A lot of challenge, a lot of learning and work delivered

I was entrusted with the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Brazilian Journal of Pain (BrJP), 2022-2023 term, through an election involving the participation of active members of the Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain (SBED). Arduous mission given, mission accomplished! The responsibility was, in fact, enormous, totally voluntary, unpaid, and the path to this point was winding, but it was traveled with diligence and determination. BrJP was my great challenge in the pain scenario in the last biennium.

As I mentioned in my first editorial, a lot of time and energy was dedicated in order to deliver, as much as possible, only the best of my academic-scientific experience accumulated so far and to be able to give back much of what I learned to our scientific community. I ratify that my willingness, my availability, my knowledge, my ability to manage processes and people, my positive expectations and, especially, my courage and confrontation of several unimaginable demands were delivered without any reservations, beyond the scientific. There are many challenges. Some were already known, but most were not¹.

The priority of our editorial proposal was initially on three fronts: 1. to optimize the quality of all material produced and published in BrJP, from the format to the technique of scientific writing, from ethics to methodological rigor; 2 meet national and international indexing requirements to request new indexing; 3. Increase visibility and credibility to reach new spaces towards the internationalization of the journal. In the hope of preparing BrJP for future indexing, there was a lot of study of international scientific publishing policies and the indicators required in databases considered targets, which guided a series of administrative and operational changes adopted, starting with the publication rules in the journal, which ranged from publishing and publishing transparency topics to detailed insertion of requirements for compliance with methodological rigor and scientific reporting, through the use of specific checklists for each type of study and risk of bias tools, sowing the ground for future management.

The thematic areas that receive the most scientific articles for the editorial process were mapped and, promptly, the Editorial Board and the bank of expert reviewers were recomposed to maintain the editorial policy and scientific quality of BrJP, valuing, as stated in the first editorial: 1. objectivity, agility, coherence and transparency in the editorial process, anchored in the process of masked external peer review; 2. credibility with the authors and consumers of our product/service; 3. quality of format and content; 4. systematic analysis of methodological rigor by means of specific international guidelines for each type of study; 5. contemplation and adherence to national and international ethical guidelines; 6. Disclosure of financial conflicts of interest, correction of errata, explicit retractions, and opportunity for divergent comments and opinions¹.

Administrative and operational changes were made in order to meet multiple requirements. Some processes that require quick learning and immediate adjustments for implementation were promptly modified and implemented. Some processes that need to be learned quickly and and ready adjustments for implementation are quickly modified. Furthermore, a lot of administrative work was required in order to meet requirements for complying with international transparency and open science policies so that the journal is increasingly prepared to increase recognition and credibility at an international level.

It is essential that authors submit well-written articles, respecting the ethics of research on human beings and animals, following international gold standard guidelines for the preparation of scientific articles and arguably valuing the greatest possible methodological rigor. It is also essential that associate editors and reviewers fulfill their roles with excellence with regard to the process of caution and ethics in the review of the contents and ideas evaluated¹.

Essentially, reviewers must be very judicious in the review of the articles assigned to them, issuing opinions on form and content with coherence and detail so that they can effectively assist editors and authors in the correction process and with the necessary agility. Associate editors play a decisive role in the editorial process, appointing relevant reviewers, managing deadlines between stages, and producing compendiums of information based on the reviewers' opinions to substantially assist editors-in-chief in decision-making for each scientific article. Thus, although leaving the administration of BrJP, but in respect for the herculean work that it demands from its managers, I call on Brazilian scientists, especially, to join their forces with the forces of BrJP to generate greater power in the existence and constant construction of the jornal.

I conclude by thanking the employees and service providers for BrJP, especially the one who attended the secretariat, Mrs. Evanilde Bronholi de Andrade. To the authors, reviewers and the Editorial Board, thank you very much for believing in our proposals, trusting in our guidance and for voluntarily dedicating their time and minds to the science of pain. Special thanks for the logistical and administrative support necessary to maintain the vitality of the journal. To the Board of Directors of SBED, in the words of its president Dr. José Oswaldo Oliveira Junior, special thanks for the logistical and administrative support necessary to maintain the vitality of the journal.

REFERENCE

• ¹
  DeSantana JM. BrJP Editor: another great mission in the pain scenario. BrJP 2022;5(1):1.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  11 Dec 2023
• Date of issue
  Oct-Dec 2023