Opening the black box : Understanding the editorial and peer review journey of a manuscript

Walshe, Catherine and Ashby, Debbie (2025) Opening the black box : Understanding the editorial and peer review journey of a manuscript. Palliative Medicine. ISSN 0269-2163

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Abstract

Submitting a paper to a research journal is the culmination of months, often years, of research and writing. Yet for authors, what happens after pressing the “submit” button remains largely unseen. Peer review and editorial processes can feel opaque, protracted, or unpredictable. Understanding the steps that follow submission can help set appropriate expectations and facilitate a transparent partnership between authors, reviewers, and editors. This aim of this editorial is to provide a clear account of how manuscripts are processed at Palliative Medicine, from initial submission through to editorial decision-making. Table 1 summarises this process, with indicative timelines, and an explanation of your author view status within the online submission system.