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Writing for Public Health Reports
Public Health Reports (PHR) welcomes contributions that complement the mission and purpose of the Journal:
- To facilitate the movement of science into public health practice and policy to positively affect the health and wellness of the American public.
- To publish scholarly manuscripts that describe new and innovative ways to deliver essential services, leading to improved quality, enhanced efficiency, and reduced costs.
- To publish evaluations of public health programs that describe models of practice that can be replicated by others and that describe lessons learned.
PHR conforms to Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals, which is available online at www.icmje.org/index.html, including all ethical considerations.
International authors are strongly encouraged to seek writing and editing assistance from a native English-speaking editor prior to submitting their manuscript.
Submit manuscripts electronically as one inclusive attachment in a Microsoft® Word or PDF file to: Editor, Public Health Reports, e-mail <manuscripts@publichealthreports.org>.
We accept manuscripts in each of the following categories, which are described in more detail hereafter:
- Original research (qualitative and quantitative)
- Public health evaluation
- Public health methodology
- Case study/practice
- Brief report
- Reports and recommendations
- Systematic review
- Commentary
- Letter to the Editor
Published manuscripts are indexed or abstracted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Current Contents, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Pais International, LexisNexis, and EBSCOhost.
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What to Expect After Submission
Corresponding authors will receive acknowledgment of receipt within 48 hours. Typically, decisions regarding external peer review are provided within two to three weeks. External peer review does not imply acceptance for publication by PHR.
Evaluation criteria for all submissions include, but are not limited to:
- Addresses at least one of the core public health functions (http://www.cdc.gov/nphpsp/essentialServices.html).
- Increases the body of knowledge on the topic.
- Employs clear and succinct writing that is free of jargon.
- Offers results/conclusions based on data provided; not overly influenced by the opinions and biases of the authors.
Additional review criteria for specific manuscript types are described hereafter.
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Your Submission
Page numbering and line spacing/numbering: To aid in the review process, please include page numbers, use continuous line numbering, and use 1.5-line spacing. Manuscripts should be formatted with .75-inch margins on all sides and use 12-point Times New Roman font.
Cover letter: When submitting your manuscript, include a cover letter that contains the following information:
- A description of the article and explanation of why it is unique, relevant, and applicable to PHR.
- A statement that the material has not been published nor is being considered for publication elsewhere.
- A statement indicating Institutional Review Board determination (approval or waiver) for all studies involving people, medical records, and human tissues.
- A statement regarding any potential conflict of interest.
- A disclosure noting any similar or related work submitted or published elsewhere.
Title page: (a) title (short and descriptive); (b) working title; (c) full names of all authors, including their graduate degrees (please limit number of authors to 10); (d) all authors’ institutional affiliations and job titles during the course of the research (and current affiliation and title for corresponding author if different); (e) name, advanced degrees, affiliation, street address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of corresponding author; (f) word count of the text (exclusive of abstract, tables, and references), and the number of charts, tables, and figures.
Abstract: The abstract is published in various medical indexes; therefore, it should be written clearly and succinctly. Structured abstracts of research articles (250-word maximum) should contain four parts labeled Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Unstructured abstracts should be a maximum of 150 words without abbreviations, symbols, or references to tables or figures. Numerical references should not be included in the abstract.
References: References follow Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers [Internet]. 2nd edition. Available from: URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256.
Numerical references should not be embedded in the text (i.e., please do not use the “Footnote and Endnote” function in Microsoft® Word for references). Citations of personal communications or unpublished material should appear in the text in parentheses. PHR does not use substantive footnotes.
Tables and figures: Tables and figures should be placed after the references, each on its own separate page. See criteria for specific types of manuscripts hereafter to learn of table and figure limits per manuscript.
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Manuscript Types/Length/Additional Review Criteria
PHR publishes manuscripts in the following categories. Potential authors should indicate which category papers are to be considered for and be familiar with review criteria for that category.
| Original Research (Quantitative) |
| Description |
Report of research conducted to increase the body of knowledge of a particular public health concern, establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, or support previous or develop new theories. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
3,000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than five tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Facilitates the movement of science into public health practice.
- Presents actionable results derived from original research.
- Presents models of practice that can be replicated by others.
- Uses sound scientific methods, including appropriate use of statistics.
- Reports on recent data (less than five years old preferred) that include a description of entry criteria for clinical studies and response rates for survey data.
- Uses plain language relevant to a broad range of public health professionals.
|
| Original Research (Qualitative) |
| Description |
Report of research conducted dealing with issues that are not measured quantitatively, such as beliefs or attitudes, collected through patient interviews, case studies, focus groups, or other qualitative methods. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
3,000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than five tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Facilitates the movement of science into public health practice.
- Presents actionable results derived from original research.
- Presents models of practice that can be replicated by others.
- States study questions clearly.
- Justifies the selection of participants or materials.
- Describes clearly and uses appropriate methods for gathering and analyzing the observations.
|
| Public Health Evaluation |
| Description |
Report of an evaluation conducted to determine whether a public health program or practice of potential interest to other jurisdictions or policy makers has met its stated goals. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
3,000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than five tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Description of program/project being evaluated, Purpose of evaluation (including evaluation criteria), Methods, Results, Lessons Learned, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Presents actionable results derived from original work.
