Manuscript submission at Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association is online via the eJManager only. Note that we do not accept submissions via email, nor hardcopies by hand or post.

A guide has been prepared to help the authors upload the manuscripts on eJManager, which can be retrieved here.

If you have trouble uploading and submitting the manuscript, email us at jpmaofficial@gmail.com for guidance. The office contact details are given below:
P.M.A. House, Aga Khan III Road, Karachi- 74400 (Pakistan)
Telephone: +92 (021) – 32226443
Timings: 9am – 5pm (Monday to Saturday except public holidays)

Please note that no article will be processed without a cover letter, ethical approval of research, submission form and processing fees.

Submitted manuscripts are reviewed for originality, significance, adequacy of documentation, reader interest and composition.

Manuscripts not submitted according to instructions will be returned to the author for correction prior to the beginning of the peer review/process. Revised manuscripts are judged on the adequacy of responses to suggestions and criticisms made during the initial review. Each manuscript will be checked for technical, epidemiological, statistical, and ethical and language corrections.

All parts of accepted manuscripts are subject to editing for scientific accuracy and clarity by the office of the Editor. The editorial board of Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association holds the right to a final decision of accepting or rejecting any article from publication in the journal at all stages including the editorial review.

A non-refundable processing fee of PK Rs. 2500/- will be charged for any manuscript submitted within Pakistan. The fees can be submitted via a pay order or bank draft in favour of “Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association” within Pakistan.

For overseas manuscripts (outside Pakistan), a non-refundable processing fee of US$ 150/- will be charged for all manuscripts. Overseas authors can send the fees through bank transfer or via MoneyGram Money Transfer. Exact details of the account and transfer will be emailed once the manuscript is submitted for processing.

Submission of processing fees does not guarantee acceptance of a manuscript.

If the article is withdrawn by the author after payment of the processing or publication fee, no refund will be made. This holds good for all authors, within the country and abroad, and for all categories of articles.

Ensure that you have the following supporting documents prepared before you attempt to submit the manuscript.

Obligatory Document 1: Cover Letter

A cover letter is an obligatory supporting document, without which the eJManager will not upload and accept the manuscript.

A cover letter should be kept succinct and include the following information:

• An introduction stating the title of the manuscript
• The reason why your study is important and relevant to the JPMA readership
• A statement that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication in any other journal
• A statement that all authors approved the manuscript and its submission to the journal.
• An explanation of any issues relating to JPMA policies
• A declaration of any potential conflict of interests, including disclosures of previously presented abstracts
• A declaration of any funding sources

Acceptable formats for cover letter include: jpg, jpeg, gif, png, doc, docx or pdf.

Obligatory Document 2: Ethical Approval of Research

An ethical approval of research is mandatory for all manuscripts submitted to JPMA. The only exceptions to this rule include letters to the editor, review articles, and special communications in the form of a review. Reporting a case in retrospect does not require an Institutional Review Board (IRB) certificate but a letter of approval from the head of the department is mandatory.

Ethical approval in the form of letters from the ethical review committee (ERC), ethical review board (ERB), institutional review board (IRB), or any other relevant form of ethical approval are required for all original articles. Approval letters from head of department or institute on the institute’s letterhead are required for case reports and case series. Retrospective articles or systematic reviews or researches not involving human or animal subject are exempted from ethical approval, but there should be a letter of approval from the head of the department or equivalent, if the author is affiliated to an institution.

For letters and review articles, upload an MS Word document stating the reason for exception to the rule. Note that this method of bypassing the system would not be accepted in cases where ethical approval is mandatory. The manuscript will be reviewed by the technical team and will be returned to the authors.

Acceptable formats for ethical approval of research include: jpg, jpeg, gif, png, doc, docx or pdf.

Obligatory Document 3: Submission Form

Download the submission statement form from here.

This form can be typed on and saved before taking a print-out. It is preferable to fill out the form in type. Alternatively, the form may be printed and handwritten. The form has to be signed by ALL authors. Electronic signatures are not acceptable. After printing and signing the form (by hand), it can be scanned and uploaded to the eJManager.

