About this guide

This quick submission guide details the essential steps and requirements for submitting a manuscript to the Journal of Pediatrics in Resource-Limited Settings (JPRLS).

For full requirements and detailed policies, please also see:

• Journal Policies
• Article Types

Before you submit

Before starting your submission, please make sure that your manuscript:

• fits the journal’s scope
• matches one of the journal’s article types
• is written in English
• is clear enough for editorial and peer-review assessment

Journal scope

JPRLS is an international, online-only, open access journal that publishes continuously in one annual volume. The journal publishes work in:

• clinical pediatrics
• child health
• pediatric medical education and training
• pediatric surgery when the main focus is relevant to general pediatrics or child health rather than to operative technique

Submissions should be relevant to resource-limited, underserved, or inequity-affected contexts. The journal particularly welcomes work from low- and middle-income countries and also considers relevant work from high-income countries when it addresses such contexts or offers lessons applicable to them.

How submissions are assessed

Editorial decisions are based mainly on:

• relevance to the journal’s scope
• methodological rigor
• technical soundness
• ethical and reporting standards

The journal does not judge manuscripts mainly on novelty, expected citation impact, or broad general interest. Well-conducted studies with sound methods and supported conclusions are welcome, including negative or null findings, replication studies, and locally relevant research.

Language

Manuscripts must be submitted in English and should be written as clearly and concisely as possible.

 

Review Submission Checklist

Before submitting, make sure your manuscript is complete, clear, and ready for editorial and peer-review assessment.

Please confirm that:

• your manuscript fits the journal’s scope and the selected article type
• you have followed the reporting guideline or checklist appropriate to the study design, where applicable
• the author list is final, all listed authors meet authorship requirements, and all authors have approved the submission
• the corresponding author details are complete and accurate; ORCID iDs are required for corresponding author and encouraged for coauthors
• any required ethics approval, informed consent, consent for publication, trial registration, animal-ethics approval, or other oversight requirements have been completed and are reported in the manuscript where applicable
• a Data Availability Statement is prepared for all original research, and
• any relevant code, protocol, or other underlying materials are described appropriately if applicable
• all funding sources, grant numbers where applicable, sponsor roles, and competing interests have been disclosed fully and accurately
• any required permission to reproduce or adapt previously published figures, tables, images, questionnaires, or other copyrighted material has been obtained
• any preprint, conference abstract, poster, thesis, trial-registration record, related manuscript, overlapping paper, or other closely related material has been disclosed

If the manuscript was previously reviewed by another journal, you may also provide the earlier editor and reviewer comments and your responses, but this is optional.

For full details, see the Journal Policies, and Article Types pages.

 

Choose the Right Article Type

Select the single best-fitting article type when you submit. Use the reporting guideline or checklist that matches the study design where applicable. Where no fixed limit is stated below, the journal does not impose a strict word, reference, or figure limit at initial submission, but manuscripts should remain concise and proportionate.

Original Research

For original research relevant to clinical pediatrics, child health, or pediatric medical education and training.

• Submission route: Unsolicited
• Peer review: Double-anonymous
• Abstract: Structured
• Main text: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion
• Reporting guideline: Use the guideline appropriate to the study design

Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses

For evidence syntheses relevant to the journal’s scope.

• Submission route: Unsolicited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Structured
• Main text: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion
• Reporting guideline: PRISMA
• Special requirement: Prospective registration in a public registry strongly expected; if not registered, authors must explain why, preferably PROSPERO where eligible

Narrative Reviews

For broad or focused narrative overviews relevant to the journal’s scope.

• Submission route: Commissioned or invited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Unstructured
• Main text: Flexible
• Note: Invitation or commission does not guarantee acceptance

Brief Reports

For concise original research or narrowly focused analyses.

• Submission route: Unsolicited
• Peer review: Double-anonymous
• Abstract: Structured
• Main text: Concise Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion
• Limits: Up to 1,500 words, 20 references, and 3 tables/figures combined

Case Reports and Case Series

For cases of clear clinical, educational, or service relevance.

• Submission route: Unsolicited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Unstructured
• Main text: Introduction, Case Presentation or Case Series, Discussion
• Reporting guideline: CARE where appropriate
• Special requirement: Any required patient consent must be obtained

Medical Education Papers

For studies or reports on pediatric training, curriculum, assessment, workforce development, or capacity building.

• Submission route: Unsolicited
• Peer review: Double-anonymous
• Abstract: Structured for research studies; unstructured for descriptive reports
• Main text: IMRaD for research studies; clear topic-based headings for non-research reports
• Reporting guideline: Use the guideline appropriate to the study design

Viewpoints

For evidence-informed perspectives, arguments, or reflections relevant to the journal’s scope.

• Submission route: Invited or unsolicited
• Peer review: Editorial assessment and peer review as appropriate
• Abstract: No abstract
• Main text: Flexible

Clinical Handles

For tightly focused mini-reviews built around a specific clinical clue, symptom, sign, or investigations that helps narrow diagnosis in low-resource settings.

