Instruction to Authors

Health Benchmark Journal (HBJ) Submission Guidelines

About the Journal

The Health Benchmark Journal (HBJ) is a dynamic platform committed to advancing healthcare and health systems research while challenging traditional academic publishing norms. Founded with a vision to promote genuine, fair, and impactful research culture, our journal prioritizes transparency, ethics, and innovation.

Focus and Scope

We publish a diverse array of articles focusing on critical aspects of health systems, including health services quality, healthcare access, innovation, management, and leadership. Our journal welcomes various study designs, including cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, mixed methods, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Manuscript Types

HBJ welcomes the submission of the following types of manuscripts:

  • Original Articles
  • Systematic Reviews
  • Meta-Analyses
  • Review Articles
  • Short Communications
  • Case Reports
  • Commentaries
  • Letters to the Editor

Article Categories

  • Original Article: 3000-4000 words, structured abstract, 3-10 keywords, and no more than 30 references.
  • Systematic Review & Meta-analysis: Follow PRISMA guidelines.
  • Review Article: 4000-6000 words, unstructured abstract (250 words), 40-60 references.
  • Commentary: 2500-3000 words, unstructured abstract (150 words), 20-40 references.
  • Short Communications: 1500-2000 words, non-structured abstract (150 words), one table/illustration, fewer than ten references.
  • Case Reports: 1500-2500 words, non-structured abstract (100-150 words), up to 10 references.
  • Letter to the Editor: Not exceeding 400 words, no more than 5 references.

Submission Process

Manuscripts should be submitted through the online portal on the HBJ website.

Before submitting, ensure your manuscript meets the following criteria:

  1. Compliance with Author Guidelines: The submission adheres to the requirements outlined in these guidelines.
  2. Originality: The submission has not been previously published nor is it before another journal for consideration.
  3. Reference Accuracy: All references are accurate and complete.
  4. Table and Figure Labeling: All tables and figures are numbered and labeled appropriately.
  5. Permission for Materials: Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets, and other materials included.

Submission Checklist

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Attach an ethical committee/institutional approval letter.
  3. Title page must include:
    • Title of the manuscript
    • Full names, ORCID id’s, and affiliations of all authors
    • Contact details for the corresponding author (email and telephone number)
  4. Manuscript according to HBJ's guidelines.
  5. Include data/output file and other required documents, if applicable.
  6. Ensure the similarity index is less than 19%, with no single source exceeding 5%.
  7. For original articles, include 20-40 references and a minimum word count of 2000 (excluding the abstract).
  8. Limit the number of tables/figures to five.
  9. Ensure references follow the Vancouver style and over 60% are from the last five years.

Third-Party Submission

A third party can submit an article on behalf of an author with permission and handle correspondence, but corrections must be made by the authors via email, designating the corresponding author. Acknowledgments should mention the third party (which may be anyone outside the author's team, within their organization such as a research cell representative, or outside their organization) facilitating submission.

Authorship Criteria

Authors must meet the following criteria according to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE):

  1. Substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition/analysis/interpretation.
  2. Drafting or critical revision of the manuscript.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Accountability for all aspects, ensuring accuracy and integrity.

Formatting and Submission Format

  • Formatting: Articles' formatting will be handled by the journal’s designer, including text alignment, font size, style, table placement, and design. Authors do not need to format their articles.
  • Submission Format: Submit text files as Word documents in the following order: Cover Letter, Title Page, Manuscript following the prescribed format.
  • Submission Formalities: Retain only those related to research ethics and data verification, including:
    • Submitting data collection records, where available, with flexibility.
    • Adding an honor pledge at the time of submission as a moral barrier to prevent fraud.

Manuscript Preparation

Structured Abstract

A structured abstract of up to 300 words is required for Original Articles, Systematic Reviews, and Meta-Analyses. The abstract should be structured with the following headings:

  • Background: Brief context of the study.
  • Objective: Clearly state the primary objective of the study.
  • Methods: Describe the key methods used in the study.
  • Results: Summarize the main findings.
  • Conclusion: Outline the primary conclusions drawn from the study.

Title Page

The title page must include:

  • Title of the manuscript
  • Full names and affiliations of all authors
  • Contact details for the corresponding author (email and telephone number)
  • Authors’ roles in the team and the organization’s role in providing support and platform where the team assembled or worked.
  • Acknowledgment of additional institutional support, if applicable
  • ORCID numbers for all authors

Introduction

The introduction should be concise, providing a brief overview of the context, background, and objectives of the study. It should not exceed 500 words.