Ensure that the form has been filled correctly and completely. Incomplete forms will result in return of the manuscript and will cause delays in processing.

Ensure that you have the following information in hand while filling out the form:

1. Details of the contributions made by each author
2. List of disclaimers if required
3. List of possible conflict of interests for disclosure
4. List of possible sources of funding for disclosure
5. Details regarding all authors including:
   1. Full names of all authors
   2. Email addresses of all authors
   3. Phone numbers of all authors
   4. Full current affiliation of all authors
   5. Year of study if any of the authors are undergraduate students
   6. Highest degree if the authors are not undergraduate students

All authors must read the copyright statement and the undertaking detailed on the form before signing it. JPMA assumes that all authors comply with the editorial policy on receipt of the signed submission form.

All manuscripts should be uploaded on the eJManager as a Word document. Each line and page should be numbered. JPMA follows the ICMJE’s Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.

Title Page

The title page should include the following: article title, abstract word count, manuscript word count, and the number of tables and figures.

Do not state the author’s name, affiliation or contact details anywhere on the manuscript. Such details should only be provided on the eJManager and the submission statement form. The peer review process at the JPMA is a double-blind process and the author details are not shared with the peer reviewers with the manuscript.

Article Title

• The title should be clear and concise.
• Study design should be a part of the title in cases of randomized trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These should appear after a colon (“How to write a manuscript: a meta-analysis”.)
• The title length should not exceed more than 14 words.
• Do not capitalise the first letter of each word in the title unless it is a proper noun.
• Do not use abbreviations in the title.

Abstract Word Count

• State the word count of the abstract. This does not include the MeSH terms.

Manuscript Word Count

• State the word count for the paper’s text, excluding its abstract, acknowledgments, tables, figure legends, and references.

Number of Figures and Tables

• State the total number of figures and tables uploaded with the manuscript. This is to allow editorial staff and reviewers to confirm that all figures and tables were actually included with the manuscript.

Abstract

An abstract should briefly state the objective, time and location of the study, basic procedures (selection of study participants, settings, measurements, analytical methods), main findings (giving specific effect sizes with frequencies and percentages, and their statistical and clinical significance, if possible), and principal conclusions. It should emphasize new and important aspects of the study or observations, note important limitations, and not over-interpret findings. Do not use references in abstracts.

Structure of an abstract should be in accordance to the article type:

• Structured abstracts of 250 words: original articles, audit, systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
• Unstructured abstracts of 150 words: other articles including case reports, short reports, short communications, special communications and review articles.

A structured abstract should consist of four paragraphs, under the following headings: objective, methods, results and conclusion.

An unstructured abstract should follow a logical sequence.

Write the clinical trial number after the abstract in case of randomised controlled trials.

Abstracts should be followed by 3-5 MeSH words. Use appropriate terms to increase searchability of your study. For assistance use: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/MBrowser.html

Introduction

Present a background for the study. Include global, regional and local reports where appropriate. Cite only strictly pertinent references. State the purpose or objective of the study without sub-headings. Explain the hypothesis and the requirement of the research. Do not include data or conclusions from the current study.

Methods

Components of the methodology which need to be mentioned as applicable are:

• Ethical review statement
• Study design
• Description of the selection of the observational or experimental subjects
• Study setting
• Study duration
• Sampling method
• Sample size calculations with references
• Follow-up period
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Identification of the methods and apparatus (provide the manufacturer's name and address in parenthesis)
• Identification of all drugs and chemicals

Do not use sub-headings. Detail the methodology in an organised manner with paragraphs.

The Methods section should include the approval of the Institutional Review Board. If an ethics committee does not exist then the statement, that the research was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki should be included.

i. Selection and Description of Participants
The inclusion criteria of the study participants, which may be patients, healthy controls or healthy subjects, should be clearly described. Exclusion criteria need to be elaborated. The source of the study subjects should be included.

ii. Technical Information
The primary and secondary objective of the study should be clearly stated. This is at times called the primary and secondary outcome.

