Rapid Peer Reviewer Checklist for Rapid Reviews - RAPeer (DRAFT)

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Naturopathic Medicine
• COVID-19 Research

Background:

• Rapid reviews are crucial for timely dissemination of scientific findings, especially during health crises like COVID-19.
• Existing peer review processes may not be optimized for the speed required in rapid review publications.
• The journal Advances in Integrative Medicine (AIMED) sought to enhance its peer review efficiency for a special edition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a draft checklist (RAPeer) to assist peer reviewers in conducting rapid assessments.
• To provide a structured tool for evaluating manuscripts submitted for rapid review.
• To facilitate efficient and consistent peer review for time-sensitive publications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a draft rapid peer reviewer checklist (RAPeer).
• The checklist was designed for use by reviewers of the journal Advances in Integrative Medicine (AIMED).
• The checklist is intended for manuscripts submitted to a special edition focused on COVID-19 Rapid Reviews of Naturopathic Medicine.

Main Results:

• A draft checklist, RAPeer, has been developed.
• The checklist includes background, rationale, and instructions for use.
• The draft is presented for feedback from AIMED reviewers.

Conclusions:

• The RAPeer checklist aims to improve the speed and efficiency of peer review for rapid publications.
• Reviewer feedback is essential for validating the utility and informing the future development of RAPeer.
• This initiative supports timely publication of important research in integrative and naturopathic medicine.