Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Author Guidelines

Introduction

The Medical Journal of Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (MJPAHS) is an open-access, peer-reviewed biannual journal dedicated to the dissemination of high-quality research in health sciences. MJPAHS is published and distributed by Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), MJPAHS was established in 2016 and is in the process of starting academic activities. Our journal’s aims to encourage and sustain research within the institute and aspires to publish issues regularly and timely. We welcome the support and participation of all members of PAHS to make MJPAHS one of the leading journals of its kind in Nepal.

Focus and Scope

MJPAHS accepts submissions in the form of original research papers, review articles, case reports, brief reports, viewpoints, short communications, medical education articles, clinical experiences, and letters to the editor that provide new insights into any aspect of medical, dental, and allied health sciences. The journal particularly welcomes submissions in the fields of basic and clinical medical sciences, medical education, public health, hospital, and healthcare management. Any attempt at dual publication will result in automatic rejection and may prejudice future submissions.

Authorship

MJPAHS follows the authorship criteria set by the ICMJE. All authors should meet the following criteria:

  • Significant contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
  • Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
  • Final approval of the version to be published.
  • Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Contributors who do not meet these criteria should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section. The corresponding author must ensure all listed authors meet these criteria, no one who qualifies for authorship is omitted, and all authors have approved the final manuscript and its submission.

Manuscript Rejection

Manuscripts with insufficient originality, scientific or technical flaws, or that do not follow submission guidelines may be rejected. Authors are encouraged to revise and resubmit. Reasons for preliminary rejection include being out of scope, incorrect formatting, and incomplete submissions. Final rejection may result from lack of originality, methodological flaws, unanswered peer reviewer comments, plagiarism, or publication misconduct.

Reporting Guidelines

Authors should follow relevant reporting guidelines such as:

  • ARRIVE: Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments
  • CARE: Case Report
  • CONSORT: Reporting of Randomized Controlled Trials
  • TREND: Nonrandomized Evaluations of Behavioral and Public Health Interventions
  • COREQ: Reporting Qualitative Research
  • STARD: Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
  • STROBE: Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology
  • PRISMA: Reporting of Systematic Reviews
  • SPIRIT: Reporting Protocols for RCTs
  • CHEERS: Reporting of Health Economic Evaluations

The Equator Network provides a comprehensive list of reporting guidelines.

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Authors must submit the following documents along with their manuscript:

  • Forwarding letter
  • Authorship declaration
  • Manuscript
  • Ethical approval letter (for research articles)
  • Patient consent (for case reports)
  • Supplementary files if necessary

Submissions not adhering to the MJPAHS format or missing required documents will be rejected. Authors should use the appropriate templates for different types of articles and refer to the MJPAHS checklist and citation guidelines.

Publication and Decision Time

If the submission is complete as per the guidelines, MJPAHS will initiate the review process and provide feedback through the online system. Authors are advised to regularly check their submission status.

  • First Decision: 7-14 days (initial decision without review); 90 days (with review).
  • Publication Timeline: Most submissions are accepted and published within 6 months, though this may vary depending on the queue.

Manuscript Preparation

Original Article

  • Description: Reports original research in medical sciences, medical education, public health, and related fields.
  • Word Limit: Up to 3500 words excluding references (minimum 15) and Abstract up to 250 words.
  • Review Process: Rigorous peer review.

Review Article

  • Description: Systematic, critical assessments of literature and data sources.
  • Word Limit: Up to 4,000 words excluding references (minimum 50) and Abstract up to 250 words.
  • Review Process: Rigorous peer review.

Case Report

  • Description: Reports of cases with literature reviews.
  • Word Limit: Up to 1,000 words excluding references, Abstract up to 100 words and 3 photographs.
  • Review Process: Peer review.

Viewpoint

  • Description: Personal views and opinions on relevant health sciences issues.
  • Word Limit: Up to 800 words (excluding references; references up to 8).
  • Review Process: Peer review.

Letter to the Editor

  • Description: Short, decisive observations.
  • Word Limit: Up to 400 words and 5 references.
  • Review Process: Peer review.

Images and Tables

  • Maximum number of tables: 5 
  • Maximum number of figures: 2
  • Maximum number of images: 3

Manuscript Formatting

Manuscripts should be written in simple English. All authors must provide signed consents to publication, which should be sent with the manuscript. Manuscripts must be typed in MS Office Word document, Arial Font, with a font size of 12. Margins should be a minimum of 25 mm. The pages should be numbered, beginning with the title page. Page numbers should be typed at the middle of the bottom page. Standard abbreviations can be used in the text, provided that the full forms are given when they first appear in the text. Concise explanations are encouraged. Use of signs like ‘&’, ‘@’, ‘#’ is not permitted.

Peer Review Process

MJPAHS adheres to a double-blind peer review policy to ensure the identity of both authors and reviewers remains anonymous. The review process includes:

  • One-Stage Review: Manuscripts reviewed by two independent reviewers.
  • Two-Stage Review: For complex submissions, a second review phase may be employed.

Submission and Review Procedure

  • Submission: Manuscripts must be submitted according to the MJPAHS section policy.
  • Initial Review: Manuscripts undergo peer review by two reviewers. A third reviewer is consulted if needed.
  • Review Timeline: Typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Review Outcomes

  • Accept Submission: Manuscript accepted without revisions.
  • Revisions Required: Manuscript accepted after minor changes.
  • Resubmit for Review: Manuscript requires significant revisions.
  • Resubmit Elsewhere: Manuscript not suitable for MJPAHS.
  • Decline Submission: Manuscript will not be published in MJPAHS.

Feedback to Authors

All comments from reviewers are forwarded to authors within 4-6 weeks. Authors should check submission status online and ensure communications from MJPAHS are not directed to spam folders before inquiring about updates.

Editor's Responsibility

Editors direct manuscripts to appropriate reviewers and make acceptance decisions based on reviewers' comments, ensuring integrity and adherence to guidelines.

Articles

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Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

This policy applies to MJPAHS's websites, print journal, and other services. Personal information is collected, used, and shared in accordance with applicable laws. Authors have the right to access and update their information.