Any equipment used in the study should give the manufacturer’s name and address. Procedures should be clearly described so as to facilitate others to reproduce them easily. References are necessary for   to established methods, statistical methods, for already published methods not well-known, substantially modified methods with the reasons for using them, along with their limitations. All drugs and chemicals used should be stated in generic name(s), dose(s), and route(s) of administration.

iii. Statistics
The statistical methods should be described in a simple manner to enable a reader to judge the correctness of the analysis and results.
State the statistical software package used along with the version. References should be included where appropriate.

Authors submitting review manuscripts should include a section describing the methods used for locating, selecting, extracting and synthesizing data. These methods should also be summarised in the abstract.

Results

Present the results in a logical sequence in the text, tables and illustrations. Do not repeat all the data of the tables or illustrations in the text. Emphasize or summarise important observations. Frequencies and percentages both should be mentioned, example, there were 18 (2%) men. Exact p values should be reported. Mean should be with standard deviations. Medians should be with inter-quartile range.

Discussion

The discussion should begin with a summary of the main results. These are then discussed with results of other published studies. Any new findings of the research should be emphasized and the relevance should be stated. These can be used for future research or clinical practice.
Details of methodology or introduction should not be included in the discussion. Do not repeat in detail data or other information given in other parts of the manuscript, such as in the introduction or the results section.
Limitations of the study should be stated at the end of the discussion in a separate paragraph.

Conclusion

Conclusion should be a brief resume of the study. Do not use any finding which has not been shown in the results. Do not over-emphasize the result. Do not state any benefits which have not been studied. A new hypothesis may be included if determined by the research. No speculations should be included.

Acknowledgement

Contributors who do not meet all the four criteria for authorship, but helped in the study, may be listed in the acknowledgement section. These may be named and their function or contribution should be described - for example, "scientific advisor critical review of study proposal, "data collection," or "participation clinical trial". Such persons must have given their permission to be named. Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from person acknowledged by name, because readers may infer their endorsement the data and conclusions. Technical help should be acknowledged in a paragraph separate from those acknowledging other contributions.

Disclaimer

Disclose if the abstract has been presented or published in a conference, or published in an abstract book or any other relevant information. If the article is part of a PhD thesis, it should be disclosed.

Conflict of Interest

Any conflict of interest should be declared by all authors. This may include grants or honorarium, credits and promotions, memberships or any personal or professional relationships which may appear to influence the manuscript. Such competing interests are not unethical but should be declared.
If there are no conflict of interests, authors should still include this heading and write “none to declare.”

Funding Disclosure

All sources of grants received and its spending should be disclosed.

If there is no funding disclosure, authors should still include this heading and write “none to declare”.

References

Vancouver style is essential for publication in Journal of Pakistan Medical Association. References should be cited in consecutive numerical order as first mentioned in the text and designated by the reference number in superscript. References appearing in a table or figure should be numbered sequentially with those in text.

The Journal follows Index Medicus style for references and abbreviated journal names according to the list of Journals indexed in Index Medicus: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/

"Unpublished observations" and "personal communications" should not be used as references, although written-not verbal-communications may be noted as such in the text. References cited as "in press" must have been accepted and not merely in preparation or submitted. The author is responsible for the accuracy of all references and must verify them against the original document.

If there are more than six authors, write et al after the first six names.

Authors may use the NLM guide which gives details regarding each citation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256/

For journal articles
Hoshimoto-Iwamoto M, Koike A, Nagayama O, Tajima A, Uejima T, Adachi H, et al. Determination of the VE/VCO2 slope from a constant work rate Exercise test in Cardiac patients. J Physiol Sci 2008; 58: 291-5.

Dalby MA. Epilepsy and three per second spike and wave rhythms: a clinical electroencephalographic and prognostic analysis of 346 patients. Acta Neurol Scand 1969; suppl 40: 1-30.

For books and book chapters
Drury I. Activation of seizures by hyperventilation. In: Luders HO, Noachtars, eds. Epileptic seizures: pathophysiology and clinical semiology, Philadelphia: Churchill & Livingstone, 2000; pp 575-9.

For newspaper articles:
Carynrabin R. When the Surgeon is infected, how safe is the surgery? New York Times 2007 July 3.

