Last updated: March 25, 2026

Guidelines on Methods of Post-Publication Debate

Post-publication debate usually begins with a reader’s critique of a published article. Baishideng Publishing Group (BPG) journals allow debate post publication through Correspondence. BPG handles post-publication debate in consultation with all relevant guidelines published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and in alignment with our Guidelines on Methods of Post-Publication Debate as follows:

Step 1: When a formal Correspondence is received, the Editorial Office first performs a prereview to determine if the Correspondence is qualified for external peer review. Content that is unreasonable, libelous, defamatory, and lacking evidence and supportive data will cause the Correspondence to be rejected immediately.

Step 2: If the Correspondence passes prereview, it will be sent for peer review, which it must pass before its publication (online).

Step 3: If the Correspondence stimulates any amendments to a published article, such as correction or retraction, the original authors of the critiqued article will be notified immediately after the Correspondence is published.

Step 4: The Editorial Office invites the original authors of the critiqued article to write their own reply to the published Correspondence and to submit it as another Correspondence. This reply Correspondence from the original authors of the critiqued article will also undergo the process listed above of prereview and external peer review before its publication (online).