Submissions

Author Guidelines

Submission Process & Required Files

Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts to this journal. First-time users must register on the website to create an account, free of charge. Once registered, authors can use their credentials to submit manuscripts and track their progress. Kindly find submission checklist here. For any queries or technical issues, please contact: editor@jpchr.com

1. Title Page: Must include author details, affiliations, CRediT contribution roles, and 5 suggested independent reviewers. (Download Title Page Template)
2. Blind Manuscript: Must NOT contain author names, institutions, or identifying information to ensure double-blind peer review. (Download Manuscript Template)
3. IEC Certificate: Proof of Institutional Ethics Committee approval (if applicable).

Before submitting, please ensure your manuscript complies with our [Link: Editorial and Publishing Policies] (including Plagiarism, AI use, and Authorship criteria).

Note: Incomplete submission will be deleted after 30 days.

Manuscript Types

Formatting & Style Guide

• Layout: A4 size, 2.54 cm margins, 1.5 Spacing, justified text.
• Font: 12-point Arial, Aptos, Times New Roman or other San Serif font.
• Language: Indian English.
• Abbreviations: Define fully at first use.
• Citations: Vancouver style (superscripted numbers in square brackets). We recommend using our [Link: JPCHR Mendeley/Zotero CSL file].
• Tables: APA format, editable, placed in the text.
• Images: JPEG/TIF (Max 3 MB). Do not place titles directly on the image.

Manuscripts will be edited to conform to the style guidelines of the Journal of Public and Clinical Health Research (JPCHR). Authors are requested to carefully proofread their manuscripts for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors before submission. Headings and titles should be in sentence case, not all caps and charts should be submitted in an editable format.

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Organization of Sections in an Article

Abstract: An abstract is required for all manuscript types except for editorials and letters to the editor (but recommended). Abstracts should not exceed defined word count. For original research articles, the abstract should be structured into four subheadings: introduction (including objectives), methods, results, and conclusions. Authors should provide up to five keywords aligned with the MeSH database at the end of the abstract. The abstract must not include figures, tables, references, trade names, or manufacturers’ names.

Introduction: The introduction must outline the objective of the study in no more than 800 words. Authors should articulate the specific goal or purpose of the article and its significance. The introduction should also describe the hypothesis to be tested, the dilemma to be resolved, or the gap in knowledge the study seeks to address.

Material and Methods: This section must detail the research plan, materials (or subjects), and methods used. It should specify how the disease or condition was confirmed, controls utilized, data collected, and analysis performed. Detailed descriptions of any surgical devices, medications, or apparatus must include the branded name, manufacturer’s details, city, and country.

When applicable, provide full specifications of ultrasound machines, including the manufacturer and country of origin, the type of transducer, and its frequency. For example: “IVC filter (C.R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA)” or “GE Logiq E9, Milwaukee, USA.” Methods should be described comprehensively enough to enable replication.

Study Design: Selection and Description of Participants: Clearly describe the selection criteria for participants (patients or laboratory animals), including eligibility, exclusion criteria, and the source population.

Technical Information: Provide detailed information on methods, apparatus, and procedures, referencing established methods and explaining any new or modified techniques.

Ethics: Authors must supply evidence of approval by a local ethics committee.

Statistics: Specify statistical methods used, measurement errors, and confidence intervals. Avoid misuse of technical terms and provide precise definitions. All P values must be exact (e.g., P = .032) rather than thresholds (e.g., P < .05).

Results: Results should be presented in a logical sequence aligned with the study objectives. Numeric results should include absolute numbers alongside percentages and other derivatives. Tables and graphs should not duplicate data. Trends and critical findings should be highlighted. Where relevant, include analysis by age, sex, or other variables.

Discussion: The discussion should interpret the findings in the context of the hypothesis, existing evidence, and clinical or policy implications. It must include key findings, strengths, limitations, and a comparison with previous studies. Refrain from reiterating data already presented in the introduction or results sections.

Recommendation

Authors should provide well-grounded recommendations based on the key findings of their study. These recommendations should align with the study objectives and contribute to clinical practice, public health policies, or future research directions. Recommendations should be practical, evidence-based, and clearly linked to the results, avoiding overgeneralization or claims beyond the study's scope.

Limitation

A clear and transparent discussion of study limitations is essential to ensure scientific integrity. Authors should acknowledge methodological constraints, potential biases, sample size limitations, or other factors that may affect the interpretation and generalizability of the findings. Rather than undermining the study, an honest account of its limitations strengthens credibility and allows readers to understand its applicability in different contexts.

Declaration

Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may have influenced the study, including financial, institutional, or personal relationships. Details of funding sources should be clearly stated, specifying whether the funding body had any role in study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation. Additionally, authors must declare any use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research, data analysis, or manuscript drafting, ensuring transparency in the research process.

References: References must be numbered sequentially in the order they appear in the manuscript, following Vancouver style. If author using reference manager software like Mendeley or Zotero they can use this specific tailored custom citation style: csl.mendeley.com/styles/610628321/JPCHR. Citation numbers should be superscripted and enclosed in square brackets after punctuation. Example: “... with no evidence of intratubular testicular neoplasia.^[1]”

Author can refer the examples here: JPCHR reference examples

Tables: Tables must adhere to APA style, include descriptive titles, and be self-explanatory without duplicating text data. Each table must define abbreviations used below the table and ensure arithmetic accuracy.