Journal article in electronic:
Jonas J, Vignal JP, Baumann C, Anxionnat JF, Muresan M, Vespignani H, et al. Effect of hyperventilation on seizure activation: potentiation by antiepileptic drug tapering. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. Published Online First: 20 June 2010 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2009.200329.

Monograph in electronic form
CDI, clinical dermatology illustrated [monographs on CD-ROM] Reeves JRT, Maibach H. CMEA Multimedia group, producers 2nd ed. Version 2.0. San Diego: CMEA, 1995.

Conference proceedings
Kimura J, Shibasaki H, editors. Recent advances in clinical neurophysiology. Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of EMG and Clinical Neurophysiology, 1995 Oct 15-19, Kyoto, Japan. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1996.

Dissertation
Kaplan SJ. Post-hospital home health care the elderly's access and utilization [dissertation]. St. Louis (MO): Washington Univ., 1995.

Volume with supplement
Shen HM, Zhang QF. Risk assessment of nickel carcinogenicity and occupational lung cancer. Environ Health Perspect, 1994;102 Suppl 1:275-82.

World Wide Web page
Beckleheimer J. How do you cite URL's in a bibliography? [online] 1994 [ cited 2000 Dec 13]. Available from URL: http://www.nrlssc.navy.mil/meta/bibliography.html

World Wide Web page (no author)
Educating America for the 21st century: Developing a strategic plan for educational leadership [online] 1994 [cited 1999 May 15]. Available from: URL: http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/CONF/Edplan.html

World Wide Web Home page Curtin University of Technology. [Homepage of the Curtin University of Technology] [online] 2000 May 22 last update. [cited 2000 Jun 12]. Available from: URL:
http://www.curtin.edu.au/

Tables

• Data should be placed clearly and concisely to enable the reader to comprehend easily.
• Do not repeat the results stated in tables in the text.
• Tables should be numbered consecutively and cited in the results. Arabic numerals should be used.
• The title should be short and explanatory and written on top of the table.
• The columns of the table should have a short heading.
• Footnotes should elaborate on the abbreviations.
• Statistical results should include the standard deviation or standard error of mean.
• If any data or table has been included from a published article, the source should be given.

Illustrations

• Figures and pictures should clarify and augment the text. The selection of sharp, high-quality illustrations is of paramount importance. Figures of inferior quality will be returned to the author for correction or replacement.
• For x-ray films, scans, and other diagnostic images, pictures of pathology specimens or photomicrographs, high-resolution photographic image files are recommended.
• Titles should be placed below the figure and detailed explanations should be given as legends and not on the illustrations.
• Photomicrographs should have internal scale markers. Symbols, arrows, or letters used in photomicrographs should stand out on the background. The internal scale should be given, and the method of staining in photomicrographs should be identified.
• Figures should have consecutive numbers and should be cited in the results accordingly in the text and written as “Figure”. Arabic numerals should be used.
• Any symbols, arrows, numbers, or letters used to identify parts of the illustration should be explained clearly in the legend.
• Original illustrations should be submitted; previously published illustrations are not preferred. If a figure is taken from a previous publication, the source should be given as a reference. Written permission from the publisher should be provided by the author on submission of the manuscript. The legend should include the following: (Reprinted by permission of Ref. X).

The following is a detailed description of the various types of articles to be published in JPMA. Authors are directed to refer to the list below and select an appropriate category of article to be processed at the JPMA.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES
 

• Randomised Controlled Trials: This involves studies in which groups are randomly allocated to carry out a clinical intervention. Trial registration number is mandatory.

• Epidemiological Studies: This involves studies based on a particular population followed over a period of time. They can be either "incidence" studies in which new cases are studied or "prevalence" studies in which existing cases are researched upon.

• Descriptive Observational Studies: Including cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies.
  • Cohort: In this type of research, certain exposure information is collected and followed up in time to identify an occurrence of disease.
  • Case-control: This contains a group of cases with a specific disease and which are compared with controls.
  • Cross-sectional: It is a non-directional or one-point-in-time survey. The data is collected on both outcomes and exposure status of individuals under study.

