Manuscript Preparation

The International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) follows a Your Article, Your Way approach for initial submission. Authors may submit a complete, readable, and consistently organized manuscript without first converting every element to the Journal’s final publication style.

Authors must prepare two separate editable files:

  1. a title page containing identifying, authorship, disclosure, and administrative information; and
  2. a masked manuscript containing the complete scholarly content without unnecessary author-identifying information.

The manuscript text, references, tables, figures, and figure legends must remain together in the masked-manuscript file at initial submission.

Download the Manuscript Template

Contents

  1. Preparation Overview
  2. Initial Submission Versus Final Publication Formatting
  3. Required Files
  4. Title Page
  5. Masked Manuscript
  6. General Manuscript Format
  7. Manuscript Title
  8. Abstract and Keywords
  9. Main Text
  10. Methods and Transparent Reporting
  11. Statistical Reporting
  12. Language, Terminology, and Style
  13. Abbreviations, Units, and Nomenclature
  14. References
  15. Tables
  16. Figures
  17. Supplementary Material
  18. Ethics and Required Statements
  19. Authorship and Disclosures
  20. Prepare to Submit

Preparation Overview

Before submission, confirm that the manuscript:

  • corresponds to an accepted article type;
  • contains all sections required for that article type;
  • is written in clear, professional English;
  • accurately and transparently reports the work performed;
  • includes all applicable ethics, consent, registration, funding, and disclosure statements;
  • follows the reporting guideline appropriate to the study design;
  • contains complete and accurate references;
  • includes all tables, figures, and figure legends in the masked manuscript;
  • has a separate title page containing identifying information; and
  • has been checked to ensure that the masked manuscript does not unnecessarily reveal author identity.
Initial formatting model Your Article, Your Way
Required file 1 Separate editable title page
Required file 2 Separate editable masked manuscript
Template Recommended but not mandatory at initial submission
Tables and figures Included within the masked manuscript at initial submission
Reference style at initial submission Any complete and consistent scholarly citation style
Reporting checklist May be uploaded as a supporting file and may be requested by the Editorial Team
File format Editable word-processing format
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Initial Submission Versus Final Publication Formatting

Element Initial submission After acceptance
Manuscript template Recommended but not mandatory Recommended but not mandatory
References Any complete and consistent scholarly style Vancouver style according to IJMS requirements
Tables Editable and included in the masked manuscript Reformatted according to IJMS production specifications
Figures Clear enough for review and included in the masked manuscript Prepared according to editorial and production instructions
File arrangement Separate title page and masked manuscript Final files prepared according to editorial and production instructions

The Your Article, Your Way approach provides flexibility in formatting only. It does not waive requirements concerning scientific validity, methodological transparency, research ethics, consent, authorship, disclosures, reference accuracy, reporting quality, privacy, or research integrity.

Complete post-acceptance requirements are provided on the After Acceptance page.

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Required Files

Authors must upload two separate editable files at initial submission.

File Required content
Title Page All identifying, authorship, institutional, correspondence, funding, disclosure, contributorship, and administrative information.
Masked Manuscript The complete scholarly content, including the title, abstract, keywords, main text, references, tables, figures, and figure legends, without unnecessary author-identifying information.

The files must represent the same manuscript version. The manuscript title, article type, scientific content, tables, figures, and OJS metadata must be consistent.

Recommended file names are:

  • Title Page.docx
  • Masked Manuscript.docx

Do not include author names in the masked-manuscript file name.

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Title Page

The title page must be uploaded as a separate editable file. It contains the identifying and administrative information required for editorial processing and publication preparation.

Required Title-Page Elements

Element Requirement
Manuscript title Provide the complete title exactly as it appears in the masked manuscript and submission metadata.
Article type Identify the applicable category listed on the Article Types page.
Author names List every author exactly as the name should appear in the publication. Do not include degrees in the author-name list.
Degrees or training status State each author’s principal academic degree or current medical-training status.
Affiliations Provide each author’s institutional affiliation, city, and country.
ORCID identifiers Provide an ORCID identifier for each author when available. Authors without one are encouraged to register.
About the Author Provide a brief statement concerning the first listed eligible medical student or recently graduated physician.
Corresponding author Provide the corresponding author’s full name, affiliation, and email address.
Acknowledgments Identify individuals or institutions that contributed but do not qualify for authorship.
Funding Identify grants, financial support, institutional support, donated services, or other material support.
Conflicts of interest Disclose relevant financial and nonfinancial competing interests.
CRediT statement Include the complete author-contribution statement using the CRediT Taxonomy.
Case Report highlights Include only for Case Reports. Delete this section for other article types.
Word counts Provide the main-text and abstract word counts.
Tables and figures State the number of tables and figures.
Social-media accounts Optional accounts that may be used for article promotion after publication.

