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Before submitting your manuscript, please read the guidelines below and make sure your work complies with them all.
Types of manuscripts and guidelines for their preparation
SJMS publishes original articles, case reports, reviews, letter to the editor, randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses, commentaries and short communications, editorials, book reviews, state-of-the-art reviews, and conference reports. All accepted manuscripts are requested to be proofread by the corresponding author. Researchers can submit a manuscript if it falls within the journal's scope.
Manuscript impact
SJMS aims to improve research and healthcare in Sudan and the surrounding regions; therefore, authors are advised to submit relevant manuscripts and explain how they meet this need. In addition, the authors should clearly explain the impact of the work and future directions in the manuscripts.
Manuscript preparation
The Editorial Policies and General Guidelines for manuscript preparation specified below are based on the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (ICMJE Recommendations) of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (2013, archived at http://www.icmje.org/). In addition, the format of SJMS complies with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals, as published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1979 (the widely accepted ‘Vancouver style’), as described in the Annals of Internal Medicine (1982, 96 [pt 1], 114–29) for guidance.
Manuscripts, including tables, references, and figure legends, must be typewritten and double-spaced, on 8½ x 11 inches (21.5 x 28 cm) A4-size paper, with margins of at least one inch (2.5 cm). Times New Roman is the preferred font type with font size 12. Pages should be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals throughout the manuscript, and in good English.
Our preferred file format is DOCX or DOC. A single word file containing all materials in the manuscript, including figures and figure legends, should also be provided.
Abbreviations should be avoided as much as possible. When used, at the first use, the full term of the abbreviation should be given with the abbreviation in parentheses. Standard widely known abbreviations, however, may be used, such as DNA. An abbreviation can be used if it is listed as a MeSH subject heading. Authors should conform to the most recent edition of the American Medical Association Manual of Style.
File sequence
The sequence of the files should be as follows: cover letter (a must), a separate title page file, manuscript (abstract and keywords, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusion, declaration section, references, tables and figures, and other submission elements). Each section title should begin on a new page. Ethical approval, clearance, or consent of publication should be uploaded in studies involving humans or animals.
Cover letter
The covering letter must be addressed to SJMS, and must state that the submitted work is original, influential, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The cover letter should include (1) statements about manuscript type, (2) single-journal submission affirmation, (3) conflict of interest statement, (4) sources of outside funding, (5) equipment (if applicable), and (6) approval of language for articles in English and approval of statistical analysis for original research articles.
Title page
The title page must contain:
Changing the authors' names and adding or deleting them is the corresponding author's responsibility in agreement with the editorial office.
Abstract
An abstract of no more than 250 words should be submitted. It should be structured into the following four subsections: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
Keywords
5–10 keywords should be provided.
Introduction
A background relevant to the manuscript topic is stated with proper citation of the resources.
Materials and Methods
The authors should appropriately describe the study's objective and hypothesis in the methodology section. According to the study's objective, the primary/secondary endpoints are predetermined sensibly.
Results
In the Results section, describe the statistical tests used in the study in detail so that the readers can obtain the same results if the original data are available. The name and version of the statistical package should be provided, and the characteristics of the measured variables should determine the use of a parametric or nonparametric statistical method. The normality of data should be examined to analyze a continuous variable. The p-value, defined as the limit of significance, and appropriate measurement error and uncertainty (confidence interval, etc.), should be specified. Statistical terminology (random, significant, correlation, etc.) should not be used in non-statistical contexts. Designate the name and result of the method to test normality. When analyzing a categorical variable, if the number of events and samples is small, the exact test or asymptotic procedure with appropriate adjustments should be used. The standard Chi-squared test or difference-in-proportions test may be performed when the sample size and the number of events are sufficiently large. A prior sample size calculation should be described in detail. The sample size calculation must prevent false-negative results about the primary instead of the secondary endpoint. Usually, the mean difference and standard deviation are typical parameters in estimating the effect size. The power must be equal to or greater than 80%. In the case of multiple comparisons, an adjusted level of significance is acceptable.
Discussion
The study impact should be mentioned. The study limitations should be stated. The conclusion can be included in the discussion section.
Declaration section
This section includes the following:
References
References are to be listed, double-spaced, in consecutive numerical order according to the order of citation in the manuscript. Once a reference is cited, all subsequent citations should be to the original number. All references must be cited in the text or tables and appear as numbers between square brackets. Unpublished data and personal communications will not be accepted as references. For endnote references, SJMS follows APA 7th Edition. The detailed style guide can be accessed here.
Tables
Each table should be typed double-spaced, including all headings. Verify tabular statistics to make sure they match the data cited in the text. Tables should be placed after the Results section. Tables capture information concisely and display it efficiently; they also provide information at any desired level of detail and precision. Including data in tables rather than text frequently makes it possible to reduce the length of the text. Number tables consecutively in the order of their first citation in the text. Be sure that each table is cited in the text.
Supply a title for each table. Titles in tables should be short but self-explanatory, containing information that allows readers to understand the table's content without going back to the text. Give each column a short or an abbreviated heading. Authors should place explanatory matter in footnotes, not in the header. Explain all nonstandard abbreviations in footnotes and use symbols to explain information if needed.