• Submission route: Commissioned/invited or unsolicited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Unstructured
• Limits: Up to 1,500 words, 20 references, and 3 tables/figures/boxes combined

Pediatric Science Simplified

For concise, practice-oriented mini-reviews explaining pediatric basic science for clinicians.

• Submission route: Commissioned or invited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Unstructured
• Limits: Up to 2,000 words, 20 references, and 3 tables/figures/boxes combined

Guideline Mini Review

For concise, practice-oriented mini-reviews that summarize and contextualize a specific guideline for resource-constrained settings.

• Submission route: Commissioned or invited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Unstructured
• Limits: Up to 2,000 words, 20 references, and 3 tables/figures/boxes combined

Acute and Critical Care Mini Review

For narrowly focused mini-reviews on a specific practical issue in pediatric emergency or critical care in resource-constrained settings.

• Submission route: Commissioned or invited
• Peer review: Single-anonymous
• Abstract: Unstructured
• Limits: Up to 1,800 words, 20 references, and 3 tables/figures/boxes combined

Editorials

Editorials are invited only and are not standard unsolicited submissions.

Letters to the Editor/Correspondence

Brief letters commenting on material published in the journal, or concise evidence-informed observations, clarifications, or perspectives relevant to the journal’s scope.

•           Submission route: Unsolicited.

•           Peer review: Editorial assessment; external peer review may be used at editorial discretion. Authors of the article concerned may be invited to respond where relevant.

•           Abstract: No abstract.

•            Main text structure: Flexible; brief letter format.

•           Word limit: Up to 750 words.

•           Reference limit: Up to 10.

•           Tables/figures: Usually none; up to 1 if clearly justified.

•           Special requirements: Letters should be concise, focused, and respectful. Where a letter comments on a published article, it should identify the article clearly.

 

Practical note

If your manuscript will undergo double-anonymous peer review—that is, Original Research, Brief Reports, or Medical Education Papers—you must prepare the main manuscript as a blinded file for review.

For full article-type requirements, see the journal’s Article Types page.

 

Prepare the Manuscript

JPRLS uses a simple first-submission format. At initial submission, detailed journal-specific formatting is not required. Focus on submitting a manuscript that is complete, clear, readable, and consistently formatted.

Basic preparation requirements

Please prepare the manuscript as follows:

• submit the main manuscript in DOC, DOCX, or RTF
• if using LaTeX, submit a PDF together with the relevant source files
• use a standard font and standard font size
• use double-line spacing
• include continuous page numbering
• include continuous line numbering
• do not use multiple-column layout
• keep headings clear and simple, preferably no more than three levels

Writing and language

• The manuscript must be in English
• Write clearly, concisely, and in readable English
• Make sure the language is adequate for fair editorial and peer-review assessment
• Use clear, respectful, precise, and inclusive language
• Avoid stereotypes, stigmatizing terms, unnecessary jargon, idiomatic expressions, and cultural assumptions
• Explain technical terms where needed

Abbreviations, units, and names

• Keep abbreviations to a minimum and define each abbreviation at first use
• Avoid abbreviations in the title and, where possible, in the abstract
• Use SI units throughout; where non-SI units are needed for clinical clarity, also provide the SI equivalent
• Use established nomenclature
• Use international nonproprietary names for drugs rather than brand names where possible

References and links

• Use Vancouver reference style
• At initial submission, references should be complete, consistent, and accurate
• Do not use footnotes or endnotes
• Do not place bare URLs in the main text unless they are specifically needed for identification, such as for a registry or repository record

Blinded manuscript for some article types

If you are submitting an Original Research article, Brief Report, or Medical Education Paper, upload the main manuscript as a blinded file prepared for double-anonymous peer review. A separate non-blinded manuscript file is not required.

 

Upload the Required Files

Upload only the files that apply to your manuscript. Keep the submission complete, clear, and simple.

Required for all submissions

1. Main manuscript file
Upload the manuscript as a single main file. This file should include:

• title
• abstract, if required
• keywords, if required
• main text
• references
• tables
• figure legends

Tables and figures may also be placed in the manuscript file, preferably close to their first citation.

2. Separate title page
Upload a separate title page containing:

• full manuscript title
• full names of all authors
• full institutional affiliations of all authors
• corresponding author name and email address
• corresponding author ORCID iD
• other authors’ ORCID iDs, if available
• equal-contribution statement, if applicable
• group authorship information, if applicable

Do not place funding, competing interests, ethics statements, author contributions, or acknowledgements on the title page.

Required for some article types

3. Main manuscript file should be blinded
Required for:

• Original Research
• Brief Reports
• Medical Education Papers

For these article types, upload the main manuscript as a blinded file for double-anonymous peer review. A separate non-blinded manuscript file is not required.

The blinded file should not include:

• author names or affiliations
• self-identifying statements
• unnecessary identifying links
• repository details that reveal authorship
• preprint identifiers

Optional or as applicable

4. Cover letter
Optional. You may use it to explain the importance of the work, disclose a preprint, note related manuscripts or prior dissemination, or highlight anything relevant for editorial assessment.

