查看中國翻譯此頁>>
View a Chinese translation of this page >>
Instructions for Authors
For guidelines on BMJ Journals policy and submission please click on links below.
Manuscript Formatting
Editorial policies
Patient consent forms
Licence forms
Peer Review Process
Online First process
Editorial policy
The scope of the European Journal of Hospital: Pharmacy Science and Practice is broad and of interest to pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists as well as related disciplines of specific relevance to hospital pharmacy. The journal is of direct relevance to those involved in hospital pharmacy, as well as those involved with academic research, clinical, technical and social pharmacy, pharmaco-epidemiology and pharmaco-economics. The emphasis will be on high-quality content that augments the knowledge and practice of hospital pharmacists.
The journal publishes both professional and research content. In all cases the emphasis will be on quality, originality and the contribution of articles relevant to hospital pharmacists and their colleagues. All manuscripts submitted to the Journal will be subjected to a rigorous peer- review process. The circulation exceeds 15,000 copies to hospital pharmacists in Europe. However, readership and authorship from other, non-European countries is encouraged. The Editor has a policy of encouraging first time authors to achieve a standard of writing that is suitable for publication in the journal and support will be given to achieve this.
Article types and word counts
Original article
Full papers must present important, substantial new material and should be of direct relevance to clinical practise or important contributions to theoretical frameworks. Original articles should not exceed 3000 words plus references; articles that exceed this word limit may need to be returned for revision before peer review. Additional data may be presented as supplementary information, which will be published online only should the article be accepted (this can be in any format: text, tables, images, videos, etc.). If you are not a native English speaker there is a professional editing service now available. Original articles should be presented in sections:
Abstract
No more than 250 words, summarising the problem being considered, how the study was performed, the salient results and the principal conclusions under subheadings 'Objectives', 'Methods', 'Results', and 'Conclusions'.
Authors may also submit a version of their abstract in their local language, for publication online only. This should be uploaded as a separate file and labelled as 'Abstract in local language'. The text should match the English version as closely as possible. Note that this version of the abstract will not be copyedited or typeset, and will be published online in the format provided by the author as supplementary information.
Key words
A minimum of 5 are required. These should be presented beneath the Abstract and in the box provided in the online submission process.
Introduction
Brief description of the background that led to the study (current results and conclusions should not be included).
Methods
Details relevant to the conduct of the study. Wherever possible give numbers of subjects studied (not percentages alone). Statistical methods should be clearly explained at the end of this section.
Results
Undue repetition in text and tables should be avoided. Comment on validity and significance of results is appropriate but broader discussion of their implication is restricted to the next section. Subheadings that aid clarity of presentation within this and the previous section are encouraged.
Discussion
The nature and findings of the study are placed in context of other relevant published data. Caveats to the study should be discussed. Avoid undue extrapolation from the study topic.
Acknowledgments and affiliations
Individuals with direct involvement in the study but not included in authorship may be acknowledged. The source of financial support and industry affiliations of all those involved must be stated.
References
Should not exceed 30.
Please see References for further style guidance.
Figure and tables
Maximum of 6 tables and/or figures.
Please see Illustrations and tables for further style guidance.
Units of Measurement
Measurements of length, height, weight, and volume should be reported in metric units (metre, kilogram, or litre) or their decimal multiples. Temperatures should be given in degrees Celsius. Blood pressures should be given in millimetres of mercury. All haematological and clinical chemistry measurements should be reported in the metric system in terms of the International System of Units (SI). The symbol L for litre is recommended in order to avoid the risk of confusion between the letter l and the number 1. Percentages should normally be presented as whole numbers.
Abbreviations and symbols
Use only standard abbreviations. Avoid abbreviations in the title and abstract. The full term for which an abbreviation stands should precede its first use in the text unless it is a standard unit of measurement.
Key Messages:
When you submit your manuscript we will ask you for 'key messages'. This is a short summary explaining what your article adds to the literature. It should be divided into two sections.
