Journal : Contributions

Instructions to authors

Instructions to CME authors are available from the Publications Department

Clinical Medicine is designed to keep  more than 20,000 physicians worldwide updated on all aspects of the practice and science of medicine. It seeks articles of merit, either of original research or critical reviews. The Editor is assisted in by members of the Editorial Board and expert referees in their evaluation. Accepted papers are scheduled for publication at the Editor's discretion. Manuscripts should be accurate, clear and concise but with a style that retains the warmth, excitement and colour of clinical and medical sciences. Unfortunately, we do not normally publish case reports.

Authors are asked to state in their letter of submission whether or not they have any competing interests.

Text

Submissions can be emailed to clinicalmedicine@rcplondon.ac.uk Alternatively, please send three copies of a double-spaced typescript with a covering letter, and a copy of the manuscript on 3.5" disk (Word-compatible software where possible). The text should be printed on one side of numbered A4 sheets.

Please write as concisely as possible and include a word count. Articles should not normally exceed 2,500 words and 20 references. Due to the intense pressure on space, lengthy articles may require shortening and will inevitably take longer to publish. Subheadings should be used to divide the text. A separate title page should be provided (Clinical Medicine Cover Sheet) and should include a statement as to whether or not there are any competing interests.

SI units should be used in the text and figures; the author is responsible for their correct usage. Generic names should be used for drugs; if necessary, brand names may follow in brackets.

Abstract and key words

Please provide an Abstract of no more than 150 words. At the end of the abstract, a list of up to ten Key Words relevant to the article's content should be provided to assist indexers and archivists. Four or five brief but pithy Key Points should also be included to summarise the main messages of your article.

References

References should appear in the text as superscript numbers, numbered in order of appearance. They should be listed at the end of the article and laid out according to the ‘Uniform Requirements' (New Engl J Med 1997;336:309-15). They should give the names of up to five authors, followed by initials, unless there are more than five authors, in which case the first three only should be given, followed by et al. The title of the article should be followed by the title of the journal (abbreviated to the style of Index Medicus), year of publication, volume number and first and last pages. References to books should give the names of authors (and/or editors), title, place of publication and publisher, followed by the year of publication.

We recommend that no more than 20 such references accompany a paper; papers may, of course, be submitted with substantially fewer references should the authors feel this more appropriate. Accuracy of references is the responsibility of the author.

Figures and illustrations

Illustrations can be submitted in electronic format but they must be supplied in a separate file and not embedded in a Word file in the main text. They can be supplied in the following formats: TIFF, EPS, JPEG. Avoid if possible supplying illustrations saved in PowerPoint files as these will have to be reproduced from the printout and therefore the final quality will be poor.

Where supplied as hard copy, photographs (including x rays and micrographs) should be printed on high-quality paper with the figure number, author, and the top of the figure clearly indicated on a label attached to the reverse; any lettering should be presented either as an overlay or on a copy.

Each Figure and Table must be submitted on a separate sheet clearly marked with a number that accords with the order in which it appears in the text. Captions to Figures should be brief and listed separately.

Please note that the author will be responsible for obtaining written permission to reproduce figures or illustrations on loan or previously reproduced elsewhere. A paper cannot be published until our Editorial Office has received copies of permissions granted — if possible, this should be supplied upon acceptance.

Manuscripts based on College lectures

These should include a proportion of original unpublished work in a balanced account of the subject, suitable for our general medical readership. We suggest a maximum text length of 2,500 words and 20 references, which calls for some selection or shortening of the topics covered in a typical 45-minute lecture. Again, please use subheadings to break up the text.

Peer review

Submitted papers appropriate for Clinical Medicine are all subject to at least one peer review, which is sent to authors by the Editor. Appeals or other complaints will always be carefully considered. If unresolved, matters can be referred to COPE (see below).

Corrections and disagreements

Corrections to any printed errors or misleading statements are published in an appropriate position in Clinical Medicine. The views of readers who disagree with published statements can express their opinions in the correspondence column (see below).

Letters

Letters should be submitted by e-mail, and to be considered for publication, must arrive within three weeks of receipt of the previous issue of the journal. Letters may be up to 350 words in length. Letters not directly related to articles in Clinical Medicine and/or presenting unpublished original data may be submitted, but should not exceed 500 words, one table and up to five references. Receipt of letters will be acknowledged but only published at the Editor's discretion.

Confidentiality and Ethics

Written consent must be obtained by the author from patients if there is any risk, however minimal, of identification from an illustration or article. We also require confirmation that any clinical research has the approval of the local research ethics committee.

Council on Publication Ethics (COPE)

Clinical Medicine subscribes to the standards published by COPE.

Advertising

Advertising is handled by David Cox (Auxia Marketing Consultancy). Submitted advertisements are reviewed by the Publications Department who have the right to reject them if they are inappropriate

 

This page last updated on May 15, 2007