The Netherlands Journal of Critical Care (Neth. J. Crit. Care) follows a rigorous and transparent peer-review process to ensure the quality, originality, scientific validity, and relevance of published research. All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial assessment before being considered for external peer review.

Initial Editorial Assessment

Upon submission, manuscripts are evaluated by the editorial team to determine whether they are appropriate for the journal's scope and meet basic requirements regarding originality, ethical standards, scientific quality, and manuscript preparation.

Manuscripts that do not meet the journal's requirements or fall outside its scope may be rejected without external peer review.

Double-Blind Peer Review

The journal uses a double-blind peer-review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed throughout the review process.

Manuscripts considered suitable for review are normally evaluated by independent experts with relevant subject knowledge. Reviewers assess the manuscript's scientific quality, originality, methodology, ethical compliance, clarity, significance, and contribution to the field of critical care medicine.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

• Provide objective, constructive, and unbiased assessments.
• Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and review materials.
• Identify potential ethical concerns, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other forms of research misconduct.
• Disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest.
• Base recommendations on the scientific and academic quality of the manuscript.
• Avoid using unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or professional advantage.

Editorial Decision

Following peer review, the editor makes the final decision based on the reviewers' comments and the overall assessment of the manuscript. Possible decisions include:

• Accept
• Minor revision
• Major revision
• Reject

Authors may be asked to revise their manuscripts in response to reviewer and editorial comments. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further assessment when necessary.

Confidentiality and Editorial Independence

All manuscripts and peer-review reports are treated confidentially. Editorial decisions are based on academic and scientific considerations, and the journal aims to maintain editorial independence throughout the review and publication process.

Publication Ethics

The journal is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics and research integrity. Its peer-review and editorial practices are informed by internationally recognized principles and guidance, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

The journal may investigate suspected ethical or publication-related misconduct in accordance with applicable ethical guidance and may take appropriate corrective action when necessary.

Appeals

Authors who believe that an editorial decision was made in error may submit a reasoned appeal to the editorial office. Appeals should provide clear and substantive grounds for reconsideration. The final decision regarding an appeal rests with the editorial team.

Reviewer Selection

Reviewers are selected based on their subject expertise, research experience, academic qualifications, and suitability for evaluating the submitted manuscript. The journal seeks to avoid assigning reviewers who have conflicts of interest with the authors or their institutions.

The Netherlands Journal of Critical Care is committed to maintaining a fair, confidential, ethical, and academically rigorous peer-review process that supports the publication of high-quality research in critical care medicine.