All manuscripts submitted to Mandalika Health Care Journal (MHCJ) undergo a double-blind peer review process to ensure high-quality and ethical publication.

1. Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission, the manuscript is first screened by the editorial team to ensure:

• It fits the journal's focus and scope

• It follows the author guidelines

• It passes a plagiarism check (similarity index must be below 20%)

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria will be returned to the author for revision or rejected without review.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening will be sent to at least two independent reviewers for evaluation. In the double-blind system:

• Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors

• Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers

3. Review Criteria

Reviewers will assess the manuscript based on:

• Originality and significance of the work

• Relevance to the field of health sciences and nursing

• Clarity of objectives and methodology

• Validity of results and soundness of conclusions

• Quality of writing and organization

• Proper citation and use of relevant literature

4. Review Outcomes

Based on the reviewers' recommendations, the editorial decision will be one of the following:

• Accept without revision

• Accept with minor revisions

• Revise and resubmit (major revisions required)

• Reject

Authors will receive the reviewers' comments and are expected to revise their manuscript accordingly, including a point-by-point response to each comment.

5. Final Decision

The final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief, based on the reviewers’ reports and the quality of the revised manuscript.

6. Timeframe

The peer review process typically takes 4–8 weeks from the date of submission, depending on the availability of reviewers and the complexity of the manuscript.

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Note: The editorial team has the right to make the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, regardless of the reviewers' recommendations.