Journal Sections: Guidelines For Authors
Original Article
For the composition of an original research paper, the following sections are suggested:
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods
- Findings
- Analysis
- Final Remarks
- Acknowledgments
- Disclosures (if applicable)
- Citations
The word limit for an original paper is 3000 words, not including abstracts and citations. It is advised to include a structured abstract with a maximum of 250 words. Up to six keywords from MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) should be appended to the abstract. In the body of the original paper, up to four tables and/or figures may be incorporated. For an original paper, the citation limit is 30. Depending on the subject matter, more recent citations are preferred.
The Equator Network has formulated reporting guidelines for researchers. Authors are encouraged to utilize these guidelines for authors to enhance the likelihood of acceptance and subsequent publication. These guidelines can be found here after selecting the study type from the drop-down menu. For instance, the reporting checklist for observational studies can be filled out online or downloaded for offline completion from this link.
Clinical trials intended for publication must be registered in the international registry, and authors are obligated to provide the registration number. Trials that are not registered will not be considered for publication.
Review Article
Authors who have written a minimum of three original research articles on the same topic are eligible to submit a review article. This review should offer an in-depth analysis and evaluation of a relatively specific subject, encompassing both its historical background and recent developments, with references to original works. It is expected that the review will incorporate the author’s own unique contributions to the relevant field of study.
The proposed length for such a review article is limited to 3,500 words, with no more than 45 bibliographic citations. For these types of articles, it is recommended to include an unstructured abstract of approximately 150 words, along with 3-6 relevant keywords.
Case Report
A case report should follow a specific format, which includes the following sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Case Report, Discussion, and References. The content of these reports should hold academic and educational value, focusing on the unique facets of the disease being examined. This section can also include concise or negative research findings.
The word count for a case report should not exceed 1000 words and should be supported by a maximum of 10 references. It is recommended to incorporate a non-structured abstract of no more than 150 words, along with a minimum of three relevant keywords sourced from the MeSH database.
In terms of visual aids, it is suggested to restrict the number of figures to two and tables to one per case report. The submissions can encompass brief reports of cases, clinical experiences, drug trials, or adverse effects.
Evidence-based Report
An empirically-based report should begin with an abstract that is not structured, with a word count not exceeding 150 words. This should be succeeded by a detailed narrative or explanation of at least 10 pertinent cases. The overall word count for this segment should not surpass 2000 words. Additionally, it is permissible to include up to 20 references from relevant literature.
Short Communication
The short communication must adhere to a limit of 1,000 words, accompanied by an unstructured abstract not exceeding 150 words. It should contain no more than two tables or illustrations and a maximum of five references.
Letter to Editor
In general, a correspondence intended for the editor should be concise, ideally not surpassing a thousand words, and should include no more than five citations. It should bear the signatures of all contributors, with a maximum limit of three. The editorial team tends to favor correspondences that address points raised in recently published articles within the journal. It is possible that such letters may be accompanied by a rejoinder from the author of the article under discussion. Any further discourse beyond the initial letter and response will not be considered for publication. If a letter to the editor presents scientific data, it may be subjected to a peer review process.
Editorial
Editorials are written upon invitation from the Journal Editor.