Peer Review History
| Original SubmissionOctober 23, 2025 |
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Dear Dr. Marciano, Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process. Please submit your revised manuscript by Jan 23 2026 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org . When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file.
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This will take you to the ORCID site and allow you to create a new iD or authenticate a pre-existing iD in Editorial Manager. 3. Please provide a complete Data Availability Statement in the submission form, ensuring you include all necessary access information or a reason for why you are unable to make your data freely accessible. If your research concerns only data provided within your submission, please write "All data are in the manuscript and/or supporting information files" as your Data Availability Statement. 4. Please amend either the abstract on the online submission form (via Edit Submission) or the abstract in the manuscript so that they are identical. 5. If the reviewer comments include a recommendation to cite specific previously published works, please review and evaluate these publications to determine whether they are relevant and should be cited. There is no requirement to cite these works unless the editor has indicated otherwise. [Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.] Reviewers' comments: Reviewer's Responses to Questions Comments to the Author 1. Does the manuscript provide a valid rationale for the proposed study, with clearly identified and justified research questions? Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ********** 2. Is the protocol technically sound and planned in a manner that will lead to a meaningful outcome and allow testing the stated hypotheses??> Reviewer #1: Partly Reviewer #2: Partly ********** 3. Is the methodology feasible and described in sufficient detail to allow the work to be replicable??> Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ********** 4. Have the authors described where all data underlying the findings will be made available when the study is complete??> The PLOS Data policy Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: No ********** 5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??> Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ********** Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above and, if applicable, provide comments about issues authors must address before this protocol can be accepted for publication. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about research or publication ethics. You may also provide optional suggestions and comments to authors that they might find helpful in planning their study. Reviewer #1: 1. Strengths This protocol addresses an important and well-justified research question with clear public health relevance for sub-Saharan Africa. The authors demonstrate strong methodological planning through PROSPERO registration and adherence to PRISMA-P, PRISMA, and Cochrane Handbook guidance. The proposed search strategy is broad and inclusive, covering multiple databases without language restrictions, and the inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative evidence is appropriate for the topic. Furthermore, the plan to apply GRADE for assessing certainty of evidence reflects a commitment to rigorous synthesis and transparent reporting. However, the protocol could benefit from the following clarifications and improvements: 2. Line Numbers The authors should ensure that the manuscript includes numbered lines in all subsequent submissions. Line numbering is essential for reviewers to reference specific sections accurately and provide detailed feedback. 3. Primary Outcome The primary outcome (p.g.15), “help-seeking,” is not operationalized with sufficient precision. It currently includes intentions, formal service utilization, and engagement with informal networks, which are conceptually distinct (intention vs action; formal vs informal). Without clear definitions and prioritization, synthesis will be challenging and may bias interpretation. The authors could provide explicit operational definitions and a hierarchy for help-seeking outcomes (e.g., primary outcome = objectively measured help-seeking behavior such as service utilization; secondary outcomes = help-seeking intentions, informal help-seeking, self-efficacy). These clarifications will improve consistency and interpretability of results. 4. Exposure (Messaging) Measurement and Comparators The definition and measurement of exposure to “mental health messaging” require greater clarity. Currently, the term encompasses campaigns, posts, apps, SMS, and peer groups, but the protocol does not specify how exposure will be measured (e.g., self-report, platform analytics, dose/frequency) or whether message content will be coded systematically. Without clear exposure metrics, comparability across studies will be limited. 5. Risk of Bias / Quality Assessment Tools The risk-of-bias and quality assessment plan need clarification and alignment with appropriate tools. The protocol currently lists STROBE for observational studies, but STROBE is a reporting guideline. Additionally, multiple overlapping tools (RoB 2, ROBINS-I, STROBE, NHLBI) are mentioned without clear mapping to study designs. Similarly, tools such as NHLBI need proper citation. 6. Data Synthesis Plan The data synthesis plan requires more detail to ensure transparency and reproducibility. The current description of narrative synthesis is broad, and the approach for qualitative data and mixed-method integration is unclear. The authors should specify the method for qualitative synthesis (e.g., thematic synthesis or framework synthesis) and explain how qualitative findings will inform interpretation of quantitative results. 7. Search Strategy and Timeline Although the protocol lists several databases and sources, the search strategy needs refinement to ensure comprehensive coverage, particularly for African literature. Key regional sources such as African Journals Online (AJOL), African Index Medicus, and major grey literature repositories (e.g., WHO AFRO, Ministries of Health, NGO reports) are missing. These are critical for capturing SSA evidence. The authors should also clarify whether Embase will be searched (as information on p.g.15 is not clear). There is also inconsistency in the description of the search timeline. On page 2, the protocol states that the search will cover 2000-2025, while page 15 (Table 1) indicates no date restriction. Additionally, the introduction (page 3) emphasizes a “notable resurgence during and after the coronavirus disease pandemic,” which could imply a focus on pandemic-related evidence. These statements create ambiguity about whether the review is limited to the pandemic period, the years 2000-2025, or has no time restriction. The authors should clarify and harmonize these elements. 