Article Types

Article type

Article description

Abstract

Word limit, tables, figures

References

Article

Original primary research, study protocols, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and short- and long-term clinical trials should all be submitted in this format.

Scoping reviews should still follow a systematic approach to searching literature.

The body of the article should be organised using the same headings used in the abstract as far as possible. If the text needs subdividing further within these headings, then a second level of headings can be used. Hierarchy of headings should be made clear in the submitted article.

Structured abstract - we suggest up to 250 words, using the following headings as a guideline:

Objective/aim; Materials and Methods (including Design and Setting where applicable); Results; Discussion; Conclusions

The abstract should contain no references.

There is no strict word limit but we encourage authors to write concisely.

We suggest that articles be about 5,000 words maximum (not including figures, tables and references).

Lengthy papers or papers containing an excessive number of figures may be returned to authors for additional editing. The maximum title length is 20 words.

Max of 50 (as current as possible).

Review

This section includes literature and narrative reviews, which should still represent a critical review of included studies.

Systematic reviews remain the most appropriate where there is sufficient evidence to answer specific questions (these are published as “Articles” in the section above). However, manuscripts in the “Review” category are appropriate where the body of evidence does not allow for a systematic review or where no specific hypothesis is posed.

These should still address a focused topic area. They could, for example, critically assess the available literature of a developing field, with recommendations for future study. Or they may focus on more recent developments of a more specific field. We aim to publish manuscripts which represent an advance in understanding likely to influence thinking in the field. Narrative reviews which cover broad fields without a focused topic area or question, or which rely mainly on less recent studies, will therefore not be considered.

Structured abstract - we suggest up to 300 words.

This does not necessarily need to follow standard abstract headings but should provide a brief outline of why the review was carried out, a short summary of the key components of the review, and any final conclusions or recommendations.

The abstract should contain no references.

The main body of the review (excluding abstract, tables/figures, and references) should not exceed 6,000 words.

Overly lengthy reviews containing an excessive number of display items may be returned to authors for additional editing.

The maximum title length is 20 words.

We suggest a maximum of 8 figures/tables.

No limit.