Author Names and Affiliations

Maintain the same author order throughout the title page, OJS metadata, ORCID list, affiliation list, and CRediT statement.

List each author’s degree or training status, followed by the institutional affiliation, city, and country.

Example: Fourth-year Medical Student. School of Medicine, Example University, Bogotá, Colombia.

ORCID

Provide an ORCID identifier for each author when available. Authors without one are encouraged to register through the ORCID registration website.

About the Author

Provide one or two sentences describing the academic background of the first listed eligible medical student or recently graduated physician. The statement may include the author’s year of training, medical school, country, research interests, and relevant academic awards or fellowships.

Funding Statement

The funding statement should identify:

  • all grants and grant numbers;
  • financial, material, institutional, or departmental support;
  • support provided through a larger study, registry, or database;
  • the role of each funder in the work;
  • relevant government employment; and
  • applicable government research funding.

When no funding was received, include a clear statement such as:

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.

Conflict-of-Interest Statement

Disclose relationships or circumstances that could affect, or reasonably appear to affect, the research, interpretation, or publication.

When no competing interests exist, include:

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Case Report Highlights

Case Reports should include a short bulleted list describing:

  • why the case is important;
  • what is unusual, clinically relevant, or educational;
  • what readers should learn; and
  • how the case contributes to existing knowledge or clinical practice.
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Masked Manuscript

The masked manuscript must be uploaded as a separate editable file. It must contain the complete scholarly content without information that directly or unnecessarily identifies the authors.

Include in the Masked Manuscript

  1. manuscript title;
  2. abstract, when required;
  3. keywords, when required;
  4. main manuscript text;
  5. ethics and consent statements;
  6. trial- or protocol-registration information;
  7. data-availability statement;
  8. nonidentifying funding or conflict-of-interest information when relevant;
  9. references;
  10. tables;
  11. figures; and
  12. figure legends.

Remove From the Masked Manuscript

  • author names and degrees;
  • author affiliations when presented only as identifying information;
  • corresponding-author details;
  • ORCID identifiers;
  • the About the Author statement;
  • named CRediT contributions;
  • identifying acknowledgments;
  • personal or institutional social-media accounts;
  • file names containing author names;
  • author names in document properties;
  • identifying comments or tracked changes; and
  • identifying headers or footers.

Retain Information Necessary for Scientific Assessment

Masking must not compromise transparent reporting. Retain:

  • the complete scientific content;
  • the study design and setting;
  • relevant geographic information;
  • participant, sample, and data-source descriptions;
  • ethics approval or exemption information;
  • trial- or protocol-registration information;
  • methods, results, and limitations;
  • references;
  • tables and figures; and
  • funding or conflict information relevant to interpretation.

Institutional information may remain when necessary to explain the study setting, recruitment, ethics review, intervention, or methodology.

Self-Citations

Cite the authors’ previous publications in the same manner as other references. Avoid wording such as “our previous study” when it would unnecessarily reveal author identity.

Document Properties

Before submission, inspect file properties, comments, revision history, and tracked changes. Remove names and other identifying metadata.

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General Manuscript Format

The masked manuscript should be submitted as an editable word-processing document.

Recommended Presentation

  • Use a clear, readable font.
  • Use consistent font sizes and heading levels.
  • Use standard page margins.
  • Number pages consecutively.
  • Use continuous line numbering when convenient.
  • Use left-aligned text unless another alignment is necessary.
  • Avoid decorative formatting.
  • Use bold and italic formatting consistently and sparingly.
  • Do not use underlining for emphasis.
  • Use automatic page breaks rather than repeated blank lines.
  • Retain editable tables rather than screenshots of tables.

Section Order

The required sequence depends on the selected article type. Research manuscripts should ordinarily include:

  1. Title
  2. Abstract
  3. Keywords
  4. Introduction
  5. Methods
  6. Results
  7. Discussion
  8. Conclusion
  9. References
  10. Tables
  11. Figures
  12. Figure legends

Consult the Article Types page for category-specific structures.