8. Quality Appraisal The use of GRADE is appropriate; however, the protocol does not clearly describe how GRADE will be applied to mixed-design evidence and qualitative outcomes. The authors should specify that GRADE will be used for quantitative outcomes and consider applying GRADE-CERQual to assess confidence in qualitative evidence. Additionally, it is important to clarify how risk-of-bias assessments will inform downgrading decisions within the GRADE framework. Providing this detail will strengthen methodological transparency and improve the credibility of the synthesis. 9. Language Translation and Non-English Studies Handling The protocol states that there are no language restrictions, which is commendable. However, the current approach relies heavily on machine translation for initial screening, and the process for verifying accuracy is unclear. To strengthen transparency and reproducibility, the authors should clarify the criteria for when machine translation will be used versus bilingual reviewers, including who will perform these checks and what language proficiency thresholds apply. Additionally, describe how full-text translations will be quality-checked and how uncertainties will be managed (e.g., noting limitations or contacting authors for clarification). This detail will improve confidence in the handling of non-English studies. 10. Minor Editorial Concerns The protocol requires attention to several formatting and consistency issues. There is inconsistent use of abbreviations throughout the document (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa vs SSA) and duplicates in the abbreviation list (e.g., MEDLINE and Medline variants). The abbreviation list is not standardized (page 15). The authors should define abbreviations at first use and provide a single, alphabetized abbreviation table. In the Methods section, “Table 1” is referenced multiple times (e.g., “supplementary table 1” and “Table 1” on pages 7, 13, and 14). The authors should clearly distinguish Table 1 and supplementary Table 1 to avoid confusion. Table 1 could also be improved by proper formatting. Additionally, line spacing throughout the document is inconsistent (e.g., page 15). Reviewer #2: Thank you for the opportunity to review this submission. The paper is well written in clear language. I have noted a few issues to consider detailed below Data synthesis The authors stated that synthesis will be structured around population characteristics, intervention characteristics including platform, messaging type, duration, and framing, comparator type, and mental health outcomes including knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, empowerment, and help-seeking. Given the expected diversity of the mental health outcomes probably measured using various tools, how will this be synthesized Data availability after the study This was not explicitly stated in the protocol Title of the study Slightly ambiguous, mental help-seeking behaviors, would mental health help seeking behaviors read better ********** what does this mean? ). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files. If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public. Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy Reviewer #1: Yes: Robert Lubajo Reviewer #2: No ********** [NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.] To ensure your figures meet our technical requirements, please review our figure guidelines: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/figures You may also use PLOS’s free figure tool, NAAS, to help you prepare publication quality figures: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/figures#loc-tools-for-figure-preparation. NAAS will assess whether your figures meet our technical requirements by comparing each figure against our figure specifications.
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| Revision 1 |
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Effect of social and digital media mental health messaging on mental health help-seeking behaviors in the sub-Saharan African population: a systematic review protocol PONE-D-25-55509R1 Dear Dr. Marciano, We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements. Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication. An invoice will be generated when your article is formally accepted. Please note, if your institution has a publishing partnership with PLOS and your article meets the relevant criteria, all or part of your publication costs will be covered. Please make sure your user information is up-to-date by logging into Editorial Manager at Editorial Manager® and clicking the ‘Update My Information' link at the top of the page. For questions related to billing, please contact billing support . If your institution or institutions have a press office, please notify them about your upcoming paper to help maximize its impact. If they’ll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team as soon as possible -- no later than 48 hours after receiving the formal acceptance. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. Kind regards, Olushayo Oluseun Olu Academic Editor PLOS One Additional Editor Comments (optional): Reviewers' comments: |
| Formally Accepted |
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PONE-D-25-55509R1 PLOS One Dear Dr. Marciano, I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS One. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team. At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following: * All references, tables, and figures are properly cited * All relevant supporting information is included in the manuscript submission, * There are no issues that prevent the paper from being properly typeset You will receive further instructions from the production team, including instructions on how to review your proof when it is ready. Please keep in mind that we are working through a large volume of accepted articles, so please give us a few days to review your paper and let you know the next and final steps. Lastly, if your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. You will receive an invoice from PLOS for your publication fee after your manuscript has reached the completed accept phase. If you receive an email requesting payment before acceptance or for any other service, this may be a phishing scheme. Learn how to identify phishing emails and protect your accounts at https://explore.plos.org/phishing. If we can help with anything else, please email us at customercare@plos.org. Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access. Kind regards, PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff on behalf of Dr. Olushayo Oluseun Olu Academic Editor PLOS One |
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