5. Figures
If included, figures may be placed in the main manuscript file or uploaded separately. Figure legends should be included in the manuscript file. At initial submission, figures only need to be clear enough for editorial and peer-review assessment.

6. Tables
Tables may be placed in the main manuscript file or uploaded separately as editable files. Tables must be clearly titled, numbered, and cited in the text. Do not submit tables as images.

7. Supplementary files
Upload supplementary material only when it is directly relevant to the submission. This may include appendices, questionnaires, extra methods or results, extra tables or figures, multimedia, reporting checklists, flow diagrams, or similar supporting material.

8. Reporting-guideline checklists
Required at initial submission for:

• Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses: PRISMA checklist
• Clinical trials submitted as Original Research or Medical Education Papers: CONSORT checklist

For other study types, checklists are encouraged and may be requested later.

9. Flow diagrams
Submit a flow diagram when required by the reporting standard, such as a PRISMA flow diagram for systematic reviews.

Usually not uploaded at initial submission unless requested

10. Ethics, consent, and permission documents
Do not routinely upload ethics approvals, consent forms, or permission letters unless requested by the submission system or editors.
However, the relevant statements must appear in the manuscript, and you must be able to provide the supporting documents promptly on request.

11. Protocol or registration documents
Where trial registration, preregistration, protocol registration, or a public protocol applies, report the registry or repository name and identifier in the manuscript and submission metadata where requested. Relevant protocols or related documents may be uploaded as supplementary files if needed.

12. Raw data or other supporting material
Raw data, analytic code, detailed protocols, and similar materials are not routinely required at initial submission, but you must retain them and provide them promptly if requested.

13. Previous journal reviews
If the manuscript was previously reviewed elsewhere, you may upload the earlier editor and reviewer comments and your responses. This is entirely optional.

Practical note

For most submissions, the essential upload set is:

• main manuscript file (blinded for Original Research, Brief Reports, and Medical Education Papers)
• separate title page
• any figures, tables, checklists, flow diagrams, or supplementary files that are relevant

 

Include the Required Manuscript Components

Arrange the manuscript clearly and consistently. At initial submission, strict house style is not required, but the manuscript should include the components and declarations relevant to your article.

Core components

Your manuscript should include, as applicable:

• Title: clear, concise, and informative
• Abstract: if required for the article type
• Keywords: 3 to 8
• Main text: structured according to the article type
• References: in Vancouver style
• Tables
• Figures, if included
• Figure legends
• Supplementary material, if relevant

Author and submission information

Make sure the submission also includes:

• full author names and affiliations on the separate title page
• one corresponding author
• corresponding author ORCID iD
  ORCID iDs for other authors are encouraged

For article types under double-anonymous peer review, author-identifying information must appear on the title page only, not in the blinded manuscript file.

Required statements

If a component does not apply to your manuscript, omit it rather than writing “not applicable,” except for required declarations such as funding, competing interests, and data availability, where a brief explicit statement should be provided.

Include the following statements in the manuscript where applicable:

• Author Contributions statement
  Required for all submissions; use CRediT roles where possible
• Funding statement
  Required for all submissions; if there was no specific funding, state this explicitly
• Competing Interests statement
  Required for all submissions; if none, use:
  “The authors declare that they have no competing interests.”
• Ethics Approval statement
• Consent to Participate statement
• Consent for Publication statement
• Trial Registration or Preregistration statement
• Data Availability Statement
  Required for all original research; place this in a distinct section before the References
• Code Availability Statement
  Include when custom code or scripts are materially important to the findings
• AI use disclosure
  Include when generative AI or similar tools were used substantively

Additional practical points

• Use the abstract type and main-text structure required for the selected article type
• Keep tables editable, clearly titled, and cited in the text
• Make sure figures are clear, numbered, and cited in the text
• Provide a legend for every figure
• Include supplementary material only when it is directly relevant

 

Prepare a Separate Title Page

Upload a separate title page with every submission.

Include on the title page

Please provide:

• full manuscript title
• full name of each author exactly as it should appear in publication
• full institutional affiliation for each author, including department or unit where relevant, institution, city, and country
• one corresponding author, with email address and institutional affiliation
• corresponding author ORCID iD
• other authors’ ORCID iDs, if available
• equal contribution statement, if applicable
• group or consortium authorship information, if applicable
• present address, if relevant

Authorship details

Before submission, make sure that:

• the author list and author order are final
• all authors have approved the submission
• the corresponding author is ready to handle all communication with the journal

If group or consortium authorship is used, the submission should make clear who qualifies as an author. The editors may request the full list of named members and affiliations where needed.

For manuscripts under double-anonymous peer review

Applies to:

• Original Research
• Brief Reports
• Medical Education Papers

For these article types, author-identifying information must appear only on the separate title page and must not appear in the blinded manuscript file.

