Peer review for clinicians and researchers: A practical guide

Peer review is the process by which scholarly work, research findings, or scientific ideas are critically evaluated by independent experts within the same field. Peer review acts as a fundamental quality assurance mechanism that helps safeguard the scientific literature by identifying methodological weaknesses, ensuring the relevance and rigor of research questions, and verifying that conclusions are supported by appropriately conducted studies and valid analyses. This article provides an overview of the editorial workflow, examines the essential components of a high-quality peer review, and discusses the advantages and limitations of various peer-review models. It further presents a structured framework for systematic manuscript appraisal and outlines the ethical principles that underpin responsible reviewing. Finally, the article proposes a strategic roadmap for the Saudi Gastroenterology Association to establish sustainable reviewer-training pathways, with the goal of cultivating a new generation of Saudi researchers and reviewers capable of contributing to and leading the global scientific discourse.