Peer review (also known as refereeing) is a process where other scholars in the same field (peers) evaluate the quality of a research paper before it's published. The aim is to ensure that the work is rigorous and coherent, is based on sound research, and adds to what we already know. The purpose of peer review is to maintain the integrity of research and to ensure that only valid and quality research is published.

Elsevier, a premier publisher in the medical and health sciences, offers a comprehensive explanation of peer review. In addition to providing a flowchart of the peer review process, Elsevier provides guidance about difference between single-blind reviews, double-blind reviews, open reviews and more transparent reviews.