The blinded manuscript should not include:

• author names or affiliations
• identifying acknowledgements
• self-identifying statements in the text
• unnecessary repository links, preprint identifiers, or other details that may reveal authorship

Where reference to the authors’ previous work is necessary, write it in a neutral way suitable for blinded review.

Practical note

Keep all author-identifying information on the separate title page. For manuscripts sent for double-anonymous review, do not include this information in the blinded manuscript file.

 

Write the Abstract, Keywords, and Main Text in the Right Format

Abstract

Include an abstract for all article types except Editorials, Viewpoints, and Letters/Correspondence.

Abstracts should be:

• clear
• factual
• concise
• understandable on their own

Avoid citations and, where possible, avoid abbreviations.

Which abstract type to use

Use a structured abstract for:

• Original Research
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
• Medical Education Papers that report original research
• Brief Reports presented in research format

Use an unstructured abstract for:

• Narrative Reviews
• Case Reports and Case Series
• Medical Education Papers that are descriptive or reflective rather than research-based
• Clinical Handles
• Pediatric Science Simplified
• Guideline Mini Review
• Acute and Critical Care Mini Review

No abstract is normally required for:

• Editorials
• Viewpoints
• Letters to the Editor/Correspondence

Structured abstract format

Unless a reporting guideline requires otherwise, use:

• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions

For systematic reviews and meta-analyses, a PRISMA-consistent structure may be used where more suitable.

Unstructured abstract format

For article types requiring an unstructured abstract, provide one concise paragraph covering the topic, main purpose, essential content, and key message.

Keywords

Provide 3 to 8 keywords. Choose terms that reflect the main topic and, where relevant, the study design, population, condition, intervention, setting, or major concept. Avoid unnecessary repetition of title words unless needed for discoverability.

Main-text structure

Research-based articles should normally follow IMRaD:

• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion

This applies to:

• Original Research
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
• Brief Reports
• Medical Education Papers that report original research

A short Conclusions section may be added if helpful.

Non-research article types should use clear headings suited to the purpose of the paper. A practical default is:

• Narrative Reviews: Introduction, Main Thematic Sections, Conclusion
• Viewpoints: Introduction, Main Argument or Discussion, Conclusion
• Case Reports and Case Series: Introduction, Case Presentation or Case Series, Discussion
• Clinical Handles: Introduction, Main Clinical Feature or Diagnostic Clue, Practical Interpretation, Key Takeaway
• Pediatric Science Simplified: Introduction, Core Scientific Concept, Clinical Relevance, Key Takeaway
• Guideline Mini Review: Introduction, Key Recommendations, Contextual Considerations, Practical Implications
• Acute and Critical Care Mini Review: Introduction, Focused Clinical Problem, Practical Approach, Pitfalls, Key Takeaway
• Editorials: Flexible structure, usually without headings unless clearly helpful

Practical note

As a simple rule:
research-based articles should usually use a structured abstract and IMRaD-style main text; non-research, narrative, reflective, or commissioned articles should usually use an unstructured abstract and clear topic-based headings.

 

Prepare References and Citations Correctly

Reference style

Use Vancouver reference style.

• list references numerically in the order they first appear in the text
• use Arabic numerals for in-text citations
• use the same number each time a source is cited
• make sure the in-text citations match the numbered reference list exactly

At initial submission, the main priority is that references are complete, consistent, and accurate. Minor punctuation or house-style issues can be corrected later.

What to include in the reference list

Include only sources that are:

• cited in the manuscript, and
• published, in press, or publicly available in a stable scholarly form

This may include articles, books, reports, trial registry records, datasets, software-related sources, protocols, or preprints where appropriate. Sources that are not publicly accessible should generally not be included in the reference list.

Data, protocols, software, and code

Where data, protocols, software, or code are important to the work, cite them appropriately in the reference list.

• cite datasets when claims or analyses rely on them
• cite the most relevant citable source for protocols, software, scripts, repositories, or codebases
• identify proprietary software in the Methods section by name and version

Where available, include DOIs or other persistent identifiers.

Personal communications and unpublished material

Do not include personal communications, private correspondence, confidential discussions, peer review, submitted manuscripts, or other non-public material in the reference list unless explicit written permission has been obtained. Where necessary, personal communication should be mentioned in the text only, not in the reference list.

Acknowledging others’ work

Make sure all sources are acknowledged accurately and fairly.

• cite the source that directly supports the statement
• cite original primary sources where reasonably possible
• acknowledge reused or adapted material clearly
• obtain any required permission for reused material before submission

Do not present another person’s ideas, words, data, images, tables, figures, equations, code, or other material as your own.

Web resources

Where a web resource is cited, include it in the reference list rather than as a bare URL in the text. Provide enough information to identify the source clearly. Persistent identifiers are preferred where available.

Practical note

Cite what directly supports your statement, use the most appropriate version of the source, cite data and code when they matter to the work, and acknowledge all reused material clearly and honestly.

