For Authors
Submission
To submit your article to our journal, you are required to use our journal management system. You will be requested to copy-paste the relevant sections from your manuscript text at relevant locations systematically to ensure that the submission is complete.
You can access the system through our website, where the corresponding author can log in and submit the manuscript. If this is your first time submitting to our journal, you will need to create an account before you can proceed with the submission.
Accepted articles types:
- Research Protocols- Research protocols are a detailed and structured plan for conducting a research study, and are an essential component of clinical and scientific research.
To submit a study protocol to Osler Research Protocols, authors must adhere to the general submission guidelines and meet the following criteria:
- The protocol must pertain to a research study that has not yet generated any results. Manuscripts reporting on completed work will not be accepted as protocols. The manuscript must include the dates of the study.
- Study protocols will not be considered if the authors have already published or submitted other articles related to the same protocol.
- All submitted protocols must have ethical approval from the relevant ethics committee before submission of the article. If authors have a valid reason for not obtaining approval, they should mention this during the submission process.
For systematic reviews and meta-analyses, a completed PRISMA-P checklist must be followed by the authors. Systematic reviews can be registered in Prospero.
For clinical trials, ICMJE guidelines recommend clinical trials to be registered in a public trials registry before the first patient is enrolled. It is recommended that authors pre-register clinical trials with a public registry such as clinicaltrials.gov, the EU Clinical Trials Register, the ISRCTN Registry, or another registry recognised by the WHO or ICMJE, and provide the clinical trial registration number in the manuscript. To ensure that their clinical trial protocols are comprehensive and transparent authors should follow the SPIRIT guidelines including 33 items with each item on the checklist includes a brief description of what should be included in that section of the protocol.
Protocol for observational studies- Osler Press recommends authors to follow the SPIROS initiative which aims to define a comprehensive set of standard protocol items for observational studies. SPIROS, will help authors to prepare study protocols of sufficient quality, which will in turn enhance the quality of the resulting research.
2. Technical report-Technical reports can be used to describe novel techniques, validate existing methods, or provide a detailed analysis of a particular research question. It typically includes detailed descriptions of the methods used, data collected, results obtained, and might include conclusions drawn from the research.
3. Original article- Articles including any original primary research that is related to the design and conduct of research protocols.The journal may accept research articles that present original primary research on research protocols. For example, a study that evaluates the feasibility or efficacy of a particular research protocol in a specific population could be considered for publication. In addition, the journal may also consider meta-analyses of published research protocols. These involve pooling data from multiple research protocols to identify common patterns or trends.
To find reporting guidelines depending on the type of article see https://www.equator-network.org
All articles should include the following:
Title: Title of the article, the authors' names and affiliations and study design
Abstract: 250 words structured abstract -without references
Short Summary
- What is already known by this study- Provide an overview of the existing scientific literature related to the topic of study, and explain why conducting the study was necessary.
- What this study adds- The specific results and insights gained from the study which were previously unknown should be summarized, emphasizing their importance and contribution to the existing body of scientific knowledge.
Graphical abstract (optional but recommended)-
Graphical abstract should be a visual representation of the main findings of a research article. It should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. It should include images, graphs, and other visual aids.
Video abstract (optional but recommended)- Authors should include a video abstract which is a dynamic and engaging way to communicate the key findings and concepts of your research paper. It should provide a brief summary of the main findings and concepts discussed in the paper. It should be visually engaging, with a clear and concise message that conveys the significance of the research.
Keywords: 5 to 10
Main text: 5000 words
- Introduction: Background information on the topic and clearly state the research question or hypothesis being addressed.
- Methods: study design, data collection, and data analysis
- Results: The findings of the study in a clear and concise manner, using tables and figures to illustrate key data.
- Discussion: Interpretation of the results of the study and place them in the context of the broader literature.
- Conclusion: Summary of the key findings of the study and their implications for clinical practice or further research.
- References:Provide a list of relevant references cited in the manuscript, using our references guidelines
- Tables/Figures: no maximum
- Authors: no maximum. ICMJE authorship criteria should be met for each author and author's contribution using CRediT should be followed.
