Preparing your material

Policy on prior publication

When submitting manuscripts to this journal, authors must ensure that their work is not currently under review, accepted for publication, or in press with any other journal, book, or similar outlet unless formal permission or agreement has been obtained from all relevant parties. However, posting a preprint on the author’s personal website, in an institutional repository, or on a recognized preprint platform will not be considered as prior publication or a duplicate submission.

Preparation of Manuscript

Main Document (Single File)

The main document should consist of the following sections:

        1. Title Page: Include the full manuscript title, a running title (shortened version), and complete author names with their affiliations. Ensure the Corresponding Author's contact details (email, phone number, and mailing address) are provided.
        2. Abstract and Keywords: Provide a concise summary of 100–250 words outlining the study's objectives, key findings, and conclusions. Follow this with 3-5 keywords using terms from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) in Index Medicus.
        3. Main Text: This section should present the core content of the paper. American English spelling and grammar should be used, following the 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.
        4. Acknowledgments: Acknowledge funding sources and other contributions.
        5. Conflict of Interest Statement: Disclose any potential conflicts.
        6. References: Use ICMJE Uniform Requirements (URM) style for citation and formatting.
        7. Tables: Include relevant data tables, numbered consecutively.
        8. Figure Captions: Provide descriptions for each figure used in the manuscript.
  1. Figures

Each figure must be uploaded as a separate file.

  1. Supplementary Files

Supplementary files should be numbered sequentially (e.g., "Supplementary File 1") and referenced within the text. Each file must have a title.

  1. Conflict of Interest Forms

Each author must complete a Conflict of Interest form.

Cover Letter

A cover letter must accompany the manuscript, confirming that:

        • All authors contributed to the study’s design, data analysis, or manuscript preparation according to the ICMJE standards.
        • All authors approve the final version submitted.
        • The manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal.

Title Page Requirements

The title page must contain:

        • Full Title (maximum of 20 words, in uppercase).
        • Running Title (up to 50 characters).
        • Author Information: List all authors' names with their qualifications and affiliations.
        • Corresponding Author's Contact Details: Include full mailing address, phone number, and email.

Abstract and Keywords

The abstract should summarize the study objectives, results, and conclusions in 100-250 words. It must appear on a separate page without a heading. Three to five keywords should be provided, using terms from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH).

Text Formatting Guidelines

        • Use American spelling and follow The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) for grammar and punctuation.
        • Avoid using footnotes or appendices.
        • Acronyms must be spelled out on their first use.
        • Use generic product names instead of trade names unless brand-specific discussions are essential.
        • Write out “percent” instead of using the % symbol, except in tables and figures.
        • If local currency is used, provide its equivalent in USD or EUR in brackets.

Numerical Usage

        • Spell out numbers up to ninety-nine (e.g., forty reports, ninety-nine patients).
        • Use numerals for numbers 100 and above (e.g., 100 patients, 125 countries).
        • For units of measurement, always use numerals (e.g., 15 sec, 99 years).
        • If a sentence contains both numbers above and below 100 for the same category, use numerals consistently (e.g., "200 questionnaires were received, but only 50 met the criteria").

Acknowledgments and Funding Statement

        • Include a detailed Funding Statement outlining financial support received. Specify grant numbers and the authors who received them (e.g., "This research was supported by the Wellcome Trust (AB: Grant XXXX; CD: Grant YYYY) and the National Institutes of Health (EF: Grant ZZZZ)").
        • If the research did not receive specific funding, include the statement: “This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial, or non-profit sectors.”

References

        • References must follow the ICMJE Uniform Requirements (URM) style, numbered consecutively in the order they appear in the text.
        • Use Arabic numerals in parentheses to indicate references in the text (e.g., "Jones and Smith (7) reported that...").
        • For articles with more than six authors, list the first six authors followed by "et al." For works with five or fewer authors, list all authors.
        • Journal titles should be abbreviated following the Index Medicus format, with abbreviations italicized.
        • Do not include issue numbers for journals with consecutively numbered volumes.
        • Ensure the accuracy of all references, as errors in the reference list are the authors’ responsibility. Avoid using automated reference formatting tools without cross-checking.

Book:

  1. Jones AB, Smith JK. Computer diagnosis and results. New York: Penta Publishers; 2011

Journal:

  1. Jones AB, Smith JK. The relationship between health needs, the hospital, and the patient. J Chron Dis. 2012;49:310-2.
  2. Garattini L, De Compadri P, Clemente R, Cornago D. Economic evaluations in Italy: A review of the literature. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2003;19:685-737.

Article in edited work:

  1. Jones AB, Smith JK. The diagnostic process. In: Brown R, Wilson T, editors. New technology and its medical consequences, vol. 1. New York: Apple Publishers; 2013. p. 101-34.