 

Prepare Tables, Figures, Boxes, and Supplementary Files

At initial submission, visual and supplementary material should be clear, correctly labeled, and easy to review. Detailed production formatting is not required at this stage.

Tables

• prepare tables as editable tables, not as images
• number tables in the order they are first cited in the text
• provide a brief descriptive title for each table
• place footnotes, abbreviations, and explanatory notes below the table
• tables may be placed in the main manuscript file, preferably close to their first citation

Figures

• make sure figures are clear and legible
• number figures in the order they are first cited in the text
• figures may be placed in the main manuscript file or uploaded separately
• at initial submission, figures only need to be good enough for editorial and peer-review assessment
• multi-panel figures are acceptable if clearly arranged and labeled

Figure legends

• provide a legend for every figure
• include figure legends in the manuscript file, below the corresponding figures if these are included in the main manuscript
• define any abbreviations, symbols, or markers used in the figure
• keep legends concise but complete

Boxes

• boxes are allowed when they help present key messages or practical summary content
• prepare boxes as editable text, not as images
• number and title them clearly if more than one is used
• cite them in the text
• place them in the main manuscript file, preferably close to their first citation

File types

A practical rule is:

• tables/boxes: DOC, DOCX, or RTF within the manuscript or as editable files
• figures: TIFF, EPS, JPEG, PNG, or PDF
• supplementary files: common standard formats such as PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TXT, ZIP, and common multimedia formats where relevant

Number limits

Follow the limits given for the selected article type. Where no fixed limit is stated, keep tables, figures, boxes, and supplementary material proportionate to the article and limited to what is necessary for understanding the work.

Supplementary material

Supplementary files may be included when directly relevant to review or interpretation. This may include:

• appendices
• reporting checklists
• flow diagrams
• extra tables or figures
• datasets
• questionnaires
• protocols
• code
• multimedia or other supporting material

Label all supplementary files clearly and refer to them in the manuscript text where relevant.

Image integrity and reused material

• do not edit images in a misleading way
• only limited, non-deceptive adjustments applied to the whole image are acceptable, and they should be disclosed where relevant
• if any table, figure, box, image, questionnaire, or other material is reused or adapted from another source, acknowledge the original source and obtain any required permission before submission

Practical note

At initial submission, prepare tables, figures, boxes, and supplementary files in a clear, review-ready form, preferably within the main manuscript file close to first citation. Detailed production formatting can be dealt with later if needed.

 

Use the Correct Reporting Guideline

Use the reporting guideline or checklist that best matches your article type and study design. The EQUATOR Network is the journal’s main reference source for identifying the appropriate guideline.

If a recognized guideline applies, follow it when preparing the manuscript. If no exact guideline fits, use the closest relevant standard and report the work clearly, completely, and transparently.

Common reporting guidelines

A practical guide is:

• Randomized trials: CONSORT
• Observational studies: STROBE or CROSS, where appropriate
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: PRISMA
• Case reports and case series: CARE, where appropriate
• Qualitative studies: SRQR or COREQ, as appropriate
• Quality-improvement studies: SQUIRE
• Guideline-focused articles: AGREE and/or RIGHT may be useful reference frameworks

Checklists and flow diagrams

Where the reporting guideline includes a checklist or flow diagram, be prepared to submit it.

At JPRLS, completed checklists are required at initial submission for:

• Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses: PRISMA checklist
• Clinical trials submitted as Original Research or Medical Education Papers: CONSORT checklist

Flow diagrams should also be submitted where applicable, such as a PRISMA flow diagram for systematic reviews.

For other study types, completed checklists are strongly encouraged and may be requested during editorial assessment or peer review.

Practical note

A simple rule is:
choose the article type, identify the study design, use the matching reporting guideline, and submit any required checklist or flow diagram with the manuscript.

 

Confirm Authorship and Contributorship

Before submission, make sure that all listed authors meet the journal’s authorship criteria and that all eligible authors are included.

Who should be listed as an author

JPRLS follows the ICMJE authorship criteria. Each author must have made a substantial scholarly contribution, participated in drafting or critical revision of the manuscript, approved the final version, and agreed to be accountable for the work.

Activities such as funding acquisition alone, general supervision, administrative support, routine data collection, technical editing, language editing, or proofreading do not by themselves qualify for authorship.

Non-author contributors

Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should not be listed as authors. They may be named in the Acknowledgements section, provided they have given permission to be acknowledged.

Author contributions statement

An Author Contributions statement is required for all submissions. Use CRediT role terms where possible.

Corresponding author responsibilities

The corresponding author must ensure that:

• all listed authors meet authorship criteria
• no eligible author has been omitted
• all authors have approved the submitted version and the author list
• all authors agree to any authorship change requested after submission

Group authorship

Group or consortium authorship is allowed where appropriate, but the submission must make clear which individuals qualify as authors. An individual corresponding author must still be designated.

Changes after submission

Any request to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must be made in writing, must explain the reason clearly, and must include agreement from all affected authors. The journal may pause editorial assessment until the issue is resolved.

