Recent achievement on the editorial time

Abstract

We are pleased to report on a recent achievement on the editorial time between the receipt of a manuscript and return of the first report to authors. The average time (±SD) was shortened to 31.6 days (±27.8) in 2010 from 38.3 days (±27.7) in 2009. The first round of review for 120 manuscripts (83.9%) was completed within 60 days, while the number of manuscripts for which the first round of review was finished within 90 days was 139 (97.2%). Fifty-six manuscripts (39.2%) were rejected by editors before being sent to reviewers. The average amount of time taken to complete the first round of reviews has steadily declined over the last 4 years (Fig. 1; see also Fig. 2 in Saitoh 2010). The frequency distribution of editorial duration time in 2010 was close to our goal; the first peak corresponds to rejection by editors before being sent to reviewers and the second was the mode for the time between the receipt of a manuscript and return of the first reviewers’ report. Although we know that authors prefer quick decisions, it is important to recognize that sufficient time is required to obtain meaningful reviews. We believe that 60 days for the first round of reviews may be acceptable to both authors and reviewers.