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Download Prescribed Submission Formats Document

The SPMC Research Office adopts the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (2014) and the research reporting guidelines of the EQUATOR Network. 

A. Case Reports

Authors should follow the CARE Checklist in preparing the manuscript for case report.

Case report submissions should contain the following sections:

  1. Title
  2. Authors and affiliations
  3. Abstract: up to 250 words (refer to the CARE Checklist for specific contents)
  4. Keywords: 2 to 5 words or phrases
  5. Introduction
  6. Clinical features
  7. Diagnostic approaches
  8. Therapeutic approaches
  9. Outcomes
  10. Discussion
  11. References
  12. Acknowledgements

Please use 2000 words or less for the main text of the report (excluding title, abstract, tables, figures, references, and acknowledgements).

Every attempt should be made in order to obtain an affidavit of consent to publish the article or photos that describe a patient. The affidavit should be duly executed by the patient or by the patient's legally acceptable representative. You may use the SPMC template provided by the Research Office or the Legal Office for this purpose. Please submit a copy of the affidavit along with the case report and/or photos of the patient. 

B. Research reports

Authors should follow the appropriate EQUATOR Network checklist for reporting research results. Listed below are the common study types and their corresponding checklists. Please visit the EQUATOR Network website for a complete list of the reporting guidelines and checklists.

Study typesChecklists and diagrams
Randomized controlled trials CONSORT Checklist CONSORT Flow Diagram
Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) STROBE Checklist
Meta-analysis and systematic reviews PRISMA Checklist PRISMA Flow Diagram
Diagnostic accuracy studies STARD Checklist STARD Flow Diagram
Prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis TRIPOD
Qualitative studies COREQ


Research report submissions should contain the following sections:

  1. Title
  2. Authors and affiliations
  3. Abstract: up to 250 words; should (generally) include, as applicable, the sub-headings – Background, Objectives, Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions (if any), Main Outcome Measures, Main Results, and Conclusion; for sub-headings of abstracts of specific study types, please refer to the reporting checklists
  4. Keywords: 2 to 5 words or phrases
  5. Introduction
  6. Methods
  7. Results
  8. Discussion
  9. References
  10. Acknowledgements

Please use 5000 words or less for the main text of the report (excluding title, abstract, tables, figures, references, and acknowledgements).

The conduct of research involving humans must have been approved or favorably endorsed by an Institutional Review Board or Ethics Review Committee. Please submit a copy of the Certificate of Approval or Certificate of Favorable Endorsement to conduct the research along with the research report. 

C. Book reviews

Reviews of books relevant in health care services and the health professions may be submitted for publication. Book review submissions should contain the following

  1. Book details: title and author/s or editor/s of the book, ISBN
  2. Author of the book review and affiliation
  3. General contents and scope of the book
  4. Significance of the book to its readers
  5. (Optional) comparison of the book with other books within the same area or topic
  6. References

Please use 2000 words or less for the main text of the report (excluding title and references).

D. Clinical images

Images of unreported, unexpected or unusual physical examination, intra-operative, histopathologic, radiographic or other medical imaging findings may be submitted for publication. Up to four photos can be used to describe a condition.

Clinical images submissions should contain the following sections:

  1. Title: should state the final diagnosis
  2. Authors and affiliations
  3. Brief clinical description, which should include:
    1. Patient’s age and sex
    2. Chief complaint, brief history, physical examination findings
    3. Relevant diagnostics
    4. Final diagnosis
    5. Relevant therapeutics
    6. Outcomes
    7. Description of the individual photos

Please use 300 words or less for the brief clinical description.

Every attempt should be made in order to obtain an affidavit of consent to publish the article or photos that describe a patient. The affidavit should be duly executed by the patient or by the patient's legally acceptable representative. You may use the SPMC template provided by the Research Office or the Legal Office for this purpose. Please submit a copy of the affidavit along with the photos and brief clinical description of the patient.

 

Download Prescribed Submission Formats Document 

~Version 1, 16 March 2015