- Data sharing statement
4. Editorials- Editorials are usually written by the editor-in-chief or a member of the editorial board and are not peer-reviewed, typically used to express the opinion of the editor or editorial board of a publication on a particular issue or topic. These may include the launch of a new journal, a new section within the journal, a new editor-in-chief, and raising awareness about treatment approaches, emerging diseases, or the latest research findings in a particular field of medicine.
Editorials should not include unpublished or original data, as they are not peer-reviewed and are not intended to present new research findings. Also, they should provide a conflict of interest statement to ensure transparency and to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
A letter to the editor is typically written in response to an article or editorial that has been published in a medical journal and provide readers with an opportunity to share their opinions and perspectives on a particular topic, and they may serve to correct inaccuracies, challenge assumptions, or provide additional information or context to a previously published article. Researchers are requested to add a “Comment” directly on the article page if they have any feedback. If authors would like to provide an expert commentary or insights on a particular topic, they should submit their article as a Perspective piece. We rarely consider unsolicited Letter to Editor for publication.
5. Perspectives
Perspectives provide expert commentary and insights on a particular topic or issue in medicine. It is important to ensure that your perspective is well-researched and evidence-based. While perspectives may be more opinion-based than research articles, they still require a strong foundation in the existing literature and should be supported by credible sources. Hence, authors should include accurate citations and references to other authors' work. Original data should not be reported in a Perspective article.
Word limit: 4000 words
6. Comments
Comments offer readers an opportunity to provide their thoughts, opinions, and perspectives on a particular topic, and they may serve to add new information, offer additional insights, or provide a different perspective on a published piece in the journal.
Authors can directly comment on the article published in Osler Medicine. Comments should be brief and focused on a specific aspect of the article, and should be presented in a professional and respectful manner.
Disclaimer: While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.
Graphical abstract (optional but recommended)
Graphical abstract should be a visual representation of the main findings of a research article. It should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. It should include images, graphs, and other visual aids.
Guidelines for graphical abstract:
- The graphical abstract should be uploaded using the submission system's designated “ upload graphical abstract” feature.
- The graphical abstract should be submitted as a separate file in a high-resolution image format (such as PNG, JPEG, or TIFF or MS Office files).
- It should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
- Authors should choose a color scheme and design elements that are visually appealing and consistent with the overall tone of the paper. The abstract should be easy to read and understand, with legible fonts (font size 10-12 points) and appropriate contrast.
- Authors are encouraged to include color graphical abstracts, which will not incur any additional charge.
Video abstracts
Video abstracts are a dynamic and engaging way to communicate the key findings and concepts of your research paper. It should provide a brief summary of the main findings and concepts discussed in the paper. It should be visually engaging, with a clear and concise message that conveys the significance of the research.
Creating a good video abstract:
- Keep it concise: Try to keep it between 30 seconds to 3 minutes in length.
- Focus on the key points: Identify the most important findings and concepts from your research, and focus on these in your video abstract.
- Use visuals: Incorporate engaging visuals, such as animations, diagrams, or graphs, to help explain your research.
- Speak clearly: Ensure that your voiceover is clear and easy to understand. Speak slowly and clearly, and avoid using technical jargon or overly complex language. Include subtitles if possible.
- Use a script: Prepare a script in advance to help you stay on track and ensure that your message is clear and concise.
- Keep it engaging: Use a variety of visual and audio techniques to keep your audience engaged. This could include music, sound effects, or dynamic visuals.
- Test it out: Once you have created your video abstract, test it out on a few colleagues or friends to get feedback. This can help you identify any areas that may need improvement.
- Edit it carefully: Edit your video abstract carefully to ensure that it flows smoothly and is free of errors. This could include adjusting the timing, adding transitions, or tweaking the visuals.
Recommended video format guidelines for creating video abstracts:
- Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of the video should be 16:9 with square pixels. Landscape format is generally preferred.
- Frame rate: Use a frame rate of 25 or 30 fps.
- Frame type: The frame size should be a minimum of 1080p. However, using 4K resolution is preferred as it provides even higher quality and clarity.
How to submit?
