For Authors
EDITORIAL & SUBMISSION POLICIES
Instructions for Authors
Welcome to The Journal of Preventive and Integrated Medicine (JPIM). Please review these comprehensive guidelines prior to manuscript preparation to ensure efficient peer evaluation through our double-blind workflow.
Zero APC (Inaugural Year)
100% free submission and publication for all accepted articles during the inaugural year.
Double-Blind Review
Mutual anonymity between reviewers and authors ensures objective, unbiased appraisal.
Multidisciplinary Scope
Promotive, Preventive, Diagnostic, Curative, Rehabilitative, Forensic & Ethical Medicine.
1. Getting Started & Article Processing Charges (APC)
- Online Submission Portal: All manuscripts must be submitted directly through the official JPIM Open Journal Systems (OJS) portal. Submissions via email, postal mail, or external links will not be considered.
- Author Account & Tracking: First-time contributors must register an account. Authors may log in at any stage to track real-time editorial progress across screening, peer evaluation, copyediting, and production.
- Editorial Inquiries: For portal technical support or pre-submission questions, direct correspondence to the editorial office at editor@jpimjournal.in.
Article Processing Charge (APC) Policy:
To foster equitable global scientific publication, The Journal of Preventive and Integrated Medicine (JPIM) charges zero submission fees and zero Article Processing Charges (Zero APC) during its inaugural year. All accepted manuscripts are published in full open access at zero cost to authors.
Post-inaugural period: Any future fee structures will remain nominal, reviewed by institutional leadership, and announced transparently on the portal well in advance.
To foster equitable global scientific publication, The Journal of Preventive and Integrated Medicine (JPIM) charges zero submission fees and zero Article Processing Charges (Zero APC) during its inaugural year. All accepted manuscripts are published in full open access at zero cost to authors.
Post-inaugural period: Any future fee structures will remain nominal, reviewed by institutional leadership, and announced transparently on the portal well in advance.
2. Manuscript Categories & Article Specifications
| Category | Abstract Structure & Limit | Word Limit* | Max Refs | Max Figs/Tables | Max Authors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Article | Structured (250 words: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion) | 3,000 | 35 | 5 | 8 |
| Review Article (Narrative) | Structured / Unstructured (250 words) | 3,000 | 50 | 4 | 6 |
| Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis | Structured (250 words: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion) | 3,500 | 60 | 5 | 8 |
| Short Communication | Structured (200 words) | 1,500 | 20 | 3 | 5 |
| Case Series / Clinical Studies | Unstructured (200 words) | 1,500 | 20 | 4 | 4 |
| Perspectives / Viewpoint | Unstructured (200 words) | 2,000 | 20 | 2 | 3 |
| Letter to the Editor | None | 600 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
*Note: Word count limits exclude Title Page, Abstract, Keywords, Declarations, References, Tables, and Figure Legends.
3. Publication Ethics, AI Policy & Data Transparency
Generative AI Policy (ICMJE/COPE Compliant):
Large language models (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) do not qualify for authorship. Authors utilizing AI tools for drafting, text editing, data management, or graphic development must disclose the software name, version, and prompt purpose in the Methods or Acknowledgments section. Human authors retain exclusive accountability for factual veracity and data integrity.
Large language models (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) do not qualify for authorship. Authors utilizing AI tools for drafting, text editing, data management, or graphic development must disclose the software name, version, and prompt purpose in the Methods or Acknowledgments section. Human authors retain exclusive accountability for factual veracity and data integrity.
- ICMJE Authorship Criteria: Every listed author must meet all four ICMJE conditions. Author list revisions post-submission require signed authorization from all original contributors.
- Human & Animal Research Ethics: Human investigations must conform to the Declaration of Helsinki. Scanned Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC/IRB) approval certificates with protocol identifiers must be uploaded. Animal research must comply with national oversight frameworks (e.g., CCSEA directives).
- Clinical Trial Registration: Interventional clinical trials must be registered prospectively in a recognized public registry (CTRI, ClinicalTrials.gov) prior to enrolling the first subject.
- Plagiarism Parameters: Manuscripts undergo similarity checks via Crossref Similarity Check (iThenticate). Parameters: 0–10% proceeds to review; 11–20% warrants author clarification/revision; >20% results in immediate rejection.
