Instructions for Authors

The American Journal of Hospital Medicine (AJHM) is a peer-reviewed, fully open access, online journal dedicated to promoting research and education in the field of hospital medicine and supporting open science.

AJHM is published by the Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Missouri.

Our journal is geared towards publication of updates and current research primarily in the field of Hospital Medicine. Publications relevant to the care of hospitalized patients will be most preferred. Manuscripts pertaining to clinical research, reviews, case reports, clinical images will be considered for peer-review after an initial editorial assessment.

Basic science or translational research studies will not be considered for publication.

Submission of Manuscripts

• All the following documents should be submitted via the journal's online submission system. To submit your article, please use this link https://ajhm.manuscriptmanager.net/
• Authors are usually notified within 4 - 8 weeks about the decision for acceptance or denial of their manuscript for publication. For more details of the Peer Review Process please see Journal Policies.

Manuscript Preparation

• All submissions must be in English.
• Your manuscript should be submitted as a Microsoft WORD .doc or .docx file in Times New Roman font with size “12 pt”.
• Abbreviations should be kept to a minimum and introduced only where multiple use is made. They should be defined at the first occurrence in parentheses. Thereafter, use only the abbreviations.
• It is not necessary to spell out standard units of measure.
• Use generic names for drugs.

All submitted manuscripts should include the following:

• Cover letter
• Title Page
• Manuscript
• Tables (if applicable)
• Figures (if applicable)
• References
• Funding
• Acknowledgments (if applicable)
• Author(s) Disclosure Statement
• Supplementary Data (if applicable)
• AJHM conflict of interest disclosure form filled by each author

Cover Letter

A cover letter must be submitted along with the manuscript. The letter must state:

• The key/unique message conveyed by the manuscript.
• All authors have read/reviewed and approved the manuscript version submitted and have significant contributions in designing/conducting the study and in drafting/reviewing/editing the manuscript.
• Author Contribution statement for each listed author.
• The manuscript has not been previously published and it is not simultaneously submitted or presently under consideration for publication elsewhere at the time of this submission.

Title page

This page should be the first page for any manuscript. Title page should include:

• Manuscript title (< 20 words).
• A short running title of 4-6 words.
• Full names of all authors and their institutional affiliations (department, institution, city, and country). lease note the maximum number of authors for specific article types).
• The name and the complete contact information (address, telephone, and e-mail) for the corresponding author.
• Any deletions or additions to the author list after submission of the paper must be submitted in writing and signed by all authors.
• 3 - 5 keywords.
• Enlist the word count and number of tables and figures.

Manuscript

Papers may be submitted in one of the following categories. Specifics listed below.

Original research

The AJHM requires a statement from authors in the Materials and Methods section to confirm that the appropriate ethical approval has been received, that appropriate processes have been followed, and the name of the responsible institutional and national review committee(s), along with confirmation that the research was completed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki as revised in 2013. A statement confirming that informed patient/participant consent was obtained is required in the. If the study is judged exempt from review, a statement from the committee is required. Report clinically relevant investigations or observations within the journal’s scope of interests. Format guide:

• Number of authors: unlimited
• Abstract: Up to 300 words, structured using the headings: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Conclusions
• Main text: Up to 3000 words, organized under the headings: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion.
  Clinical studies reporting should follow guidelines when available. These include the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials Statement (CONSORT), Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies (STARD), Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE).
• Tables: up to 3
• Figures: up to 3
• Number of references: unlimited

Reviews

Narrative reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses of clinical topics relevant to practice of hospital medicine will be considered. Format guide:

• Number of authors: unlimited
• Abstract: up to 300 words, structured using the headings: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Conclusions
• Main text: up to 3000 words, organized under the headings: Introduction, Materials and Methods (as applicable: data sources, study eligibility criteria, participants, interventions, and synthesis methods), Results, and Discussion. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement provides guidelines for reporting of systematic reviews, available online at http://www.prisma-statement.org
• Tables: up to 3
• Figures: up to 3
• Number of references: unlimited

Case reports

Case reports describing a novel disease or novel manifestation of common disease will be considered for publication. The text must include the following elements:

• Number of authors: limited to 4
• Abstract: Up to 200 words, unstructured.
• Main text: Up to 2000 words, organized under the headings: Introduction, Case presentation (de-identified patient information, clinical findings, timeline, management, follow up and outcomes), and Discussion. A useful reference for case report checklist is provided by the CARE guidelines at the following link https://www.care-statement.org/checklist
• Tables: up to 2
• Figures: up to 2
• Number of references: unlimited

Clinical Image

Interesting visual findings relevant to clinical medicine including, but not limited to skin/mucosal lesions, imaging studies and electrodiagnostic studies (e.g., electrocardiograms) that have educational value will be considered.