Important restrictions

• Ghost, gift, guest, and honorary authorship are not acceptable
• AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors

Practical note

Only individuals who meet all authorship criteria should be listed as authors. All others should be acknowledged appropriately, with permission.

 

Confirm Originality and Disclose Related Material

Before submission, make sure the manuscript is original, has not been formally published in whole or in substantial part elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another journal or publisher.

What you must disclose

At submission, disclose any of the following if relevant:

• preprint posting
• conference abstract or poster
• trial registry record
• thesis or dissertation
• related manuscript or report from the same study, dataset, or project
• published, accepted, or submitted work with substantial overlap
• previous peer-review history from another journal, if you wish to provide it

Important rules

• Dual submission is not permitted
• Undisclosed duplicate or redundant publication is not acceptable
• If the submission overlaps with other work, explain this clearly at submission
• If the paper is closely related to another manuscript or report from the same study or dataset, provide enough detail for editorial assessment and, where relevant, a copy of the related manuscript

Preprints and other prior dissemination

The following do not in themselves prevent consideration, provided they are disclosed at submission:

• posting on a recognized preprint server or repository
• prior presentation as a conference abstract or poster
• posting required information or results in a clinical-trial registry
• prior dissemination as a thesis or dissertation

For manuscripts under double-anonymous peer review, do not include unnecessary preprint-identifying details in the blinded manuscript file.

Previous reviews from another journal

If the manuscript was previously reviewed elsewhere, you may provide the earlier editor and reviewer comments and your responses, but this is optional and does not guarantee acceptance or bypass further peer review.

Practical note

Disclose any earlier public version, related manuscript, overlap, or prior review that could matter to editorial assessment. Full disclosure helps the editors assess the submission fairly and avoids later problems.

 

Meet Ethics, Consent, and Integrity Requirements

Before submission, make sure the study was conducted and reported in accordance with applicable ethical, legal, and professional standards. Any required approvals, permissions, and consents must already have been obtained and must be reported in the manuscript where applicable.

Ethics approval

Include an Ethics Approval statement whenever ethics review was required. State the approving body and the approval number or identifier where available. If ethics approval was not required, state this briefly and explain why where needed.

Informed consent

Where human participants were involved, obtain informed consent to participate unless a waiver was granted or consent was not required under the applicable framework. State in the manuscript whether consent was obtained or waived, where relevant.

Consent for publication

If the manuscript includes identifiable or potentially identifiable personal information, images, or case details, obtain explicit consent for publication from the participant or an appropriate legal representative. This is especially important for Case Reports and Case Series.

Animal research

Research involving animals must comply with applicable institutional and national standards and must have ethics approval where required. Report the approving body and approval details in the manuscript where applicable.

Privacy and confidentiality

Protect participant and patient privacy in text, tables, figures, images, audio, video, and supplementary files. Do not include identifying details unless scientifically justified and publication consent has been obtained.

Permissions for reused material

If you reproduce or adapt figures, tables, images, questionnaires, or other copyrighted material, acknowledge the original source and obtain any required permission before submission, unless reuse is clearly allowed under an applicable license or public-domain status.

Trial registration

Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry at or before first participant enrollment. Report the registry name and registration number in the manuscript.

Research integrity

Research misconduct is not acceptable. This includes, among other things:

• fabrication or falsification
• deceptive image manipulation
• plagiarism
• duplicate or redundant publication
• peer-review manipulation
• authorship misrepresentation
• serious undisclosed competing interests

Image integrity

Figures and other visual data must represent the original material honestly. Do not add, remove, move, obscure, or selectively enhance features in a misleading way. Limited whole-image adjustments may be acceptable only if they do not alter interpretation and are disclosed where relevant.

Practical note

If ethics approval, consent, registration, permission, or integrity documentation is relevant to the manuscript, report it clearly in the paper and be ready to provide supporting documents if the journal requests them.

 

Disclose Competing Interests, Funding, and Sponsor Role

All submissions must include both a Competing Interests statement and a Funding statement.

Competing interests

Disclose all financial and non-financial interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the work. If there is any doubt, disclose it.

Relevant interests may include, for example:

• employment
• consultancies
• honoraria
• advisory roles
• grants or salary support
• travel support
• stock ownership
• patents, licenses, or royalties
• leadership roles
• formal affiliations
• advocacy positions
• other personal, institutional, academic, or ideological interests related to the subject matter

If none of the authors has a competing interest to declare, use:

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

State all sources of direct funding or other material support for the reported work. If there was no specific funding or direct material support, state this explicitly.

Where applicable, include the grant or award number and identify the funder clearly and consistently.

Sponsor or funder role

If a funder or sponsor had any role in:

• study design
• data collection
• data analysis
• data interpretation
• manuscript preparation
• the decision to submit the manuscript

this must be stated clearly. If the funder or sponsor had no such role, state that explicitly.