- Data Availability Statement: Submissions must clearly state repository locations for underlying datasets (e.g., Zenodo), contact procedures for data access, or justification for restrictions safeguarding patient privacy.
- Preprint Compatibility: JPIM considers manuscripts previously shared on recognized preprint servers (e.g., medRxiv) provided full DOI attribution is declared upon initial submission.
4. Methodological & Reporting Guidelines (EQUATOR Network)
| Study Design | Guideline | Checklist Source |
|---|---|---|
| Observational Studies (Cohort, Case-Control, Cross-Sectional) | STROBE | strobe-statement.org |
| Randomized Controlled Trials | CONSORT | consort-statement.org |
| Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses | PRISMA | prisma-statement.org |
| Case Reports & Case Series | CARE | care-statement.org |
| Diagnostic Accuracy Studies | STARD | equator-network.org/stard |
5. Required Submission Files Checklist
1. Title Page File
Article title, running header (≤45 characters), author names, institutional affiliations, corresponding author details (email, phone, ORCID iD), word counts, funding details, and contributorship statements.
2. Blinded Article File
Full title, Abstract, 3–6 MeSH Keywords, IMRAD body text, Data Availability Statement, References, and Tables. Strictly omit author names and institutional identifiers.
3. Figures & Illustrations
Uploaded individually in JPEG/TIFF format (minimum 300 DPI resolution for photographic clinical plates; 1200 DPI for line charts and statistical plots).
4. Ethics & Checklists
Scanned IEC/IRB approval certificate, participant consent documentation, and completed EQUATOR Network reporting checklists.
6. Reference Formatting (Vancouver Style)
Cite references sequentially in order of appearance using superscript numerals or square brackets [1]. Enumerate the first 6 authors followed by et al.
Journal Article:
Nayak D, Kumar A, Sharma R, Patil S, Rao M, Verma P, et al. Assessment of community-based preventive interventions in rural healthcare centers. Indian J Community Med. 2024;49(2):145–151.
Book:
Park K. Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 27th ed. Jabalpur: Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers; 2023.
Chapter in Edited Book:
Malhotra KC. Epidemiological methods in public health practice. In: Verma IC, editor. Medical Research Methods. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Academic Press; 2021. p. 88–104.
Web Document:
World Health Organization. Global health observatory data repository: Universal health coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2025. Available from: https://www.who.int/data/gho [Accessed 15 Jan 2026].
Nayak D, Kumar A, Sharma R, Patil S, Rao M, Verma P, et al. Assessment of community-based preventive interventions in rural healthcare centers. Indian J Community Med. 2024;49(2):145–151.
Book:
Park K. Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 27th ed. Jabalpur: Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers; 2023.
Chapter in Edited Book:
Malhotra KC. Epidemiological methods in public health practice. In: Verma IC, editor. Medical Research Methods. 2nd ed. New Delhi: Academic Press; 2021. p. 88–104.
Web Document:
World Health Organization. Global health observatory data repository: Universal health coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2025. Available from: https://www.who.int/data/gho [Accessed 15 Jan 2026].
7. Editorial Workflow, Proofs & Corrections
- Editorial Decisions: Manuscripts undergo double-blind review resulting in: Accept, Revisions Required (Minor/Major), Resubmit for Review, or Decline.
- Revised Submissions: Authors must upload a detailed point-by-point rebuttal letter along with both track-changed and clean copies of the revised manuscript.
- Galley Proofs: Corresponding authors must verify and approve PDF page proofs within 48–72 hours. Only typographical and layout errata are permitted at this stage.
- In-House Manuscripts: Submissions involving Editorial Board members are managed by independent guest editors with full recusal of conflicted board members.
- Corrections & Retractions: Post-publication errata, corrigenda, or retractions follow COPE guidelines.
8. Copyright & Open Access Terms
Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
- Authors retain copyright ownership while granting JPIM right of first publication.
- Open access provisions permit reading, downloading, distributing, and building upon the work with mandatory citation credit.
- Published articles receive persistent Crossref DOIs and automated deposit into partner indexing repositories.
