The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7234 p169
1 February 2003

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Provides excellent advice for researchers new to peer review

'How to survive peer review', by Elizabeth Wager, Fiona Godlee and Tom Jefferson. Pp v+62. Price £12.95. London: BMJ Books; 2002. ISBN 0 7279 1686 6

This easy-to-read book describes the processes of peer review for obtaining research grants and publishing research papers or conference abstracts. It also contains chapters on informal review, such as a colleague commenting on written work, and professional peer review or appraisal, although these fit less comfortably into the overall theme. It aims to provide just enough information to enable readers to survive and benefit from peer review and become a competent reviewer themselves.

It provides excellent advice for researchers, especially those new to peer review. If you have never published your work, following the step-by-step guidance in chapter four will at least ensure you have made appropriate efforts.

The guidance for those acting as reviewers is also well written. Authors, especially the inexperienced, need good quality reviews from which to learn, while editors need good reviewers. A read of chapter three may have some salutary lessons for anyone who has ever reviewed a paper.

Other publications and useful websites to further help potential authors are listed. The book also includes a valuable summary of methodological review checklists designed for reviewers, but which are a nice learning aid for budding researchers. Overall a valuable little book for PhD students in health-related disciplines.

Janet Krska