Footnotes and Endnotes

Avoid footnotes and endnotes for substantive discussion. Information required to understand the manuscript should appear in the main text.

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Manuscript Title

The title should accurately and concisely communicate the principal subject, study design, population, or contribution.

Capitalization

Capitalize the first letter of principal words. Articles, coordinating conjunctions, and short prepositions should ordinarily remain lowercase unless they begin the title or subtitle.

Example: Differences in Childhood Lifestyle Exposures and Their Association with Myopia Prevalence Among Young Adults Raised in the Gulf and India

Include When Relevant

  • the principal topic or intervention;
  • the population;
  • the study design;
  • the clinical or geographic context; and
  • the central relationship or outcome evaluated.

Avoid

  • unnecessary abbreviations;
  • promotional or sensational wording;
  • questions not answered by the manuscript;
  • unsupported claims of novelty;
  • conclusions broader than the evidence;
  • unnecessary punctuation;
  • excessive length; and
  • generic phrases such as “A Unique Case” when the case can be described more specifically.

The same title must appear on the title page, masked manuscript, and OJS submission metadata.

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Abstract and Keywords

Abstract

When required for the selected article type, the abstract must not exceed 250 words.

The abstract should:

  • stand independently from the main text;
  • state the purpose of the manuscript;
  • summarize the methods or approach;
  • report the principal findings;
  • provide the main conclusion;
  • avoid unsupported interpretation;
  • avoid references;
  • avoid undefined abbreviations; and
  • remain consistent with the main manuscript.

Structured Abstracts

Original Articles should ordinarily use:

  • Background
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusion

Other categories should follow the requirements on the Article Types page.

Keywords

Include at least three keywords when required. Use terms from the Medical Subject Headings database whenever suitable terms are available.

Keywords should represent the central concepts, support indexing and retrieval, and use established terminology.

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Main Text

Introduction

The Introduction should:

  • establish the scientific, clinical, educational, or policy context;
  • summarize the most relevant existing knowledge;
  • identify the unresolved problem or knowledge gap;
  • explain the rationale for the work; and
  • end with a clear objective, research question, or hypothesis.

Avoid an unnecessarily broad literature review or presenting results in the Introduction.

Methods

The Methods section should provide enough information to understand, evaluate, and, when appropriate, reproduce the work.

Include applicable information concerning:

  • study design;
  • setting and dates;
  • participants, samples, or data sources;
  • eligibility criteria;
  • sampling and recruitment;
  • variables and outcomes;
  • interventions or exposures;
  • data-collection procedures;
  • instruments and measurements;
  • bias-reduction procedures;
  • sample-size determination;
  • statistical or qualitative analysis;
  • ethics approval or exemption;
  • informed consent;
  • trial or protocol registration; and
  • the reporting guideline used.

Results

The Results should:

  • follow the sequence established in the Methods;
  • report participant or sample flow when applicable;
  • present the primary findings clearly;
  • include relevant estimates of precision;
  • distinguish prespecified from exploratory analyses;
  • avoid interpretation that belongs in the Discussion; and
  • avoid repeating all table and figure data in the text.

Discussion

The Discussion should:

  • begin with the principal findings;
  • interpret the findings in relation to the research question;
  • compare the findings with relevant evidence;
  • explain plausible mechanisms or interpretations;
  • address relevant implications;
  • identify strengths and limitations;
  • consider alternative explanations;
  • avoid unsupported causal language; and
  • avoid repeating the Results section.

Conclusion

The Conclusion should directly reflect the evidence presented. It should not introduce new data, overstate significance, or make recommendations unsupported by the study design and findings.

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Methods and Transparent Reporting

Authors should follow the reporting guideline appropriate to the study design. Reporting guidelines help editors, reviewers, and readers determine whether the work has been reported completely and transparently.

Study or manuscript type Guideline Resource
Randomized trials CONSORT CONSORT Statement
Observational studies STROBE STROBE Statement
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses PRISMA PRISMA Statement
Diagnostic-accuracy studies STARD STARD Guideline
Case reports CARE CARE Guidelines
Qualitative research COREQ or SRQR EQUATOR Network
Quality-improvement studies SQUIRE SQUIRE Guidelines
Prediction-model studies TRIPOD TRIPOD Statement
Animal research ARRIVE ARRIVE Guidelines
Economic evaluations CHEERS CHEERS Guideline

Use the EQUATOR Network to identify additional guidelines.

