Author Guidelines
The Sentinel Journal of Health Sciences (SJOHS) welcomes original, unpublished manuscripts from authors worldwide. Authors are encouraged to read all guidelines carefully before submitting. Manuscripts must conform to the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
General Requirements
- Manuscripts must be submitted in English only
- Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.docx)
- Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt; Double-spaced; 1-inch margins on all sides
- Pages must be numbered consecutively in the bottom center
- The manuscript must not have been published previously and must not be under consideration elsewhere simultaneously
- All authors must meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship
Manuscript Preparation
- Title Page: Full title, all authors with affiliations (department, institution, city, country), corresponding author's email and ORCID iD, funding sources, and conflict of interest statement
- Abstract: Structured abstract (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions) with a maximum of 300 words for Original Articles. Unstructured for Case Reports (max 150 words)
- Keywords: 4–7 MeSH-compliant keywords
- Introduction: Background, rationale, and objectives/hypothesis
- Methods: Study design, setting, participants, interventions, outcome measures, statistical analysis, and ethical approval details
- Results: Presented logically with tables and figures
- Discussion: Interpretation, comparison with existing literature, limitations, and conclusions
- References: Vancouver style, numbered consecutively in square brackets [1], [2] etc.
Tables & Figures
- All tables should be in editable Word format (not images)
- Figures and images should be submitted at ≥300 DPI resolution in JPEG, PNG, or TIFF format
- Each figure must have a descriptive caption
- Figures containing patient images require written informed consent
References
- References should follow the Vancouver style (ICMJE format)
- List all authors (if ≤6) or first three followed by "et al." (if >6)
- DOI should be included where available
- Personal communications and unpublished data should not be cited in the reference list
Ethics Requirements
- Human studies must have Institutional Review Board (IRB) / Ethics Committee approval; ethics committee name and approval number must be stated in the Methods section
- Clinical trials must be registered in a recognized registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, CTRI). Registration number to be provided
- Animal studies must confirm compliance with relevant institutional and national guidelines
- Informed consent must be documented for all identifiable human participants
Article Types & Requirements
SJOHS accepts the following types of manuscripts. Please review the specific word count, abstract, and reference limits for each article type:
Full-length empirical research with original data. Must follow ICMJE guidelines. Human studies require ethical approval.
Synthesizes existing evidence using a systematic methodology. PRISMA guidelines must be followed. Preferred over narrative reviews.
Clinically significant, rare, or educational case presentations. CARE guidelines recommended. Patient consent required.
Concise reports of preliminary findings, pilot studies, or brief original research of immediate interest.
Articles focusing on medical education, curriculum development, assessment methods, and training programs.
Brief responses, comments, or observations on previously published articles or topics of current interest.
Submission Process
SJOHS accepts manuscript submissions via email to editor@sjohs.org. Please follow the steps below to submit your manuscript.
Register / Login
Create an account on the SJOHS submission portal or log in with your existing credentials. Authors must register before submitting a manuscript.
Prepare Your Manuscript
Ensure your manuscript meets all formatting requirements. Prepare the main manuscript file (blinded – no author names), a separate title page with author information, and all supporting files (figures, tables, supplementary data).
Complete the Submission Checklist
Verify that all checklist items are satisfied before submission. Incomplete submissions will be returned without review.
Submit via Email / Portal
Email your manuscript package to editor@sjohs.org with the subject line: "Manuscript Submission – [Article Type] – [Corresponding Author Surname]". Attach: (a) Blinded manuscript, (b) Title page, (c) Cover letter, (d) Ethics approval document.
Initial Screening (within 7–10 days)
The editorial office reviews the submission for completeness, formatting compliance, ethical requirements, and scope fit. Authors are notified of the outcome.
Peer Review (4–8 weeks)
Manuscripts passing initial screening are sent to a minimum of two independent expert reviewers. SJOHS uses double-blind peer review – neither authors nor reviewers know each other's identities.
Editorial Decision
Authors receive one of: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. Revised manuscripts must be resubmitted within the specified timeframe along with a detailed response letter.
Proof & Publication
Accepted manuscripts are typeset and proofs sent to corresponding authors. After approval, the article is published online with a DOI assignment.
Peer Review Process
SJOHS employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, validity, and originality of published research.
Double-Blind Review
In double-blind review, the identities of both the authors and the reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the review process. Authors must ensure that their manuscript is completely anonymized before submission.
Review Criteria
- Scientific validity and rigor of methodology
- Originality and novelty of the research question
- Clarity, organization, and quality of writing
- Appropriateness and accuracy of statistical analyses
- Validity and strength of conclusions drawn from data
- Adherence to ethical standards
- Quality and relevance of references
Review Outcomes
- Accept as is: No revisions required; manuscript is accepted for publication
- Minor Revision: Small corrections required; reviewed by editor only
- Major Revision: Substantial changes required; re-reviewed by reviewers
- Reject with possibility to resubmit: Major concerns; resubmission possible with extensive revisions
- Reject: Manuscript does not meet criteria for publication in SJOHS
Timeline
- Initial decision (screening): Within 7–10 working days of submission
- First peer review decision: Within 4–8 weeks
- Revised manuscript review: Within 2–4 weeks
- Final editorial decision: Within 2 weeks of final revision
Submission Checklist
Please verify all items before submitting. Incomplete submissions will be returned without review.
Required Files
- ☐ Main manuscript file (blinded, no author names/affiliations)
- ☐ Title page (with full author information, affiliations, corresponding author contact, ORCID)
- ☐ Cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief
- ☐ Ethics committee approval document (for human or animal studies)
- ☐ Patient informed consent form(s) (for identifiable patient data or case reports)
- ☐ Clinical trial registration number and registry name (for clinical trials)
- ☐ Conflict of interest declaration (signed by all authors)
- ☐ Author contributions statement (specify each author's role)
Manuscript Requirements
- ☐ Word count is within specified limits for the article type
- ☐ Manuscript is in English with correct grammar and spelling
- ☐ Abstract meets the word limit and is in correct format (structured/unstructured)
- ☐ 4–7 MeSH-compliant keywords provided
- ☐ Figures are at ≥300 DPI in JPEG/PNG/TIFF format
- ☐ Tables are in editable Word format (not images)
- ☐ References are in Vancouver style and numbered consecutively
- ☐ All cited references are accurate and complete
- ☐ Statistical methods are clearly described
Ethics & Integrity
- ☐ Manuscript is free from plagiarism (authors recommend checking with Turnitin/iThenticate before submission)
- ☐ All co-authors have approved the final manuscript
- ☐ All authors meet ICMJE criteria for authorship
- ☐ Sources of funding are declared
- ☐ All data is authentic and available for review if requested