- Offers models of practice that can be replicated by others
- Uses sound scientific methods, including appropriate use of statistics.
- Reports on recent data (less than five years old preferred).
|
| Public Health Methodology |
| Description |
Describes a new or proposed application of epidemiologic or other scientific methods (e.g., surveillance, participatory research) to public health problems. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
3,000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Practice Implications), and no more than five tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Practice Implications, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Uses methods relevant to the theory and practice of epidemiology/public health science.
- Includes applications and examples with original data to illustrate methodology.
- Describes how the method can be used in practice and the public health implications of its use.
|
| Case Study/Practice |
| Description |
Describes innovative public health program(s) and initiatives, their current status, documented outcomes, and lessons learned. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
2,000-word limit, 150-word unstructured abstract, and no more than two tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Unstructured Abstract, Introduction, Purpose, Methods, Outcomes, Lessons Learned, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Presents actionable results derived from original work.
- Offers models of practice that can be replicated by others.
- Reports on recent data (less than five years old preferred).
- Describes lessons learned clearly.
|
| Brief Report |
| Description |
A short report that provides preliminary or exploratory results of original research. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
1,500-word limit, 150-word unstructured abstract, and no more than two tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Unstructured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Uses sound scientific methods, including appropriate use of statistics.
- Reports on recent data (less than five years old preferred).
- Uses plain language relevant to a broad range of public health professionals.
|
| Reports and Recommendations |
| Description |
Articles authored by a standards-setting or recommendations-making entity that affects public health policy or practice. These manuscripts have been previously vetted by the issuing organization. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
Word limit to be negotiated with PHR Editor, 150-word unstructured abstract, and no more than five tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
At the discretion of the PHR Editor. |
| Manuscript format |
Unstructured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Recommendations, Public Health Practice Implications, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Presents actionable recommendations or standards based on original research (may be research of others).
- Offers evidence of thorough vetting by appropriate stakeholders prior to submission.
- Provides recommendations supported by science.
|
| Systematic Review |
| Description |
A thorough summary of literature relevant to a public health research question, providing unbiased findings so that others can draw conclusions or make decisions that affect public health practice or policy. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
3,000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than five tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
Yes |
| Manuscript format |
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Methods (data sources, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and criteria for assessing data), Results, Discussion, Public Health Implications, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- States clearly a set of objectives with predefined eligibility criteria.
- Provides an explicit, reproducible methodology.
- Uses a systematic search that attempts to identify all studies that would meet the eligibility criteria.
- Offers an assessment of the validity of the findings of the included studies (e.g., through the assessment of risk of bias).
- Provides a systematic presentation and synthesis of the characteristics and findings of the included studies.
|
| Commentary |
| Description |
Opinion pieces that initiate or focus discussion on current and emerging public health issues via description of important scientific and programmatic developments, new technologies, relevant policy issues, and current scientific debates. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
1,500-word limit and no more than two tables or figures. |
| Peer reviewed |
At the discretion of the PHR Editor |
| Manuscript format |
Unstructured format including Introduction, Discussion, Public Health Implications, References, and Tables/Figures. |
| Review criteria |
- Proposes a valid argument that will improve public health.
- Supports point of view with strong evidence.
- Cites references to support the author’s opinion.
|
| Letter to the Editor |
| Description |
Comments on published manuscripts either to clarify or to expand understanding of the subject. |
| Number of words/tables/figures |
500-word limit; tables/figures allowed if relevant to the discussion. |
| Peer reviewed |
No; author(s) of originally published manuscripts will have opportunity to respond. |
| Manuscript format |
Unstructured |
| Review criteria |
At the discretion of the PHR Editor |
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Copyright
It is a condition of publication in the Journal that authors, excluding authors employed by the U.S. government, assign copyright to the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). Authors may use their own material in other publications provided PHR is acknowledged as the original place of publication.
Material published in this Journal may be used, modified, reproduced, and distributed by the U.S. government for government purposes.
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Peer Review
After an initial review by our Editorial Committee, we select promising contributions for peer review; these manuscripts are sent to two or more external reviewers. Recommendations of peer reviewers will not be accepted from authors.
For manuscripts being considered for publication after peer review, authors will be required to make a point-by-point response to all peer-review comments and include these responses along with the revised manuscript.
The PHR Editor makes final decisions on all submissions and will not engage in discussion with authors related to those decisions.
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Contributions for the "From The Schools of Public Health" Section
Contributions by ASPH member faculty and students are also needed for the three ASPH-sponsored columns of the journal.
Faculty members may submit articles for the following two columns:
• On Linkages: practice-based activities at the schools
• On Academics: articles about academic public health
Students, fellows, or working professionals up to two years post-graduation from ASPH-member schools may submit articles for the Student Column. Click here for a flyer announcing the Student Column.
To submit your work for any of the ASPH columns (On Academics, On Linkages, Student Column), first email an abstract using these guidelines. A review committee will decide whether to request a full manuscript.
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Advertise in PHR
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