CATEGORIES OTHER THAN ORIGINAL ARTICLES:
 

• KAP Studies: KAP studies measure and explore knowledge, attitude and practices of a community. It is a questionnaire -based survey using quantitative methods to analyse quantitative and qualitative information.
   
• Pilot Study: A pilot study is done to perform a small initial experiment. It is conducted to analyse and test the logistics, and to gather information prior to a larger study in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the larger study.
   
• Innovation: Innovation studies are multidisciplinary researches in which different study areas are explored, and the dynamics of emerging technologies and innovations are taken into consideration.

• Meta Analysis: Meta analysis is a statistical technique for summarising and reviewing data from previously conducted researches to reach an eventual conclusion.

• Audit: An audit is an accurate documentation of records, evaluated against set standard criteria with the eventual aim of improving the overall process.

• Research Reports/Research Articles: Research report is a manuscript formulated by an analyst stating different aspects of a specific ailment. They are single-centred studies done to determine a new management, investigation, and or an aspect of a disorder.

• Short Reports/Short Communication: These are brief written communications in which a manuscript explains the study done on the small number of population with restricted outcome and setting.

• Systematic Reviews: This is a type of literature review which summarises all aspects of designing, conducting and reporting of multiple research studies or papers taken from various authentic databases.

• Review Article: An article in which an author summarises various studies conducted on a specific topic.

• Special Communication: An article which states a new advancement in the field which showed promising results.

• Economic Evaluation: A manuscript which encompasses the process of systemic identification, measurement and evaluation of the inputs and outcomes of two alternative activities, and includes their subsequent comparative analysis.

• Education Research: A research focusing on variety of methods that examines education and learning processes including student learning, teaching methods, teacher training and classroom dynamics.
  

• Healthcare Analysis: This includes researches from all aspects of health and health systems including service delivery, public policies, health-related education and health service organisation.

• Psychological Impacts: It includes studies conducted to evaluate effect on an individual's behaviour due to different factors under controlled environment.

• Survey Reports: Report of a survey and its related analysis.

• Diagnostic Studies: Studies carried out to confirm the presence of a disease following the report of symptoms exhibited, which can be laboratory-related, radiological or others.

• View Point: View point of an author regarding a specific issue.

• Case Report: Report of a unique case either in the form of diagnosis or reporting of treatment etc.

• Case Series: Summating a number of cases, usually more than four and drawing a conclusion from their symptoms/disease.

• Adverse Event Report: Reporting an adverse affect of any identified cause.

• Letter to the Editor: A letter sent to the editor to address an area of concern or reporting early results of a new research.

• Letter with Comments on Published Article: This contains comments of an individual on any article published in JPMA within a maximum period of 3 months. This will be published along with the reply from the original author.
   
• Editorial: An article about something new in the field which needs to be highlighted. Editorials are usually invited manuscripts.

Review Articles

• Unstructured abstract: 150 words
• Maximum word count of text 4000 words
• Maximum of 35 references with atleast half from the previous five years.
• Maximum 5 allowed tables or figures
• Follow a logical sequence and use sub-headings as required
• JPMA does not accept review articles written by undergraduate students

Original Articles (including audit, meta-analysis and systematic reviews)

• Structured abstract: 250 words
• Maximum word count of text 3000 words
• Maximum of 25 references
• Maximum 3 allowed tables or figures
• Use the following five headings in the main text: introduction, subjects/patients/materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusion and Limitations. This is followed by Acknowledgements, Disclosure and Conflict of Interest. Do not use any other sub-headings.
• State clearly when and where the study was conducted
• Quote the ethical approval and informed consent if applicable

Case Reports and Case Series

• Unstructured abstract: 150 words
• Maximum word count of text 1250 words
• Maximum of 10 references
• Maximum 2 allowed tables or figures
• Use the following four headings in the main text: introduction, case report/ case series, discussion, and conclusion. Do not forget to add the heading of acknowledgement if required.
• Ensure that a statement is present within the text of your manuscript which declares that the consent of the patient/guardian was taken prior to the writing of the manuscript. JPMA does not require a signed patient consent form; however, keep it with you in case the journal asks for it in future to verify this.
• State clearly when the case was seen
• Describe the follow-up of the patient.
• If there is no follow-up, it should be stated

Short Report

• Unstructured abstract: 150 words
• Maximum word count of text 1250 words
• Maximum of 10 references
• Maximum 2 allowed tables or figures
• Use the following three headings in the main text: introduction, patients/methods and results, and conclusion. Do not forget to add the heading of acknowledgement if required.