If you use data from another published or unpublished source, obtain permission and acknowledge that source fully. Additional tables containing backup data too extensive to publish in print may be appropriate for publication in the electronic version of the journal, deposited with an archival service, or made available to readers directly by the authors. A relevant statement should be added to the text to inform readers that this additional information is available and where it is located.
Figures
Figures should be numbered consecutively according to the order cited in the text.
The captions for the figures must be typed, double-spaced, and must not appear with the figures. High-resolution photographic image files should be provided for X-ray films, scans, other diagnostic images, and pictures of pathology specimens or photomicrographs. Photomicrographs should have internal scale markers. Symbols, arrows, or letters used in photomicrographs should contrast with the background. Explain the internal scale and identify the method of staining in photomicrographs.
The legends for illustrations should be on a separate page in the manuscript, with Arabic numerals corresponding to the images. When symbols, arrows, numbers, or letters are used to identify parts of the illustrations, identify and explain each one clearly in the legend and send it in separate files.
Details about types of manuscripts and guidelines
Original research article
Research articles should report on original primary research. SJMS encourages authors to make available to readers all datasets on which the paper's conclusions rely. We encourage authors to ensure that their datasets are presented in the main manuscript or additional supporting files.
The STARD checklist for reporting diagnostic accuracy of studies should be followed (Bossuyt PM, Reitsma JB, Bruns DE, Gatsonis CA, Glasziou PP, Irwig LM, et al., for the STARD Group. Towards complete and accurate reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies: the STARD initiative. Ann Intern Med 2003;138:40-4. Available from: http://www.stard-statement.org/ ). The STROBE statement checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies is recommended (http://www.strobe-statement.org/).
Case report
Please ensure that all patient data have been de-identified and that necessary approval has been obtained, if necessary, from an ethics commission or an institutional review board. These guidelines are based on the CARE guidance.
Letter to the editor
This should be a short commentary related to current developments in the medical field and their scientific and social aspects. It may be submitted to ask questions or offer further contributions in response to work published in the journal. Letters do not include a title or an abstract; they should not exceed 1000 words and can have up to five references. The references in the letters should not exceed 15 words; there should be no more than two figures and no more than two tables. The subdivisions of sections are encouraged to help orient the reader but should be general, such as ‘The Study’ and ‘Conclusions’.
Systematic review
Systematic reviews, as the name implies, typically involve a detailed and comprehensive plan and search strategy derived a priori, intending to reduce bias by identifying, appraising, and synthesizing all relevant studies on a particular topic. Systematic reviews should address a specific question or issue relevant to clinical practice and provide an evidence-based, balanced, patient-oriented review on a focused topic. The PRISMA statement of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses should be followed (Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 2009; 6(7): e1000097. Available from: http://www.prisma-statement.org/ ).
You can check the MOOSE guidelines for meta-analyses and systematic reviews of observational studies (Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: A proposal for reporting meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) group. JAMA 2000; 283: 2008-12).
Clinical Trial
According to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), a clinical trial is “any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes”. Authors of clinical trials are required to prospectively register their trial with one of the trial registries recognized by the ICMJE or World Health Organization. The registration number of the trial and the name of the trial registry must be mentioned in the manuscript.
A CONSORT statement for randomized controlled trials should be included (Moher D, Schultz KF, Altman D, for the CONSORT Group. The CONSORT statement revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomized trials. JAMA 2001; 285: 1987-91. Available from: http://www.consort-statement.org/).
Commentary or short communication
These are commentaries that accompany papers published in SJMS or on issues of wide-reaching concern in the medical sciences or clinical care. Short communications linked to policy decisions or challenges faced by health care workers in the region are welcomed. Most commentaries and short communications are commissioned, but unsolicited ones (no more than 750 words, 10 references, and one figure, panel, or small table) are also welcome. Comments may be peer reviewed.
Book review
A book review typically evaluates recently written works. The reader should gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the book, aided by input from the reviewer. The four stages of writing a book review are: introducing the book, outlining its contents, highlighting parts of the book by selecting particular chapters or themes, and giving a detailed evaluation. When writing a short summary of the book, assume that your audience has not read it and address the book's main topics and ideas and explain why they matter.
Book reviews are usually 600 to 2000 words in length. It is best to aim for about 1000 words, as you can say a fair amount in 1000 words without getting bogged down.
State-of-the-field review
This should provide both a comprehensive summary and also address the future challenges which the field faces. It is expected to critically assess the extant research, put forward stimulating new research questions, and develop specific proposals for advancing any field of the medical sciences. It is best to aim for about 1000 words.
Conference report
A scientific meeting/conference report is a critical analysis based on the research presented at an annual meeting of a scientific society or reputable national/international conference. 1000 words is optimal.
Please download and use the journal manuscript templates for Original article, Case report, and Review article for submitting your manuscript to the journal.
Please download and submit the copyright form of the manuscript, and checklist.
Submitting your manuscript is simple with our online submission system. But to make sure the process is as easy as possible, read through the below checklist to ensure you have everything you need ready.
Manuscripts should be submitted via our submission system [Link] by the corresponding author.
You will be asked to create a personal account. Please remember to note down your username and password as you will need these to check on the status of your manuscript and to respond to editorial enquiries.
If accepted, the manuscript will then undergo the following steps:
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