Author Guidelines
The Journal of Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 3066-9812) invites submissions that contribute significantly to the scientific understanding of population health, disease patterns, clinical outcomes, and public health policy. To facilitate an efficient and transparent submission process, authors are required to adhere strictly to the following guidelines. These instructions aim to assist contributors in the preparation and submission of their manuscripts to ensure a seamless experience from initial submission to final publication.
1. Manuscript Categories Accepted
The journal publishes a wide range of article types, reflecting the diversity and interdisciplinary nature of the fields of clinical epidemiology and public health. Authors may submit manuscripts under the following categories:
Original Research Articles: Detailed studies reporting new findings based on original research, observational studies, or clinical trials.
Review Articles: Comprehensive and structured summaries of existing research, intended to synthesise current understanding and identify knowledge gaps.
Clinical Case Studies: In-depth reports on individual or grouped clinical cases that provide educational value, particularly with rare or unusual presentations.
Short Communications: Concise papers presenting preliminary research findings, urgent data, or novel methodologies.
Methodological Papers: Articles focusing on the development, testing, or application of new methods, tools, or techniques in epidemiological or public health research.
Opinion Articles and Editorials: Perspective articles offering scholarly commentary on current issues, controversies, or future directions in the discipline.
Each type of manuscript should contribute meaningfully to the literature in clinical epidemiology or public health, with a clear focus on scientific validity, public health relevance, and potential for impact on policy or practice.
2. Language and Presentation
Manuscripts must be written in English with clarity, precision, and professional tone. Submissions should reflect high standards of scholarly communication. Authors for whom English is not a first language are encouraged to have their manuscripts reviewed or edited by a native English speaker or professional language editing service prior to submission.
The narrative should be coherent and free from grammatical or typographical errors. Use of medical and scientific terminology should be accurate and appropriate to the topic. Authors should avoid colloquial expressions and ensure that technical terms are explained clearly when used for the first time.
3. Formatting Instructions
All manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx). The entire document should be double-spaced, with standard one-inch margins on all sides. Use a legible 12-point font such as Times New Roman. Page numbers should be included in the footer or header of each page.
Each manuscript should include the following components in order:
- Title Page
- Abstract and Keywords
- Main Body (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion)
- References
- Tables and Figures (submitted as separate files)
- Supplementary Materials (if applicable)
4. Title and Abstract
Title: The title should be specific, informative, and accurately reflect the content of the manuscript. Titles should not exceed 15 words and should avoid abbreviations unless commonly recognized.
Abstract: A structured abstract is required for all manuscript types except opinion pieces and editorials. The abstract should be between 200 to 300 words and include the following elements: background, objectives, methods, key results, and conclusions. It should provide a succinct overview of the study without citations or references to figures and tables.
Keywords: Authors must include 4 to 6 keywords beneath the abstract. These keywords should represent the central topics of the article and help index the manuscript in relevant databases.
5. Manuscript Structure
The body of the manuscript should follow a standard structure to ensure consistency and ease of review. The main sections typically include:
Introduction: Briefly explain the background and rationale for the study. Clearly state the objectives or hypotheses.
Materials and Methods: Provide sufficient detail for replication. Describe the study design, data sources, participants, variables, and statistical methods.
Results: Present findings logically, with appropriate use of tables and figures. Avoid repetition between text and visual elements.
Discussion: Interpret the results in the context of existing literature. Highlight implications, strengths, limitations, and potential areas for future research.
Conclusion: Summarize the main findings and their relevance to clinical epidemiology or public health.
6. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations
Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text. Each table and figure must have a clear, descriptive title. Additional notes or legends should be included to aid interpretation. All images, graphs, or illustrations must be of high resolution (minimum 300 dpi) and submitted as separate files in formats such as JPEG or PNG. Authors must confirm that they have the legal right to reproduce any previously published material.
7. References and Citation Style
The APA (American Psychological Association) style must be used consistently for all citations and references. In-text citations should include the author's last name and year of publication, such as (Anderson, 2022). All references cited in the text must appear in the reference list at the end of the manuscript.
Examples:
In-text: (Martin & Lopez, 2021)
Reference list: Martin, A., & Lopez, S. (2021). Community health interventions: A longitudinal study. Journal of Public Health Policy, 42(3), 145–159. https://doi.org/10.1234/jphp.2021.0034
Authors are encouraged to use citation management software to ensure accuracy and formatting consistency.
8. Submission Guidelines
All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s official online submission system. Authors are required to create an account, upload their manuscript files, and complete all necessary metadata fields. The system will guide authors through each stage of the submission process.
9. Cover Letter
A cover letter must accompany every submission. This letter should briefly introduce the manuscript, state its originality and relevance to the journal, confirm that it is not under consideration elsewhere, and declare any potential conflicts of interest. Authors may also suggest preferred reviewers or individuals they wish to exclude from the review process, with reasons provided.
10. Conflict of Interest and Ethical Compliance
Authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial interests that may be perceived as influencing the content of the manuscript. All studies involving human participants or animal subjects must be conducted in accordance with institutional and national ethical standards. A statement confirming ethical approval and informed consent must be included in the Methods section of the manuscript.
11. Peer Review Process
Each submitted manuscript undergoes a rigorous double-blind peer review process. This means that the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process. Manuscripts will be assessed for originality, methodological quality, relevance, and clarity. Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial board will make one of the following decisions: acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection.
12. Article Processing Charges
Upon acceptance for publication, authors will be required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) to cover the costs associated with the editorial process, online hosting, and long-term archiving of the article. Specific information regarding the APC will be communicated to authors during the post-acceptance phase.
13. Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain full copyright of their work. Upon acceptance, authors will grant the journal the right to publish and distribute their work under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. This license permits others to share, adapt, and use the published work with proper attribution, encouraging wider dissemination of research findings.
14. Revision and Resubmission
Authors invited to revise their manuscripts must submit a point-by-point response addressing all reviewer comments. Revised manuscripts should clearly highlight the changes made. The editorial team may send the revised manuscript for further review or proceed directly to final decision, depending on the nature of the revisions.