Methodology

  • Detailed Methodology: Write the methodology section in detail to give readers a complete context of how the research was executed for the generalizability of results.
  • Duration of Study: Clearly state the study duration from proposal development to manuscript completion to capture evolving perspectives affecting the context of the paper.
  • Data Collection Dates: Clearly mention the dates of data collection for understanding the validity of the IRB letter. In case of any ambiguity, the journal can ask for an explanation, especially in high-risk studies.
  • Study Site: State the organization/setting where the research team assembled and that provided approval of the study in case of minimal risk/more than minimal risk study.
  • Place for Data Collection: Clearly mention if the place for data collection differs from the study site (e.g., a study done by a team in a tertiary hospital with data collected in the field or on social media). Provide context for the study site and place for data collection to inform the generalizability of results.

Ethical Considerations

  • IRB Approval: Mention the IRB letter number, the name of the main reviewer in expedited reviews, and the name of the Chair and organization in full board reviews to bring more transparency and accountability.
  • Authorship: All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author and meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship.

Statistical Methods

Provide full information on statistical methods and measures used, with justification for the chosen statistical tests. Include the data/output file.

Tables and Figures

  • Tables: Ensure tables are comprehensible without reference and numbered consecutively with footnotes below.
  • Figures: Ensure figures are clear and intelligible when resized. Ensure a minimum resolution of 3.2 megapixels for X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and photomicrographs. Number figures consecutively and remove patient identification.

Acknowledgment

Where any individual assisted in manuscript writing, data analysis, or at any other step of research, and didn’t meet ICMJE authorship criteria, their services must be declared in the acknowledgment section. The purpose of acknowledging non-author contributors (individuals/organizations) is to provide complete context for the reader to understand the whole execution of the research. This should be mentioned in an informative tone instead of a celebrating tone. Emails will have to be mentioned with all names in the acknowledgment section. The journal will confirm the consent of non-author roles to be acknowledged by emailing them.

Citations and References

  • In-Text Citations: Use numbered, superscripted citations in the text.
  • Reference List: Number references sequentially as they appear in the text, following Vancouver style.

Vancouver Style References

  • Journal Article: Author(s). Title of article. Abbreviated Title of Journal. Year;Volume(Issue):page numbers.
    • Example: Smith J, Doe J. The impact of health services on patient outcomes. Health Serv Res. 2020;45(3):234-42.
  • Books: Single Author: Author. Title of Book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher; Year.
    • Example: Brown H. Health Care Management. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley; 2018.
  • Book Chapter: Author(s) of the chapter. Title of the chapter. In: Editor(s) of the book, editor(s). Title of the book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher; Year. p. Page numbers.
    • Example: White A. Health system financing. In: Black B, editor. Healthcare Systems. 4th ed. London: Oxford University Press; 2019. p. 123-45.
  • Conference Proceedings: Author(s). Title of paper. In: Editor(s), editor(s). Title of conference proceedings; Date of conference; Place of conference. Place of publication: Publisher; Year. p. Page numbers.
    • Example: Gray P. Innovations in healthcare management. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Management; 2018 Jun 21-23; Boston, MA. New York: Springer; 2019. p. 67-72.
  • Electronic Sources: Author(s). Title of article. Abbreviated Title of Journal [Internet]. Year [cited Year Month Day];Volume(Issue):page numbers. Available from: URL
    • Example: Williams T, Brown L. Telemedicine in rural health. Telemed J [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2020 May 10];25(2):112-8. Available from: http://www.telemedj.com/article123

Additional Requirements

  • SI Units: Use System International (S.I.) Unit measurements.
  • Funding: Declare financial support from agencies/organizations.
  • Conflict of Interest: Declare any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Revised Manuscripts: Follow the same guidelines as for the original submission. Include a Response to Decision letter specifying revisions related to review suggestions.

After Acceptance

  • Review galley proofs carefully and submit corrections within 48 hours.
  • Contact the Editorial Office for corrections that significantly affect interpretation or conclusions.

Copyright Notice

By submitting a manuscript to HBJ, the Author affirms the following:

  • Originality and Plagiarism: The work is original and free of plagiarism.
  • Use of Tables and Figures: Written consent of the publisher/author has been obtained for any sourced tables or figures.
  • Previous Publication: The work has not been previously published, except as part of a thesis or dissertation.
  • Simultaneous Consideration: The manuscript is not under simultaneous consideration by any other journal.
  • Intellectual Property Rights: The work does not violate any intellectual property rights.
  • Legal Compliance: The manuscript does not contain any subject matter that contravenes any laws.
  • Ethical Standards: The work complies with ethical standards applicable to the research discipline.
  • Author Agreement: All authors agree with the preparation and submission of the manuscript.
  • Contributors and Acknowledgments: All contributors who have made substantial contributions but are not listed as authors are acknowledged.
  • Patient Information: All submissions, including patients' information, have obtained the necessary consent.

In consideration for the publication of the work, the author(s) grant HBJ a non-exclusive publishing right to reproduce, publish, and communicate the work in any and all media for commercial, educational, and other purposes. The author(s) retain the right according to CC BY 4.0.

For any questions or further information, please contact us at support@healthbenchmarkjournal.com