A completed reporting checklist may be uploaded as a supporting file. The Editorial Team may request it during assessment or revision.

Study Registration

Include the registry name, registration number, and accessible record for applicable clinical trials, systematic-review protocols, observational-study registrations, analysis plans, and other prospectively registered research.

Data Availability

Include a data-availability statement when applicable. State whether the data are:

  • publicly available;
  • available from the corresponding author under defined conditions;
  • available through a repository;
  • restricted because of ethical, legal, or privacy requirements; or
  • not available.
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Statistical Reporting

Describe statistical methods in enough detail for readers to understand how the analyses were conducted and whether they were appropriate.

Methods

Report, when applicable:

  • statistical software and version;
  • tests and models used;
  • the rationale for each analysis;
  • the level of statistical significance;
  • whether tests were one-sided or two-sided;
  • assessment of statistical assumptions;
  • handling of missing data;
  • methods used to address confounding;
  • adjustments for multiple comparisons;
  • sensitivity or subgroup analyses;
  • sample-size or power calculations; and
  • selection of variables for multivariable models.

Results

  • Report effect estimates with confidence intervals when appropriate.
  • Provide exact p values rather than only thresholds.
  • Distinguish statistical significance from clinical importance.
  • Identify denominators for percentages.
  • State the number of observations included in each analysis.
  • Use measures of central tendency and dispersion appropriate to the data.
  • Distinguish adjusted from unadjusted analyses.
  • Avoid presenting nonsignificant findings as proof of equivalence or absence of effect.

Terminology

Use statistical terminology precisely. Statistical significance should not be presented as proof of causality, clinical importance, or absence of bias.

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Language, Terminology, and Style

Manuscripts must be written in clear, professional English.

Clarity

  • Use direct and precise sentences.
  • Avoid unnecessary repetition.
  • Use technical terminology consistently.
  • Define specialized terms when necessary.
  • Avoid promotional or exaggerated language.
  • Distinguish findings from interpretation.
  • Avoid unsupported generalizations.
  • Use active or passive voice according to clarity rather than rigidly.

Respectful and Inclusive Language

Use respectful, specific, and nonstigmatizing language when describing individuals and populations.

  • Use person-first or identity-first language according to accepted practice and community preference.
  • Avoid defining individuals solely by a disease or condition.
  • Avoid stereotypes and unsupported assumptions.
  • Report demographic characteristics only when relevant.
  • Explain how demographic categories were determined.
  • Distinguish sex from gender when these variables are reported.

Drug, Device, and Software Names

Use generic names for medications. A proprietary name may be added in parentheses when methodologically relevant.

Identify devices, instruments, software, or commercial products sufficiently for reproducibility without promotional wording.

Language Assistance

Authors may use professional editing or automated language tools but remain responsible for the accuracy, meaning, confidentiality, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.

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Abbreviations, Units, and Nomenclature

Abbreviations

Define an abbreviation at first use by writing the complete term followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.

Avoid:

  • unnecessary abbreviations;
  • abbreviations used only once or twice;
  • abbreviations in the title when the full term is practical;
  • undefined abbreviations in tables and figures; and
  • different abbreviations for the same term.

Units and Numbers

Use internationally recognized units, preferably the International System of Units, when appropriate.

Use numerals for measurements, ages, percentages, dates, times, sample sizes, statistical values, and table or figure references.

Scientific Names

Use accepted scientific nomenclature. Italicize genus and species names and spell out the genus at first use.

Genes and Proteins

Follow accepted discipline-specific conventions and distinguish genes from their products consistently.

Dates and Times

Use an unambiguous date format. Identify the time zone when timing is relevant.

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References

Initial Submission

References may be presented in any complete and consistent scholarly citation style at initial submission.

Authors must ensure that:

  • every citation appears in the reference list;
  • every reference-list entry is cited in the manuscript;
  • references are presented consistently;
  • author names and article titles are accurate;
  • publication information is complete;
  • retracted or corrected publications are identified appropriately;
  • references support the statements for which they are cited; and
  • the original source has been reviewed whenever possible.

After Acceptance

Accepted manuscripts must use Vancouver style. Journal-article references must not include DOI or PMID identifiers.

Detailed final-formatting instructions are provided on the After Acceptance page and in Appendix A.

Reference Managers

Authors may use reference-management tools but must verify every reference against the original source. Authors remain responsible for inaccurate, incomplete, duplicated, or inappropriate references.