Video abstracts can be submitted using our submission system where you can attach the youtube or vimeo link. Click the Insert video abstract button in the toolbar and insert the URL of the video into the designated field.
Preparing your manuscript
Word count: 4000 words. If the number of words exceeds the given limit, authors must indicate this while submitting their manuscript.
- Title: Clearly and concisely state the title of the study, ideally including the study design and key interventions or exposures being studied. Title should be less than 150 characters.
- Names and affiliations: Include the names, affiliations, and contributions of all authors. Specify the corresponding author.
- Funding information: Disclose any funding sources and the role of funders in the study design and execution.
Abstract: (maximum: 250 words)
- Provide a structured summary of the study, including the objective, design, participants, interventions, outcomes, and statistical analysis plan. Abstract shall be divided into- Background, Objective, Methods, discussion and trial registration.
- Ensure that the abstract is concise and informative.
- For clinical trials, include the registration number and the date of registration.
- Five to ten keywords that best represent the article should also be included.
Introduction:
- Provide background information on the rationale for the study, including the research question and hypotheses. Describe the gap in knowledge or unmet need that the study addresses.
- Briefly summarize relevant literature and prior studies that informed the study design.
- State the objectives and specific aims of the study, including the primary and secondary outcomes.
- Clearly define the population of interest, including any relevant characteristics or subgroups.
Methods:
- Describe the study design, including the type of study (e.g. randomized controlled trial), the duration of follow-up, and the number of study arms or groups.
- Detail the eligibility criteria for participants, including inclusion and exclusion criteria. Provide rationale for each criterion and specify how it will be measured or assessed.
- Provide a clear description of the interventions or exposures being studied, including their mode, dose, and frequency. Provide a rationale for the choice of interventions.
- Detail the outcome measures and how they will be assessed, including the primary outcome(s) and any secondary outcomes. Specify the timing and methods of assessment.
- Describe the statistical analysis plan, including the primary and secondary analyses, the type of statistical tests to be used, and any adjustments for confounding or subgroup analyses. Include a description of the sample size calculation and any planned interim analyses.
- Describe any ethical considerations and the process for obtaining informed consent, including how risks will be minimized and how data confidentiality will be maintained.
Discussion:
- Describe the potential implications of the study for the field, including its potential impact on clinical practice, policy, or future research.
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the study design, including any potential sources of bias or confounding. Provide rationale for any decisions or trade offs made in the study design.
- Consider potential sources of bias and how they will be addressed, including blinding, randomization, or adjustments for confounding.
- Discuss the generalizability of the study findings and any implications for subgroups or vulnerable populations.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the key points of the study, including the objective, design, participants, interventions, outcomes, and statistical analysis plan.
- Discuss the potential impact of the study on the field and any implications for future research.
References:
- Provide a list of relevant references cited in the manuscript, using our references guidelines.
Supplementary Files:
Include any additional information that may be useful, such as informed consent forms, questionnaires, or protocols for data collection or analysis. Specify the format and organization of the supplementary files.
Overall, ensure that the manuscript is written in clear and concise language, with a consistent style and formatting. Use the headings and subheadings recommended by relevant guidelines to ensure that all relevant information is included.
Abbreviations
Non-standard abbreviations should be defined at their first occurrence in the text, and only be used consistently thereafter. This helps to ensure that readers can understand the meaning of the abbreviation. It is recommended to avoid using abbreviations in headings, abstracts, and other sections where the text needs to be clear and concise. Use the same abbreviation consistently throughout the text, and avoid using multiple abbreviations for the same term.
Figures
- Image resolution: Highest available quality figures should be uploaded. A minimum resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) is recommended, with at least 300 pixels per inch.
- File format: Figures should be submitted in one of the following file formats: .PNG
.JPEG
.TIFF
3. Color: Color figures are encouraged, but authors should ensure that the colors used are distinguishable in grayscale. Please avoid using color combinations that may be difficult to distinguish, such as red-green.
4. File Size: The individual figure files should not exceed 10 MB in size. If the figure is of extremely high quality and requires a larger file size, authors must contact the journal's editorial office to discuss alternative submission options.
