Detailed formatting and preparation requirements for manuscripts submitted to The Practical Medicine.
Manuscripts must be prepared in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx). Do not submit in PDF format. Use a standard readable font (Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt), double line spacing, and continuous line numbering throughout. Pages should be numbered. Margins of at least 2.5 cm on all sides are required.
Do not embed figures within the manuscript document. Figures must be submitted as separate image files and referenced by number in the text (e.g., "as shown in Figure 1").
The title page must be submitted as the first page of the manuscript and must include the following, in this order:
Abstracts must not contain references or undefined abbreviations. Define abbreviations at first use within the abstract.
Maximum 300 words, organised under the following headings:
Maximum 200 words for narrative reviews; 150 words for case reports. A single paragraph summarising background, key findings, and conclusions.
Provide 4–8 keywords below the abstract. Keywords should be drawn from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) where possible. Avoid general terms and those already present in the title.
State the scientific background and rationale for the study. Identify the specific gap in knowledge the study addresses. State the primary objective or hypothesis clearly at the end of the introduction. Avoid extensive literature review; cite only directly relevant references.
Describe the study design, setting, and time period. Provide sufficient methodological detail to permit replication. Identify the study population and describe eligibility criteria, recruitment, and allocation procedures. Define all primary and secondary outcomes precisely and state when and how they were assessed. Describe the statistical methods in detail, including software used.
For randomised trials, report concealment of allocation and blinding. For systematic reviews, report the search strategy and databases searched. For case reports, obtain and document written patient consent.
Present findings in logical sequence corresponding to the objectives and methods. Use tables and figures to support, not duplicate, text. Report all primary outcomes with effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals. Report exact p-values (e.g., p = 0.04). Do not interpret findings in the Results section.
Interpret the findings in the context of existing literature. Discuss mechanisms or explanations for the results. Acknowledge all limitations clearly and assess their impact on interpretation. State the implications for clinical practice, policy, or future research. Avoid repetition of results.
Provide a concise statement of the principal conclusions. Ensure conclusions are supported by the data. Do not generalise beyond the study population or make recommendations unsupported by the findings.
The following declarations must appear at the end of the manuscript, before the references, under clearly labelled subheadings:
Use Vancouver style. Number references consecutively in the order they appear in the text. In the text, cite references as superscripted Arabic numerals. At the end of the manuscript, list all references in numerical order.
Journal article (up to six authors — list all; seven or more — list first six followed by "et al."): Smith A, Jones B, Brown C, et al. Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):Page–Page. doi:10.xxxxx
Book: Author A. Title of Book. Edition. City: Publisher; Year.
Website: Organisation Name. Title of webpage [Internet]. City: Publisher; Year [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available from: URL
Tables should be numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) in the order they are first cited in the text. Each table must have a brief, descriptive title placed above the table. Any abbreviations used in the table must be defined in a footnote below the table. Tables must be editable text, not images. Submit tables at the end of the manuscript document, after the references.
Figures should be numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) in the order first cited in the text. Submit figures as separate image files at a resolution sufficient for clear reproduction. Figure legends must be provided in the manuscript document, on a separate page after the tables. All symbols, arrows, and abbreviations used in figures must be explained in the legend.
Figures reproduced or adapted from previously published work require written permission from the copyright holder and must credit the original source in the legend.
Supplementary data, extended methods, additional tables, or figures that support the findings but are not essential to the main text may be submitted as supplementary material. Label supplementary files clearly (e.g., Supplementary Table 1, Supplementary Figure 1). Supplementary material is published online alongside the article.
Define all abbreviations at first use in both the abstract and the main text. Avoid abbreviations in the title. Use standard abbreviations for units of measurement (SI units preferred).