Core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals: consensus statement

Abstract

BackgroundScientific editors are responsible for deciding which articles to publish in their journals. However, we have not found documentation of their required knowledge, skills, and characteristics, or the existence of any formal core competencies for this role.MethodsWe describe the development of a minimum set of core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals.ResultsThe 14 key core competencies are divided into three major areas, and each competency has a list of associated elements or descriptions of more specific knowledge, skills, and characteristics that contribute to its fulfillment.ConclusionsWe believe that these core competencies are a baseline of the knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed to perform competently the duties of a scientific editor at a biomedical journal.

“Professional” or “full time” scientific editor: the need for the growing medical journal in Indonesia

“…According to International consensus (including World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) and Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME)), the scientific editor should have one of core competency which is the editor had a knowledge of the field(s) covered by the journal. 8 Thus the selection of these (young) assistant editors based on their education background which should be match to article category in MJI. For example, clinical research assistant editor should be a medical doctor and basic research editor should have a background of basic science education.…”

É Possível Desenvolver Revistas Médicas de Topo em Portugal?

“…8 One of the ideas behind having a student section and a student team at Acta Médica Portuguesa is precisely to help breed the next generation of clinicians with expertise in medical editing.…”

Scientific Editors: The roles, responsibilities and essential core competencies

“…This glaring deficiency has now been corrected by an innovative research endeavour that has documented the core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals in the form of a consensus statement 7 . In a well-designed study, incorporating an integrated knowledge translation approach to engage stakeholders in a consensus-based process to develop a minimum set of core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals, Moher et al have documented these basic minimal requirements 7 .…”

“…In a well-designed study, incorporating an integrated knowledge translation approach to engage stakeholders in a consensus-based process to develop a minimum set of core competencies for scientific editors of biomedical journals, Moher et al have documented these basic minimal requirements 7 . The contents are based on information provided by a scoping review and editors' perspectives.…”

“…The authors identified 14 key core competencies, divided into three major areas, with each competency having a list of associated elements or descriptions of more specific knowledge, skills, and characteristics that contribute to its fulfilment 7 . The authors conclude that they believe these core competencies to be a baseline of the knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed to perform competently the duties of a scientific editor of a biomedical journal 7 . It would be a really worthwhile exercise for journals and publishers to have a very good look at the principles expounded in this ground breaking study.…”