Special Communication

• Unstructured abstract: 150 words
• Maximum word count of text 3000 words
• Maximum of 25 references
• Maximum 3 allowed tables or figures
• Use the following three headings in the main text: introduction, methods and results, and conclusion. Do not forget to add the heading of acknowledgement if required.

Letters to the Editor

• Maximum word count of text: 400 words
• Maximum of 5 recent references
• Maximum 1 allowed table or figure
• Should not be signed by more than 3 authors

Letters to the Editor (in response to a published article)

• Maximum word count of text: 250 words
• Maximum of 5 references
• Maximum 1 allowed table or figure
• Should not be signed by more than 3 authors
• Must be received within four weeks of the publication of the article
• There are no manuscript processing or publication fees for responses

Authors are strongly encouraged to refer to the scientific reporting guidelines for health research, hosted by the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research).

Authors should adhere to these scientific reporting guidelines when drafting their manuscript. Separate guidelines are available for each study design and topic under study. Although JPMA has not made the submission of these checklists mandatory, doing so will aid in the processing of the manuscripts. A quick overview of the most commonly used study design methods are listed below:

• Manuscript must be written in ‘British English’. Non-native English speakers must seek the assistance of experienced, English-speaking medical editors if in doubt. Taking feedback from your colleagues also makes the manuscript writing more productive, versatile and simple for the readers.
• Sentences should be properly structured instead of giving brackets within a sentence. For example, the study participants (women of age group 25-30 years) were approached for the interviews. The correct way is ‘The study participants included women of age group 25-30 years. They were approached for the interviews.’
• Present decimal figures up to 2 decimals only. e.g. 0.07 is correct instead of 0.071.
• Use the full form of an abbreviation initially in the text before using the abbreviated form.
• Avoid capitalisation except where it is grammatically required and for proper nouns.

Upon acceptance of the manuscript by the journal, a publishing fee will be charged. Local authors (Pakistani) can submit the fees via pay order or bank draft in favour of “Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association”.

Overseas authors can send the fees through bank transfer or via MoneyGram Money Transfer. Exact details of the account and transfer will be emailed upon acceptance of the manuscript.

Details of the publishing fees are listed below:

If an article is withdrawn by the authors after all the processing have been completed and before publication, the author will have to pay half of the respective publication charges before the article is considered withdrawn and the copyright is transferred to the author.

hich the first author is an undergraduate student will be treated as a student’s article. The processing of the manuscript and the review process will be the same as all other articles. The publication charges, however, will be different. The manuscript if accepted for publication will find a place in the student’s corner of JPMA.

1. Cover Letter
2. Ethical Approval for Research (only exception are letters to the editor and review articles; case reports require approval from the head of the department)
3. Complete Submission Statement Form
   1. Signed by hand by all authors
   2. Details of all authors including full names, email addresses, phone numbers and affiliations and degrees/year of study
   3. Disclaimer
   4. Declaration of conflict of interest
   5. Declaration of funding sources
4. Manuscript, as per detailed guidelines given above
5. Processing Fees

Listed below is the summary of the manuscript guidelines detailed above. Sequence of the headings should be adhered to strictly. Formatting of points 3-8 will depend on each manuscript type.

• Title
• Abstract
• MeSH Words
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgement
• Disclaimer
• Conflict of Interest
• Funding disclosure
• References. Should be listed in Vancouver format in ascending order
• Tables. Should be labelled and inserted in ascending order. These should appear at the end of the text and not inserted between the article sections
• Figures. Should be appropriately labelled with numbers and appear with legends. All figures should be uploaded separately on the eJManager.
• Additional supplemental files and documents as required.