Graphs: Graphs should be in editable format. Axes must be clearly labelled, and error bars must be defined in the legend. Indicate whether the ± values represent standard error (SEM) or standard deviation (SD).

Figures/Images: Images must be in JPEG or TIF format with a maximum size of 3 MB. Figures should be numbered consecutively and accompanied by descriptive legends. Titles and detailed explanations should not be placed on the images themselves but in the legends. Written permissions are required for patient photographs, and identifiable features like eyes must be covered. Any reproduction of figures must include a credit line and written copyright permission.

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Author Responsibilities

The journal accepts only original works that have not been published or submitted elsewhere. Authors must confirm that the manuscript, in whole or in part, has not been previously published or is under consideration for publication elsewhere. Abstracts presented at conferences are not considered prior publication and may be submitted for consideration, provided that the details of such presentations are disclosed in the Acknowledgements section. Any material protected by copyright laws that is used in the manuscript must be properly acknowledged. Publication of material on a website may constitute prior publication and must be disclosed at the time of submission. Additionally, authors should disclose details of related papers, even if authored in a different language.

Once accepted, changes to authorship (additions, removals, or modifications) are not permitted.

Authorship Criteria: Authorship credit should be granted based on substantial contributions to the conceptualisation and design of the study, data acquisition, or data analysis and interpretation; drafting or critically revising the manuscript for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published; and accountability for the accuracy and integrity of all aspects of the work.

Each author must take responsibility for their contributions and publicly affirm the manuscript’s content. The sequence of authorship should reflect each contributor’s relative contributions and cannot be changed post-submission without written consent from all authors. The journal allows a maximum of eight authors for all categories of manuscripts, except for Case Reports and Case Series, which are limited to a maximum of four authors.

The Corresponding Author is responsible for all communication with the journal and for ensuring that the final manuscript reflects the required changes from editors and reviewers.

Ethics Research must adhere to the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for studies involving humans. Scientific misconduct, as defined by the Federal Research Misconduct Policy, includes data falsification, which refers to the fabrication, distortion, or selective reporting of findings, and plagiarism, which involves using another’s language, ideas, or work without permission or presenting it as original. Authors must ensure that no text has been inadvertently copied verbatim from previously published work.

Conflict of Interest: All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the manuscript or its content. This includes financial relationships, institutional affiliations, or any competing products that may influence the study’s findings.

Institutional Review Board Approval and Informed Consent: All human studies must have approval from an institutional review board. Signed informed consent from participants is mandatory. If applicable, a waiver of consent granted by the board should be explicitly stated in the manuscript. Articles lacking these requirements will not be considered for publication. Patient consent and ethical approval details, including protocol numbers and dates, must be included in all research articles.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research, data analysis, manuscript drafting, or editing. The statement should specify the AI tool used, its purpose, and the extent of its contribution while ensuring that human oversight, critical interpretation, and intellectual input remain central to the research. AI-generated content must be verified for accuracy, and authors bear full responsibility for any errors or ethical concerns arising from its use.

Patient Privacy Informed consent must be obtained from all participants (or their guardians for minors under 16) and explicitly stated in the manuscript. Identifiable information, such as names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be included unless essential for scientific purposes. In such cases, written informed consent for publication must be obtained and documented.

If anonymity cannot be assured (e.g., masking eyes in photographs), explicit consent is required. Any alterations to identifying details must maintain scientific accuracy, and this should be verified by the authors and noted by the editors.

Reporting Guidelines: Reports of randomised clinical trials must include details on all major study elements, such as the protocol, assignment of interventions (methods of randomisation, concealment of allocation to treatment groups), and masking methods (blinding), as per the CONSORT Statement. Reporting guidelines for specific manuscript types are outlined below. A statement of compliance with the relevant guideline should be included on the title page of the manuscript.

For other study types, reporting guidelines can be accessed at https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/.

ORCID and ROR ID: To ensure accurate attribution of your research, providing an ORCID iD is mandatory for all submitting authors, and including your institution's Research Organization Registry (ROR) ID is highly encouraged. Upon acceptance of your manuscript, the journal will send an automated verification email to authenticate your identity. Once this verification is successfully completed, the article’s metadata will be automatically deposited into your ORCID profile immediately upon final publication.

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Article Processing Charge (APC)

Currently, the Journal of Public and Clinical Health Research (JPCHR) does not charge any fees for manuscript submission, processing, or publication.

As part of its commitment to promoting equitable access to scientific publishing, JPCHR provides full waiver support for authors from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The journal aims to encourage high-quality research dissemination without financial barriers, particularly for researchers from resource-constrained settings.

Data Sharing Policy

Authors submitting manuscripts to JPCHR must be willing to provide data pertaining to original research articles without restrictions, should the editorial board request it. Non-compliance with this condition may result in the rejection of the manuscript.

The journal does not impose an embargo period on articles and follows the Continuous Article Publishing (CAP) model for publication.