Practical note

Declare all potentially relevant interests, state funding clearly, report any sponsor role explicitly, and provide a brief negative statement where nothing needs to be declared. Editorial decisions are based on scientific quality, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal, not on payment status or ability to pay.

 

Report Data Availability, Code, and Registration Clearly

JPRLS supports sharing research materials as open as possible, as closed as necessary. Authors should make data and, where relevant, code, protocols, and related materials available to the extent that this is ethically, legally, and practically possible.

Data Availability Statement

All manuscripts reporting original research must include a Data Availability Statement.

This statement should:

• appear in a distinct section before the References
• state whether the underlying data are publicly available
• state where the data can be accessed
• state under what conditions they can be accessed
• explain any restriction where access is limited

Data sharing and repositories

Share data whenever this can be done without breaching ethics, consent, privacy, legal, contractual, intellectual-property, or security obligations. Where materials are shared publicly, use a trusted repository where possible. For original research, authors should make available the minimum dataset and supporting documentation needed to interpret and verify the findings.

If public sharing is not possible, state whether any form of controlled access is available and how requests may be considered.

Code Availability Statement

If custom code, scripts, models, or workflows are materially important to the findings, include a Code Availability Statement immediately after the Data Availability Statement.

State:

• whether the code is available
• where it can be accessed
• any access conditions or restrictions

If proprietary software was used, identify the software name and version in the Methods section.

Protocols and related materials

Authors are encouraged to share relevant protocols, questionnaires, manuals, intervention procedures, laboratory methods, and, where relevant, statistical analysis plans. If a protocol or related document is publicly available, provide the citation and persistent identifier or link in the manuscript.

Preregistration and trial registration

Where a study, review, or analysis plan has been preregistered, report the:

• registry or repository name
• registration number or identifier
• registration date
• public link

This information should usually appear in the Methods section. For systematic reviews and meta-analyses, prospective registration is expected, preferably in PROSPERO where eligible.

Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry at or before first participant enrollment, and the manuscript must report the registry name and registration number. Include this in the abstract where appropriate.

Practical note

For original research, include a clear Data Availability Statement; share data and code in a trusted repository when possible; explain any restriction honestly; and report any registration or preregistration clearly in the manuscript.

 

Disclose Relevant Use of AI Tools

If you used generative AI or another AI-assisted tool in a way that materially contributed to the scholarly content of the submission, you must disclose this in the manuscript.

This includes substantive use affecting, for example:

• text
• data collection or data generation
• code generation
• analysis or interpretation
• figures or tables
• other manuscript content

Where to disclose AI use

Disclose AI use in the section most relevant to how it was used:

• Acknowledgements or another suitable disclosure section for writing assistance or manuscript-preparation support
• Methods or another relevant section for use affecting methods, data, code, analysis, interpretation, or figure generation
• if the article type has no Methods section, use another suitable section

Important rules

• AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors
• human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, citations, and reliability of the manuscript
• authors must carefully review and verify all AI-assisted output
• AI tools must not be used to create, alter, enhance, remove, or insert features in evidentiary images, audio, or video in a misleading way

What does not need disclosure

Routine use of AI-based tools only for:

• grammar
• spelling
• punctuation
• readability improvement
• tone adjustment
• formatting
• routine copyediting

does not need to be declared.

Practical note

If AI materially helped create or shape the scholarly content, disclose it. If it only helped polish human-written text for language or formatting, disclosure is not required.

 

What Happens After Submission

Initial editorial assessment

After submission, each manuscript first undergoes an initial editorial assessment. At this stage, the journal checks whether the manuscript:

• fits the journal’s scope and selected article type
• meets basic scholarly and ethical standards
• is clear enough for review
• is adequately prepared for editorial and peer-review assessment

Possible desk rejection

A manuscript may be declined without external peer review if it is clearly outside scope, does not fit the selected article type, is seriously deficient in reporting or presentation, raises major ethical or integrity concerns, or is not sufficiently prepared for fair review.

Peer-review model

JPRLS uses article-type-specific review routes:

• Original Research, Brief Reports, and Medical Education Papers: double-anonymous peer review
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, Narrative Reviews, Case Reports and Case Series, Clinical Handles, Pediatric Science Simplified, Guideline Mini Review, and Acute and Critical Care Mini Review: single-anonymous peer review
• Editorials, Viewpoints, Letters to the Editor/Correspondence, and selected front matter: editorial assessment, with external peer review at editorial discretion

Number of reviewers

For externally reviewed submissions, the journal ordinarily seeks reports from at least two independent peer reviewers. Additional review may be obtained if needed.

Anonymization requirements

For article types under double-anonymous peer review, authors must upload a blinded manuscript file. Author names, affiliations, identifying acknowledgements, and unnecessary identifying details should appear only on the separate title page and not in the blinded file.

For article types under single-anonymous peer review, authors do not need to anonymize the manuscript unless specifically requested.

If revision is invited

If revision is requested, submit:

1. a revised manuscript, and
2. a clear, point-by-point response to the reviewers’ and editors’ comments

The revised manuscript may be sent for further review or may be decided on editorially, depending on the case.

