Cover Letter
Though cover letters are not required, important information that is not in the metadata, such as a meeting presentation date or a major conflict of interest not in the manuscript, should be communicated with initial manuscript submissions.
Manuscript Text File
Compile all text, references, figure legends, and tables into a single double-spaced digital file (preferably an MS Word document, Times New Roman, 12 Font).
Title Page
Create a title page that includes:
Abstract
Provide a structured abstract (for original articles) of not more than 250 words containing the following:
Introduction
The introduction should state why the study was carried out and what the specific aims of the study were. It should describe the background for the study (the available knowledge), its importance and its goals. It should be brief but complete enough for the reader to understand the reasons for the study without having to read previous publications on the subject.
Methods
These should be described in sufficient detail to permit evaluation and duplication of the work by others.
The following should be described in this section:
Statistics
The following information should be given:
Results
These should be concise and include only the tables and figures necessary to enhance understanding of the text. Results should be presented in a logical, sequential order that parallels the organization of the methods section. The text should be used to highlight the most important aspects of the figures and tables, and to convey unique information. Data presented in tables and figures should not be duplicated in the text. Drug names, wherever used, should be generic. If the use of proprietary names is deemed a must for the study, generic names should be mentioned in parentheses.
Discussion
The discussion should summarize how the study findings add to the current knowledge, provide explanations for the findings, compare the study’s findings with available studies, discuss the limitations of the study and the implications for future research. Only those published articles directly relevant to interpreting the results and placing them in context should be referenced. The conclusion should be based on and justified by the results of the study. The particular relevance of the results to healthcare in India should be stressed. Conclusions regarding cost-benefit should be drawn only if a specific economic analysis formed a part of the study design.
Identifying Data
At appropriate places in the manuscript, please provide the following items:
References
References must be double-spaced and numbered consecutively as they are cited. References first cited in a table or figure legend should be numbered so they will be in sequence with references cited in the text at the point where the table or figure is first mentioned. At the end of the article, the full list of references should include the names of authors, the full title of the journal article or book chapters, the title of journals abbreviated according to the Index Medicus style (www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html) the year of publication, the volume number and the first and final page numbers of the article or chapter. List all citation authors when there are six or fewer; when there are seven or more, list the first three, followed by et al. The authors should check that the references are accurate; lack of accuracy may result in the rejection of an otherwise adequate manuscript.
The following are sample references:
Numbered references to personal communications, unpublished data, or manuscripts either “in preparation” or “submitted for publication” are unacceptable. If essential, such materials can be incorporated at appropriate places in the text.
Tables
All tables should be included at the end of the manuscript text file. Tables should be double-spaced (including footnotes) and a title should be included for each table. Extensive tables or supplementary materials will be published as supplemental materials with the digital version of the article.
Figures
High-quality images should be submitted separately in JPG or TIFF format. The labelling must be clear and neat. All photomicrographs should indicate the magnification of the print. Use arrows or letters in contrast with the background to indicate special features. Colour illustrations will be accepted if they make a contribution to the understanding of the manuscript.