• Number of authors: limited to 4
• Abstract: not required
• Main text: Up to 400 words. Description of the findings in the image followed by a brief case description, concise explanation of the educational significance of the image.
• Tables: Not applicable
• Figures: Not applicable
• Number of references: limited to 5

Perspectives

Articles can include commentary articles or an assessment of current thinking on a topic and presentation of future options; presents evidence-based consideration of views and arguments; proposes new ways to carry thinking forward. Commentary articles are typically commissioned, but we sometimes accept unsolicited commentaries.

• Number of authors: limited to 2
• Abstract: not required
• Main text: Up to 1200 words
• Tables: Not applicable
• Figures: Not applicable
• Number of references: limited to 10

Tables (if applicable)

• Tables should be constructed in Microsoft Word. Excel files are not accepted.
• Provide a title for each table. Cite tables in sequence in the text. Explain abbreviations used in the body of the table in footnotes.

Figures (if applicable)

• Figures should be submitted for publication at resolutions between 300 – 600 DPI (dots per inch). A number of different file formats are acceptable, including: TIFF, JPEG and EPS.
• A legend should be supplied for each figure and all legends numbered consecutively.
• Images must not contain individual identifiers and patient’s identity must be masked (e.g., obscuring eyes). If identifying features are not avoidable in the images, then AJHM will require the authors to submit an informed written consent.

References

• Must be numbered in the order of citation in the text.
• Use of reference management software such as EndNote, Ref Manager, etc. is recommended. “AMA” is the preferred style for AJHM.
  
  Examples
  
  Online journal article with six or fewer authors article has a DOI
  Florez H, Martinez R, Chakra W, Strickman-Stein M, Levis S. Outdoor exercise reduces the risk of hypovitaminosis D in the obese. J Steroid Biochem Mol Bio. 2007;103(3-5):679-681. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.12.032.
  
  Online journal article with more than six authors; article does not have a DOI
  Siris ES, Miller PD, Barrett-Connor E, et al. Identification and fracture outcomes of undiagnosed low bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: results from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment. JAMA. 2001;286(22):2815-2822. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/286/22/2815. Accessed April 4, 2007.
  
  Book Chapter
  Guyton JL, Crockarell JR. Fractures of acetabulum and pelvis. In: Canale ST, ed. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby, Inc; 2003:2939-2984
  
  Webpage
  Fast facts. National Osteoporosis Foundation website. http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm. Accessed August 27, 2007.
• Unpublished data, personal communications, unpublished conference. presentations, websites, databases, etc. should only be referred in the text within parenthesis.
• Please note the maximum number of references for specific article types
• Accuracy of references is the responsibility of the authors.

Funding

• Details of all funding sources for the work in question should be given, even if there is no funding information to declare.
• The full official funding agency name should be given.
• Grant numbers should be complete and accurate.
• Use author initials to indicate which authors were in receipt of grants.

Acknowledgments (if applicable)

• Personal acknowledgment should precede those of institutions and agencies.
• Any substantial assistance in preparing the manuscript should be stated.

Author(s) Disclosure Statement

• Each author should reveal any conflicts to disclose (financial interests, connections, sources of funding, pharmaceutical stock ownership, consultancy, or personal relationships).
• Refer to the ICMJE recommendations around what constitutes a conflict and what information should be declared.
• If no potential conflict exists, the phrase "None declared".

Supplementary Data (if applicable)

• The supplementary material should not be essential to understanding the conclusions of the paper but could contain data that is relevant to the article content and is beneficial to the reader.
• Such information might include more detailed methods or additional figures or tables.