Online sources:

  1. European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) [Internet] Transcatheter implantable devices for mitral valve repair in adults with chronic mitral valve regurgitation v1.4. c2015 [cited 2016 Aug 12]. Available from: http://www.eunethta.eu/sites/5...

Guidelines for Reference Lists and Citing Unpublished Data

        • Do not include works that are still under review and have not yet been accepted for publication in the reference list.
        • Such material, along with the year, should instead be cited within the text as "unpublished data." For example:
          • “Similar findings have been reported by LW Smith (unpublished data, 2013).”

Guidelines for Tables

        • Tables should be numbered sequentially and referenced in the text.
        • Each table must have an explanatory caption or legend, and all abbreviations used within it must be defined at the bottom, even if they are already defined elsewhere in the manuscript.
        • Submit tables either in Word or RTF format. They can either be included after the references in the main document or uploaded as separate files.

Instructions for Figure Captions and Figures

        • Figure Captions: Provide a complete list of captions within the main document after any tables, but do not include the figures themselves.
        • Figures: Number figures sequentially, and each figure must be referenced in the text.
          • Figures should include a title following the figure number and a caption or legend explaining the content.
          • Abbreviations should be minimized; if used, they must be defined within the caption, even if previously defined in the text.
          • Upload each figure separately in TIFF, JPEG, or EPS formats.
          • For detailed formatting instructions, refer to the Cambridge Journals Artwork Guide.

Supplementary Materials

        • Additional tables and figures that exceed the journal’s limits may be submitted as supplementary materials. These will be linked within the online article but not included in the printed journal.
          • Number supplementary tables and figures separately (e.g., Supplementary Table 1, Supplementary Figure 1).
          • Authors should ensure these files are complete and accurate at submission since they will not be modified by the publisher.
          • Captions must be provided to ensure the supplementary material is understandable on its own.

Conflicts of Interest

        • Include a Conflict of Interest statement following the main text, acknowledgments, and funding sources. This section should disclose any relationships or situations that may influence the research.
          • These may involve financial, professional, or personal affiliations that could impact the work.
          • If there are multiple authors, the submitting author must report any relevant conflicts for all contributors.
          • Use the following wording as an example:
            • “Conflicts of Interest: Author A is employed at Company B. Author C owns shares in Company D, serves on the board of Company E, and is a member of Organization F.”
          • If there are no conflicts, state: “Conflicts of Interest: None.”
        • Authors must also disclose any financial connections with companies related to the research or competing products. While this information will not be shared with reviewers, it may be published if the manuscript is accepted.

Ethical Standards

        • If the research involves humans or animals, confirm compliance with national and institutional ethical standards.
          • For studies involving human subjects, include:
            • “The authors confirm that all procedures comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees on human experimentation and the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2013.”
          • For animal studies, state:
            • “The authors confirm that all procedures comply with national and institutional guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.”

Permissions

        • Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to publish any copyrighted material they do not own.

Competing Interests

        • All authors must declare any competing interests that could potentially influence the article’s content or outcome.
          • These may include financial interests, professional relationships, or affiliations.
          • The submitting author must include disclosures for all contributors.
          • Example wording: “Competing Interests: Author 1 is employed by Organization A, Author 2 is a board member of Company B and a member of Organization C, and Author 3 has received grants from Company D.”
          • If no competing interests exist, the statement should be: “Competing Interests: The authors declare none.”

English Language Editing Services

        • Authors whose first language is not English may consider having their manuscript reviewed by a native speaker to ensure clarity.
          • Cambridge University Press offers professional editing services, though using them is optional and at the author’s expense.
          • Note that using these services does not guarantee acceptance of the manuscript.

Supplementary Materials Submission

        • Supplementary materials can include additional figures, tables, datasets, or media files relevant to the research but not essential to the main text.
          • These materials will be published online alongside the article, but not in the journal’s printed version.
          • Supplementary materials will not undergo copyediting, so authors must ensure the content is correct upon submission.
          • When appropriate, authors are encouraged to publish extra datasets or research outputs in repositories and cite them in the manuscript.

Authorship and Contributorship

        • All individuals listed as authors must meet the accepted criteria for authorship. Ensure that no eligible contributors are excluded.
          • For further information, refer to the journal's publishing ethics policies.

Author Affiliations

        • Affiliations should represent the institution where the research was conducted, supported, or approved.
          • For non-research content, affiliations should reflect the current institution of each author.
          • More details can be found in the journal’s author affiliation policy.

ORCID Integration

        • All corresponding authors are required to have an ORCID iD when submitting a manuscript.
          • ORCID helps improve the discoverability of authors' work and simplifies workflows like grant applications.
          • If you don’t have an ORCID iD, you can register through the ORCID website or during the manuscript submission process.
          • Authors can use ORCID to communicate preferences regarding how they wish to be identified (e.g., pronouns or name variations) through the “Published Name” field, though this feature is optional.