Additional materials

During editorial assessment or peer review, the journal may request additional material such as raw data, reporting checklists, study protocols, statistical analysis plans, ethics documentation, permissions, or supplementary files.

Indicative timeline

The journal aims to complete the first round of independent peer review in about 4 weeks after a manuscript is sent for review, although this is indicative only.

Appeals and complaints

Authors who wish to appeal a decision or raise a complaint about editorial process, peer review, publication ethics, or published content should use the journal’s appeals and complaints procedure and submit the matter in writing with enough detail for fair assessment.

Practical note

All submissions undergo initial editorial assessment first. Manuscripts that proceed are handled according to the peer-review route for the selected article type.

 

Understand the Journal’s Open Access and Sharing Terms

Open access

JPRLS is an open access journal. Published articles are made freely and immediately available online, without subscription, embargo, or registration barriers.

Copyright

Authors retain copyright in their work. By publishing in JPRLS, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive right to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher.

License

Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Under this license, others may share and adapt the article, including for commercial use, provided appropriate attribution is given and any changes are indicated.

Self-archiving and sharing

Authors may share and deposit their:

• preprints
• Author Accepted Manuscripts (AAMs)
• Versions of Record (VoRs)

in institutional, disciplinary, or general-purpose repositories, as well as on personal or departmental webpages and scholarly networking or profile platforms, without embargo.

When sharing published or accepted versions

When sharing an AAM or VoR, provide:

• the full bibliographic details of the published article
• the article DOI
• the applicable license information

If a preprint was posted before submission and the article is later published, update the preprint record to include the final journal citation and DOI.

Practical note

JPRLS publishes articles open access under CC BY 4.0, authors retain copyright, and authors may share preprints, accepted manuscripts, and published versions without embargo, provided the published article is properly cited and linked by DOI where applicable.

 

What Happens After Acceptance

Final files

After acceptance, the journal may request final or editable files needed for production. These may include:

• final manuscript file
• editable tables
• separate figure files
• supplementary files
• any outstanding forms, declarations, permissions, or metadata needed for publication

Proofs

Before publication, the corresponding author will receive a proof for review.

Corrections at proof stage

Check the proof promptly and carefully for:

• accuracy
• completeness
• production or formatting errors

Corrections at this stage should normally be limited to errors or necessary clarifications, not major rewriting.

Publication

Once proofs and any required publication materials have been completed, the article moves into production and is published online.

JPRLS uses a continuous publication model in one annual volume. This means accepted articles are published online as soon as they are ready, without waiting for a scheduled issue.

What is published with the article

Depending on the article type and study design, the published article may include the relevant manuscript components and declarations, such as:

• abstract
• author names and affiliations
• author contributions
• funding statement
• competing interests statement
• ethics and consent statements
• trial registration or preregistration details
• Data Availability Statement
• Code Availability Statement
• supplementary material

Practical note

After acceptance, authors may be asked for final production files or outstanding forms, will receive proofs for checking, and the article will be published online once production is complete.

 

After Publication

Post-publication discussion

JPRLS welcomes responsible scholarly discussion after publication. Substantive comments may be submitted to the journal, including as letters to the editor where appropriate. Where relevant, the authors of the published article will usually be given an opportunity to respond.

Corrections and other post-publication actions

If a published article contains an error, concern, or major problem, the journal may take an appropriate post-publication action. Depending on the case, this may include:

• a correction
• an expression of concern
• a retraction
• a retraction and republication
• another appropriate editorial notice

If authors identify an error

If authors discover a significant error or major inaccuracy in a published article, they should notify the journal promptly and cooperate with the editorial process.

Complaints and appeals

Authors, readers, reviewers, and others may raise complaints or appeals about editorial processes, peer review, publication ethics, published content, or journal conduct. These should be submitted in writing with enough detail and supporting information for fair assessment.

Practical note

If a published article may need correction, clarification, or formal investigation, contact the journal promptly and provide enough information for the matter to be assessed fairly.

 

Submission and Contact Information

Submit a manuscript

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system.

General editorial queries

For questions about submissions, manuscript preparation, article types, or journal processes, please contact:

Editorial Office: editor@jprls.org

Ethics and policy queries

For questions about publication ethics, authorship, consent, data sharing, conflicts of interest, peer review, or journal policies, please contact:

Ethics and Policy Queries: editor@jprls.org

Appeals and complaints

For appeals against editorial decisions, or for complaints about editorial process, peer review, publication ethics, or published content, please contact:

Appeals and Complaints: editor@jprls.org

Commissioned or invited articles

For enquiries about commissioned, invited, or proposed invited-style content, including mini-reviews and related article types, please contact:

Commissioned Article Enquiries: editor@jprls.org

Practical note

All submissions must be made through the online submission system. Use the relevant contact listed on the journal website for editorial queries, ethics or policy questions, appeals or complaints, and enquiries about commissioned content.