DoctorVig)

1⃣ Do you have to address every comment?
💛 Yes, absolutely
💛 No need for excessive praise. No need to thank the reviewer for each comment. However, no snark either. Respond in a neutral tone. Convey how thoughtful you are in your response to each comment.

2⃣ Can you disagree w/ a reviewer or say no to a suggestion?
💛 Yes. There is no need to blindly incorporate every comment. However, provide a rationale for why not.
💛 Help the editor understand your thought process.

3⃣ What if the reviewer is wrong?
💛 Diplomatically point that out.
💛 Bring evidence (eg data, citations) to support your case.
💛 You may include a table/fig in your response that doesn't appear in main manuscript.

4⃣ What if 2 reviewers make conflicting recommendations?
💛 This is great news for you.
💛 Point out the diverging comments (eg reviewers 1 & 3 had divergent recommendations for...) & choose what you think is the best path forward.

5⃣ When should you reach out to the editor?
💛 Not often.
💛 But reasonable to occasionally request clarification or guidance.
💛 Definitely if you are uncertain about making a change that requires substantive effort (eg different analytic approach of value added).

6⃣ Do I have to cite an article suggested by the reviewer?
💛 Judgement call
💛 Not if rationale for inclusion isn't clear
💛 Not if you've cited other📰to support a statement
💛 Worth doing if citation adds value (eg supports unsubstantiated statement that informed hypothesis)

7⃣ What format should I use for my response?
💛 Make it easy for editor to tell how adequately you've addressed reviewer comments
💛 Copy/paste reviewer comments verbatim
💛 Number each comment
💛 Label each response clearly as "Response"
💛 Upload clean & track changes versions

7⃣ (cont.)
💛 Some journals prefer a response table rather than a response letter 👇🏾

*Intermission*

🆘 Any other questions about responding to peer reviews that you would me to address?

➡️Reply here or DM me w/ your questions & I'll do my best to respond to them in this thread.

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@JHospMedicine

8⃣ How to politely disagree with a reviewer, ex 1

This study compared 2 different methods of pleural fluid drainage in 👦🏾👧🏾 hospitalized with pneumonia complicated by pleural effusion. The study used administrative data.

💁🏾‍♂️ Be thoughtful
💁🏾‍♂️ Be polite
💁🏾‍♂️Show rather than tell👇🏾

8⃣ (cont.) How to politely disagree w/ a reviewer, ex 2

This observational study examined effectiveness of systemic corticosteroids in👧🏾👦🏾 w/ pneumonia

The reviewer felt that some data from tables could be omitted since these data weren't discussed explicitly in the manuscript

8⃣ (cont.) How to politely disagree w/ a reviewer, ex 3

Same📰as ex 2 above
Reviewer is wrong; didn't believe🏥practice variation explained💊differences
🔑strategies
💁🏾‍♂️ Explain care variation reasons
💁🏾‍♂️ Show misclassification minimized
💁🏾‍♂️ Address over diagnosis, not🩻misreading

9⃣ How long to wait b4 contacting journal about your initial manuscript submission?
💛 Situational
💛 Check manuscript system for status update, which guides your outreach.
💛 Be polite. Offer help. Usu editors/reviewers are balancing many things. Occ things fall thru the cracks.

🔟 Do reviewers usu see revised manuscript to provide input?
💛 No, but varies by journal & extent of revisions
💙 @JHospMedicine we rarely send revised📰for additional peer review; instead, we discuss as editorial team. Makes for better author experience bit.ly/3lvz2jU

1⃣1⃣ The reviewers had a lot of suggestions. I'll need more space. Is that ok?
💛 No. Stay w/in specified word count limits.
💛 Journals may be more accommodating for qualitative studies that usu include many quotations

1⃣1⃣ (cont.)
Strategies to shorten
💁🏽‍♂️ Your intro is likely too long
- Aim for 1-1.3 pagea if Times NR font, 1-inch margins, double spaced
💁🏽‍♂️ Minimize duplication btwn text & tables/figures
💁🏽‍♂️Your discussion is likely too long
- Aim for 4 or fewer pages using above parameters

1⃣1⃣ (cont.)
💁🏽‍♂️ Footnotes to tables can effectively convey info & need not be repeated in text