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Tables

At initial submission, tables must remain within the masked manuscript. They may appear near their first citation or after the reference list.

Each Table Should

  • be numbered consecutively according to first citation;
  • have a concise and informative title;
  • use editable text;
  • use clear row and column headings;
  • identify units of measurement;
  • identify denominators for percentages when needed;
  • define abbreviations in table notes;
  • explain statistical symbols and tests;
  • identify missing data when relevant;
  • identify reproduced or adapted material; and
  • remain understandable without extensive reference to the text.

Avoid

  • submitting tables as images;
  • duplicating information in figures or prose;
  • unexplained abbreviations;
  • excessive decimal places;
  • using color as the only method of communicating meaning;
  • decorative formatting; and
  • combining unrelated information in one table.

Accepted manuscripts must use the preferred IJMS table format.

View the Formatting Appendices
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Figures

Figures include graphs, charts, diagrams, clinical images, radiographic images, photographs, maps, flow diagrams, and other visual materials.

At initial submission, figures and figure legends must remain in the masked manuscript.

Each Figure Should

  • be numbered consecutively according to first citation;
  • have a complete figure legend;
  • be clear enough for editorial assessment and peer review;
  • use readable labels and symbols;
  • identify units;
  • use consistent terminology;
  • define abbreviations in the legend;
  • identify reproduced or adapted material;
  • avoid unnecessary duplication; and
  • exclude confidential or identifying information.

Editable and Source Files

Figures should remain editable when practical. Retain source files for graphs, diagrams, and illustrations because the Editorial Team may request them during revision or production.

Clinical Images

Remove names, identification numbers, dates of birth, medical-record numbers, facial identifiers, and unnecessary identifying information. Obtain consent for publication when an individual may be identifiable.

Image Manipulation

Adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color must be applied consistently and must not obscure, eliminate, or misrepresent information. Selective manipulation is prohibited.

Permissions

Authors must obtain permission to reproduce or adapt copyrighted figures. The figure legend should acknowledge the source and permission status.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary material may contain information that supports the manuscript but is not essential to understanding the principal report.

Examples

  • additional methods or analyses;
  • supplementary tables or figures;
  • questionnaires or surveys;
  • interview guides;
  • data dictionaries;
  • study instruments;
  • protocols;
  • multimedia files; and
  • extended appendices.

Text-based supplementary material may remain in the masked manuscript when practical. Material that is too long or cannot be incorporated may be uploaded separately.

Supplementary material should:

  • be cited in the manuscript;
  • use clear numbering and titles;
  • remain editable when possible;
  • exclude unnecessary identifying information;
  • comply with ethics and privacy requirements;
  • include permissions when required; and
  • be suitable for publication in the submitted form.
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Ethics and Required Statements

Include every statement applicable to the manuscript. Requirements vary according to the study design and content.

Topic Required information
Human-participant research Ethics committee or institutional review board, approval or exemption number, informed-consent process, and any authorized waiver.
Case Reports Statement confirming whether consent for publication was obtained.
Clinical trials Registry name, registration number, and accessible registry record.
Animal research Approving body and compliance with applicable animal-welfare requirements.
Data availability Where and under what conditions supporting data may be accessed.
Funding Complete statement on the title page and a nonidentifying statement in the masked manuscript when relevant.
Conflicts of interest Complete disclosure on the title page and a nonidentifying statement in the masked manuscript when relevant.
Previous presentation Disclosure of prior presentation as an abstract, poster, oral presentation, thesis, preprint, or conference contribution.
Permissions Permission for reproduced or adapted copyrighted content and identifiable individuals.

Complete governing requirements are available in the Journal’s Research Ethics, Authorship and Disclosures, and Research Integrity policies.

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Authorship and Disclosures

Authorship

Every listed author must satisfy the Journal’s authorship criteria. The author list and order must be approved by all authors before submission.

CRediT Contributions

The title page must contain a complete contribution statement using the CRediT Taxonomy.

Named contributions should not appear in the masked manuscript.

Build the CRediT Statement Online Use the PDF Author Form

Acknowledgments

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not qualify for authorship may be acknowledged with their permission.

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Prepare to Submit

After preparing the title page and masked manuscript, complete the Submission Checklist. The checklist provides the final operational review and should not be replaced by rereading this page alone.

Review the Checklist Read the Author FAQs Make a Submission
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