5. Labels and legends: All figures must be labeled and can include a legend. The legend should provide a brief description of the figure content and explain any abbreviations or symbols used. The system automatically assigns a number to all media items. Therefore, there is no need to add the number to the title.
6. Font size: Text within figures should be legible at the size used in the published version of the manuscript. A font size of 10 points or larger is recommended.
7. Figures with multiple panels: If a figure consists of multiple panels, each panel should be labeled with a lowercase letter in parentheses (e.g., (a), (b), (c), etc.).
8. any excess white space around the image content should be cropped out to ensure that the figure is as clear and concise as possible.
9. Copyright: Authors must ensure that they have the appropriate permissions for any copyrighted material used in their figures.
10. Ethics: All figures should comply with ethical guidelines and should not contain any identifiable patient information without written informed consent.
The submission portal has a toolbar that allows you to add media to your article. This toolbar includes options to insert a figure, table, or video. Once you choose the desired option, you will be asked to upload the corresponding media file or paste the video URL. You will also need to provide a title and an optional legend.
To add a figure to your article, follow these steps:
- Click the Insert Figure button in the toolbar and position the cursor where you want to add the figure.
- Upload the image file.
- Enter a title and, if desired, a legend.
- Click the Next button and check that the figure meets all requirements.
- Click the Insert button to add the figure to your article.
Tables
- Each table should have a clear and concise title that accurately reflects the content of the table.
- The table should include headings for each column and row that provide context and clarify the meaning of the data. These headings should be clear and concise, and they should use terminology that is consistent with the rest of the article.
- Footnotes should be included to provide additional information about specific data points or to clarify any details that may be unclear from the table alone.
- All rows must contain data, and there should be no empty cells.
- It is important to note that the tables must be editable, meaning that they can be modified by the journal's typesetters if necessary. By creating tables as editable, cell-based objects, authors can ensure that their tables will be properly formatted and easy to read in the final published article.
- The top row of the table is considered the header row and will be bolded to distinguish it from the rest of the table.
- If the author cites a reference within a table, they must also include the full citation for that source in the references section of the article.
To insert a table:
- Click the "Insert Table" button in the toolbar and position the cursor where you want to add the figure.
- Copy and paste a previously created table and edit it as needed.
- Enter a title and, if desired, a legend.
- Click the Next button and check that the table meets all requirements.
- Click the Insert button to add the table to your article.
Videos
- Click the Insert video button in the toolbar and position the cursor where you want to add the video.
- Insert the URL of the video into the designated field. Verify that the video is playing properly by clicking on it.
- Enter a title and, if desired, a legend.
- Click the Insert button to add the video to your article.
Supplementary files
- Each supplementary file should be cited at an appropriate point in the main article and should be referred to clearly and accurately.
- Supplementary files should be submitted in the format in which they were created (e.g. PDF, JPEG, XLS, DOC etc.) and should be named clearly and descriptively.
- All supplementary files should be checked for accuracy and consistency before submission, and should be free of any errors or omissions, as they will be published exactly as they are received. Please remove any tracked changes option before submitting the file.
- Supplementary files will be made available to readers as a separate download from the main article.
References
Osler Press follows the Vancouver referencing style.
Format:
- List the references in numerical order, as they appear in the text, within square brackets, e.g., [1], [2-5]. Reference citations can be placed either within the text, mid-sentence or at the end of a sentence but before the final punctuation mark.
- References should be numbered in the order they are cited in the text.
- Use abbreviations for journal names as per the standard abbreviation list by the National Library of Medicine.
- List up to six authors, followed by "et al." if there are more than six.
- Use the abbreviation "ed." for editors, "Vol." for volume, "No." for number, and "p." for page.
- If a reference is cited more than once, use the same number each time it is cited.
The reference list can include published or accepted manuscripts, as well as manuscripts on preprint servers that have a citable DOI. It is not recommended to cite unpublished work, unpublished data, retracted articles and personal communications in the reference list, unless necessary.
Types of sources:
- Journal article: Author(s) surname and initials. Article title. Journal title [abbreviated]. Year; volume(issue):page numbers.
- Book: Author(s) surname and initials. Book title. Edition number (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher; Year.
