508036
2013
JHS38E910.1177/1753193413508036Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume)Giddins
JHS(E) The Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) 38E(9) 927 © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1753193413508036 jhs.sagepub.com
Editorial This Journal is privileged to be the official journal of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) and so happy to include information about FESSH which can also benefit readers outside Europe; hence the article ‘Accreditation for Hand Surgery in Europe’ at the end of this issue under ‘Further Knowledge’. We are titled a European journal but are of course a Journal to be read throughout the world by anyone interested in the care of patients with hand related problems. We publish papers from authors throughout the world; some of our most prolific authors work outside Europe most notably Professor Al-Qattan in Saudi Arabia and our Editor Professor Tang from China. We have reviewers from almost everywhere and we are greatly enriched by their contributions. But we have very few authors or reviewers from less economically developed countries (LEDCs). There are fewer specialists and in some of these countries little opportunity for very specialist work. Yet there will be pathologies and patterns of injury seen rarely in more economically developed countries. Surgeons, therapists, nurses and scientists in LEDCs have a valuable contribution to make to this Journal and I hope the Journal can contribute to medical practice everywhere. How can we engage more fully with clinicians in LEDCs? In the Editorial team and Committee of Management we have discussed accepting lower quality studies from certain countries. As we want to publish only the best studies this would compromise one of our core values, which we do not want to sacrifice. One of our tasks of the Editorial team is to help rewrite studies with good data so that they can be published. This may involve completely rewriting a paper, which we are happy to do. But we rarely receive submissions from LEDCs.
Even more rarely do we hear from clinicians in LEDCs who would like to review for this Journal. I would like to encourage any clinicians who might like to try reviewing (from anywhere in the world) to contact us. We are already running a mentoring scheme for potential Editors both to give them an opportunity to assess the role and also, we hope, to become better reviewers. Any new reviewer starts as an extra reviewer and can learn from reading the other reviews and the Editor’s decision. For potential reviewers in LEDCs who do not feel confident we are happy to provide even closer supervision. Not only will this develop our pool of reviewers even further but reviewing is also a very good way to develop the skills to plan a study and write a paper. How else can we contribute? In Europe we have surgeons who help by working abroad both shortterm self funded or supported by charities. Some work abroad long-term dedicating their career to patients in other countries. I know that the USA and Australia also have strong traditions of overseas service and the work of the French Organisation Medecins sans Frontieres has been recognised with a Nobel prize. I am sure there are many other National organisations providing medical care abroad that I have not heard of. Individuals and organisations in many countries contribute to medicine abroad including sending journals and giving lectures. I would like the Journal to contribute more. As well as offering to mentor reviewers we can offer support in designing studies and in statistical analysis. Almost certainly there is even more we can do. If you have ideas, do let us know how you think we can contribute further.
Downloaded from jhs.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NEW ORLEANS on May 31, 2015
Grey Giddins Editor-in-Chief
2013
JHS38E910.1177/1753193413508036Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume)Giddins
JHS(E) The Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) 38E(9) 927 © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1753193413508036 jhs.sagepub.com
Editorial This Journal is privileged to be the official journal of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) and so happy to include information about FESSH which can also benefit readers outside Europe; hence the article ‘Accreditation for Hand Surgery in Europe’ at the end of this issue under ‘Further Knowledge’. We are titled a European journal but are of course a Journal to be read throughout the world by anyone interested in the care of patients with hand related problems. We publish papers from authors throughout the world; some of our most prolific authors work outside Europe most notably Professor Al-Qattan in Saudi Arabia and our Editor Professor Tang from China. We have reviewers from almost everywhere and we are greatly enriched by their contributions. But we have very few authors or reviewers from less economically developed countries (LEDCs). There are fewer specialists and in some of these countries little opportunity for very specialist work. Yet there will be pathologies and patterns of injury seen rarely in more economically developed countries. Surgeons, therapists, nurses and scientists in LEDCs have a valuable contribution to make to this Journal and I hope the Journal can contribute to medical practice everywhere. How can we engage more fully with clinicians in LEDCs? In the Editorial team and Committee of Management we have discussed accepting lower quality studies from certain countries. As we want to publish only the best studies this would compromise one of our core values, which we do not want to sacrifice. One of our tasks of the Editorial team is to help rewrite studies with good data so that they can be published. This may involve completely rewriting a paper, which we are happy to do. But we rarely receive submissions from LEDCs.
Even more rarely do we hear from clinicians in LEDCs who would like to review for this Journal. I would like to encourage any clinicians who might like to try reviewing (from anywhere in the world) to contact us. We are already running a mentoring scheme for potential Editors both to give them an opportunity to assess the role and also, we hope, to become better reviewers. Any new reviewer starts as an extra reviewer and can learn from reading the other reviews and the Editor’s decision. For potential reviewers in LEDCs who do not feel confident we are happy to provide even closer supervision. Not only will this develop our pool of reviewers even further but reviewing is also a very good way to develop the skills to plan a study and write a paper. How else can we contribute? In Europe we have surgeons who help by working abroad both shortterm self funded or supported by charities. Some work abroad long-term dedicating their career to patients in other countries. I know that the USA and Australia also have strong traditions of overseas service and the work of the French Organisation Medecins sans Frontieres has been recognised with a Nobel prize. I am sure there are many other National organisations providing medical care abroad that I have not heard of. Individuals and organisations in many countries contribute to medicine abroad including sending journals and giving lectures. I would like the Journal to contribute more. As well as offering to mentor reviewers we can offer support in designing studies and in statistical analysis. Almost certainly there is even more we can do. If you have ideas, do let us know how you think we can contribute further.
Downloaded from jhs.sagepub.com at UNIV OF NEW ORLEANS on May 31, 2015
Grey Giddins Editor-in-Chief
