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Core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals: consensus statement
David Moher1,2, James Galipeau3, Sabina Alam4
1Centre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Room L1248, Box 201B, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada. dmoher@ohri.ca.
Background:
Scientific editors are responsible for deciding which articles to publish in their journals. However, we have not found documentation of their required knowledge, skills, and characteristics, or the existence of any formal core competencies for this role.
Methods:
We describe the development of a minimum set of core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals.
Results:
The 14 key core competencies are divided into three major areas, and each competency has a list of associated elements or descriptions of more specific knowledge, skills, and characteristics that contribute to its fulfillment.
Conclusions:
We believe that these core competencies are a baseline of the knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed to perform competently the duties of a scientific editor at a biomedical journal.
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