- Book chapter: Author(s) surname and initials. Chapter title. In: Editor(s) surname and initials, ed(s). Book title. Edition number (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher; Year. Page numbers of the chapter.
- Website: Author(s). Title of webpage. Website title. URL. Published date. Updated date. Accessed date.
- Conference proceedings: Author(s). Title of paper. In: Editor(s) of proceedings, eds. Title of proceedings. Place of publication: Publisher; Year. Page numbers of paper.
- Thesis: Author(s). Title of thesis [type of thesis]. Place of publication: University; Year.
- Examples:
Journal article:
[1] McCarthy PM, Nakatani S, Vargo R, Kottke-Marchant K, Harasaki H, James KB, et al. Structural and left ventricular histologic changes after implantable LVAD insertion. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 1995 Mar;59(3):609–13.
Book:
[2] Murray CJ, Lopez AD. The global epidemiology of infectious diseases. Mathers CD, editor. Cambridge: Harvard University Press; 2004 Jan 1.
Website:
[3] World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). WHO website. https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases/. Published 2021. Accessed March 29, 2023.
Acknowledgements
Authors are required to acknowledge individuals who have made a significant contribution to the article, but did not qualify the authorship criteria. This may include individuals who provided technical assistance, laboratory or statistical support, or who helped with study design. Any use of artificial intelligence or writing tools also needs to be acknowledged. Obtain written permission from all individuals or organizations being acknowledged prior to publication.
Also, acknowledge any potential conflicts of interest or relationships that may have influenced the research or the writing of the article.
Funding
In the funding section of the article, all funding sources including grants, donations, and sponsorships should be explicitly and fully disclosed. The grant number should also be specified if applicable.
The authors are required to specify the involvement of the funding organization or sponsor, if there is any, in various aspects of the study, including study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, report writing, and submission of the paper for publication. In case the funding source did not play a role in any of these aspects, this should also be clearly mentioned. Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the funding sources.
Osler Press articles are published with open access and are subject to the Creative Commons attribution license 4.0. This means that the publication fulfills the open access requirements set forth by various institutions and funding bodies.
If the manuscript is published, funding information will be deposited to Funder Registry, a funder identification service from CrossRef.
Manuscript Charges
There are no article processing charges of any kind for publication in Osler Research protocols. There is no submission fee and no extra charges is levied on colour image publication. All the costs of publication, copyediting, human resource, infrastructure or any other charges are bore by the journal.
We believe that academic publishing should be accessible to all researchers, regardless of their financial situation. We are committed to providing a platform for high-quality research to be published and shared with the broader scientific community, without imposing financial barriers.
We hope that by eliminating financial barriers, we can encourage a diverse range of researchers to submit their work to our journal and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
However, please note that as we continue to grow and expand our services, we may need to revisit our manuscript charges policy in the future. We will always strive to keep fees as low as possible and provide waivers whenever possible, and any changes to our policy will be communicated transparently to our authors.
Osler Press will continue to provide waivers for the full Article Processing Charge (100% discount of the APC) where all authors are based in low-income countries. This pertains to writers from nations categorized by the World Bank as having low income economies, as well as those who are part of HINARI (Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative).
Press release
In case an institution or funder of one or more of the authors plans to prepare and release a press release, authors should contact the editorial board and adhere to the following guidelines:
- It is advisable to make a press release following the acceptance and publication of your article as citations with links to the original article are often omitted when the press release is disseminated before the paper is available.
- Always cite the original publication in your press release, including the journal name, article title, and publication date. Include a link to the HTML version of the article on the journal website.
- Osler Press reserves the right to revise the press release to ensure it adheres to the journal's guidelines and to contact the authors' press offices if necessary.
If Osler Press decides to issue a press release for an article, the author(s) will usually be notified in advance and given the opportunity to provide input and feedback on the content of the release. The author(s) will also be asked to review a draft of the release before it is finalized and shared with the media. This helps to ensure that the release accurately reflects the findings of the article and that any potential misinterpretations or errors are corrected before the release is distributed. It also allows the author(s) to provide any additional context or information that they feel is important for the media and the public to understand.