• Expertise: Ensure that you have the appropriate level of expertise in the subject area of the manuscript. If you are not an expert in the area, consider declining the invitation to review or recommending a colleague who is more qualified.
• Conflict of Interest: Check for any potential conflicts of interest, such as having collaborated with the authors or having a personal relationship with them. If you have any conflicts of interest, disclose them to the editor immediately.
• Time: Consider whether you have the time to complete a thorough review within the given timeframe. If you cannot meet the deadline, notify the editor as soon as possible.
• Ethical Considerations: Make sure you understand the ethical considerations involved in the review process, such as **confidentiality** and **data sharing**.
• Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the reviewer guidelines provided by the Journal, including the evaluation criteria, feedback format, and submission requirements.
• Record Keeping: Keep a record of the manuscript you are reviewing, including the submission date, the manuscript title, and the Journal name.
• Communication: If you have any questions or concerns about the review process or the manuscript, communicate them clearly and professionally to the editor.

• Accessing Reviews: Ensure that you log in to the appropriate reviewing system or platform of JOCTA's Manuscript Engine platform** to access and manage all your reviews.
• Article and Journal-Specific Instructions: Review each JOCTA specific instructions for formatting, length, and content.
• Sex and Gender Reporting: Be aware of the importance of sex and gender reporting in research and make sure to address any issues related to these in your review.
• Research Data and Visualizations: Evaluate the research data and visualizations presented in the manuscript.
• Overview: Provide an overall summary of your review, including your recommendation and any specific concerns or issues that you have identified.

Reviewers must disclose any potential COIs that could affect their impartiality. This includes personal, professional, or financial relationships with authors, funding agencies, or institutions associated with the manuscript. If a COI is identified, reviewers should inform the editor immediately and consider declining the assignment.

Reviewers are expected to adhere to high ethical standards, including confidentiality, impartiality, and respect for intellectual property. All information in the manuscript should be treated as confidential and not shared with unauthorized individuals.

Reviews should be based on the manuscript's content and quality, not on personal opinions or biases. If you cannot provide an impartial assessment, please decline the assignment.

• Maintain strict **confidentiality** of all manuscript details, including the abstract, content, and any associated data.
• Avoid discussing the manuscript's content or their assessment with anyone **outside the peer review process**.
• Not reveal their identity to the authors in their comments or through metadata in Word or PDF files.
• If consultation with a colleague is needed, reviewers should first seek permission from the editor or contact the Journal at [email protected].

• Research background qualified to review the manuscript, usually a **PhD or MD degree is necessary**.
• Be an **active researcher**, with suitable expertise.
• Possess official and recognized affiliation with relevant experience of **1–7 years**.
• No **conflicts of interest** with the authors, including recent co-authorship.