What is already known on this subject - In two or three single sentence bullet points please summarise the state of scientific knowledge on this subject before you did your study and why this study needed to be done. Be clear and specific, not vague.
What this study adds - In one or two single sentence bullet points give a simple answer to the question “What do we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before?” Be brief, succinct, specific, and accurate.
Short report
The format is identical to that of an original article (see above) and should include an Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
Word count: up to 1500 words.
Abstract: up to 150 words.
Tables/illustrations: maximum 1 table and/or figure.
References: up to 15.
Review
Systematic reviews and review articles are encouraged and undergo peer review. Authors wishing to submit a review may wish to seek the advice of the Editor Editor in advance.
Word count: up to 3000 words.
Abstract: up to 250 words.
Tables/illustrations: maximum of 6.
References: up to 50
Editorial
The aim of an Editorial is to stimulate thought (often with more questions than answers) rather than review the subject exhaustively. Editorials are often commissioned and linked to one or more articles published in the same issue. Personal opinion and comment are perfectly legitimate since the Editorial is not anonymous, though of course such opinion needs to be reasonable and backed up by appropriate evidence.
Word count: up to 1500 words.
Tables/illustrations: maximum of 2 tables and/or figures.
References: up to 30.
Letter to the Editor
The objective of a letter is to provide a platform for discussion and dialogue between readers and the EJHP. Readers are encouraged to submit items for discussion which would be of particular interest to hospital pharmacists, as well as to submit feedback on a topic in a previous issue. This article can be in the style of a letter-to-the-editor, and can either be opinion based or can focus on the factual background of a previously published topic.
Word count: up to 500 words
Tables/illustrations: maximum of 1
References: up to 5.
E-Letter
Readers have the opportunity to comment directly and immediately on any article published online. E-letters should be submitted electronically via the website. Contributors should go to the abstract or full text of the article in question. Click on the ‘submit a response’ link in the right hand column and complete the online form.
The ‘Hands on medicines information’ section aims to present clinical queries arising from medicines information practice. These should be complex or unusual queries that would be of interest to other hospital pharmacists that may come across similar cases in their clinical practice.
The submission should present a clearly defined clinical question and answer, which should be supported with scientific evidence. The inclusion of patient-specific information and an outcome assessment is strongly encouraged.
The article should be structured as follows:
- Summary of up to 150 words
- Introduction, including the case presentation and any clinical or background information relevant to the query
- Clinical question
- Recommended answer, including the problem-solving approach used (if applicable)
- Outcome and discussion
- Key message/learning outcome of one sentence
Word count: up to 1500 words
Tables/illustrations: maximum 1 table and/or figure
References: up to 10
Supplements
The BMJ Publishing Group journals are willing to consider publishing supplements to regular issues. Supplement proposals may be made at the request of:
- The journal editor, an editorial board member or a learned society may wish to organise a meeting, sponsorship may be sought and the proceedings published as a supplement.
- The journal editor, editorial board member or learned society may wish to commission a supplement on a particular theme or topic. Again, sponsorship may be sought.
- The BMJPG itself may have proposals for supplements where sponsorship may be necessary.
- A sponsoring organisation, often a pharmaceutical company or a charitable foundation, that wishes to arrange a meeting, the proceedings of which will be published as a supplement.
In all cases, it is vital that the journal's integrity, independence and academic reputation is not compromised in any way.
For further information on criteria that must be fulfilled, download the supplements guidelines (PDF).
Open Access
Authors can choose to have their article published Open Access for a fee of £1950 (plus applicable VAT).
Plagiarism detection
BMJ is a member of CrossCheck by CrossRef and iThenticate. iThenticate is a plagiarism screening service that verifies the originality of content submitted before publication. iThenticate checks submissions against millions of published research papers, and billions of web content. Authors, researchers and freelancers can also use iThenticate to screen their work before submission by visiting www.ithenticate.com.
