Instructions for Authors

Practical guidance for preparing preventive medicine manuscripts for JPMC.

JPMC publishes research that advances prevention across clinical, community, and policy settings. Manuscripts should demonstrate clear relevance to risk reduction, early detection, or care delivery improvement and explain how findings can be applied in real-world prevention programs.

Interdisciplinary studies are welcome when they remain anchored in prevention outcomes. If your work focuses on treatment without a prevention or public health dimension, it may be out of scope.

Word limits are general guidelines and should be used to support clear, concise reporting. Tables, figures, and appendices should be purposeful and referenced in the main text.

• Title page with full author names, affiliations, corresponding author contact, and ORCID where available
• Structured abstract with objectives, methods, results, and conclusions
• Introduction that frames the prevention problem and rationale
• Methods detailing study design, population, measures, and outcomes
• Results with clear tables, figures, and effect sizes where applicable
• Discussion that interprets findings and outlines prevention implications
• Data availability, ethics, and funding statements
• References formatted in Vancouver style with DOI links when possible

Abstracts should be concise, informative, and structured for most article types. Clearly state the prevention objective, methods, key results, and implications for practice or policy.

Select 4 to 6 keywords that reflect the study population, prevention strategy, and primary outcomes. This improves discoverability in indexing and search tools.

• Use clear headings and subheadings to guide reviewers
• Define abbreviations at first use and apply consistently
• Report statistical methods with sufficient detail for replication
• Include units of measure and confidence intervals where appropriate
• Limit redundancy between text and tables or figures
• Ensure all figures and tables are cited in the manuscript

Provide complete information on statistical methods, including software used, model assumptions, and sensitivity analyses when applicable.

Report effect sizes, confidence intervals, and exact p-values to support transparent interpretation of findings.

Figures and tables should be original, high quality, and clearly labeled. Provide descriptive captions that enable readers to interpret the content without extensive cross-referencing.

Supplementary materials can include detailed methods, additional analyses, or data dictionaries that support transparency and reproducibility.

• Submit figures as separate high-resolution files
• Provide editable tables, not embedded images
• Label all supplementary files clearly
• Reference each supplement in the main text

Use established reporting guidelines relevant to your study design to strengthen credibility and ensure transparent methods.

• CONSORT for trials and interventions
• STROBE for observational studies
• PRISMA for reviews and evidence syntheses
• TIDieR for intervention reporting
• SQUIRE for quality improvement studies

All studies involving human participants must include IRB approval and informed consent. Provide justification for waivers where applicable and describe participant protections.

Clinical trials should include registration identifiers. For studies involving animals, confirm compliance with institutional and national welfare regulations.

Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to study design, data analysis, or manuscript preparation. All authors must approve the final version.

Provide contributor roles when appropriate to clarify responsibility and accountability.

• Define author contributions clearly in the manuscript
• Confirm that all authors meet authorship criteria
• Disclose any changes to authorship during revision

Disclose all financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research. Transparency supports trust and credibility.

Include funding sources and describe the role of sponsors in study design, analysis, and publication decisions.

References should follow Vancouver style with consistent formatting. Include DOI links wherever available to improve traceability and indexing.

Ensure that all sources cited in the text appear in the reference list and that references are complete and accurate.

Data availability statements are required where appropriate. Provide repository links or describe access procedures for restricted datasets.

If data cannot be shared due to privacy or legal constraints, describe the limitation clearly.

• Provide repository links or access procedures
• Describe data limitations and governance
• Include trial registration identifiers when applicable

• State manuscript title and article type
• Explain scope fit and prevention relevance
• Highlight the primary contribution and impact
• Disclose related submissions or preprints if applicable

• Confirm ethics approvals and consent statements
• Verify all author details and affiliations
• Ensure tables and figures meet format requirements
• Check that abstracts and keywords are complete
• Confirm data availability and trial registration details

Submit manuscripts through ManuscriptZone. The system will guide you through file uploads, author details, and compliance checks.

Ensure all required statements are included before final submission to avoid delays.

• Prepare manuscript according to these guidelines
• Submit via ManuscriptZone
• Include cover letter with scope fit and contribution
• Respond to reviewer comments within requested timelines
• Pay APC after acceptance

Revisions should include a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. Clearly describe how each comment was addressed or provide justification when changes are not made.

Timely revisions help accelerate the publication timeline and improve overall manuscript quality.

JPMC aims to provide a first decision within 2 to 4 weeks depending on reviewer availability. This timeline supports timely dissemination of prevention findings.

If revisions are requested, prompt and thorough responses help maintain momentum toward publication.

Where relevant, describe how patients or community stakeholders were involved in study design, implementation, or dissemination.

This information helps reviewers assess real-world relevance and strengthens translation into practice.

After acceptance, authors review proofs, confirm metadata, and coordinate any supplementary materials. Articles publish within two weeks of APC payment.

Please check author affiliations, funding statements, and acknowledgments carefully during proofing to ensure accurate indexing and attribution.

If the work has been presented at conferences or posted as a preprint, disclose this information in the cover letter.

Prior dissemination does not disqualify submission, but transparency supports ethical publishing.

Clear writing improves review quality and reader engagement. Authors may request language editing support if needed, especially for complex methodological sections.

Use concise sentences, define technical terms, and ensure tables and figures are easy to interpret.

• Confirm ethics approvals and participant consent
• Disclose funding sources and sponsor roles
• Declare conflicts of interest for all authors
• Verify that all data statements are complete
• Ensure originality and proper citation of sources

• Verify trial registration numbers for interventional studies
• Include acknowledgments for data or material reuse
• Ensure supplemental files are referenced in the manuscript
• Check that author contributions reflect actual roles

If you have questions about formatting, scope, or submission requirements, contact the editorial office for guidance before you submit.

• Clarification on manuscript scope and fit
• Support for compliance and ethics documentation
• Guidance on reporting standards and formatting

Early questions often prevent avoidable revisions and speed the review timeline.

JPMC supports authors, editors, and reviewers with timely guidance on scope, policies, and workflows. If you need clarification on requirements, data statements, or review timelines, contact the editorial office at [email protected]. We can provide templates, examples, and best-practice recommendations to help you move forward confidently. Our responses typically include next steps, resource links, and a clear point of contact. Early communication helps avoid delays, ensures consistent compliance, and improves the overall publication experience.