The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions invites manuscripts addressing continuing education and continuing professional development in the health sciences.
The Journal serves two major audiences:
- those who design, implement, or evaluate programs for learning and behavior change
- and those who develop policy involving continuing education
- continuous quality improvement
- health policy and performance
- competency assessment
- knowledge translation
- team learning
- disease management
Essays and original research are invited. All manuscripts should be sent electronically, as a Microsoft WORD file, to williamsnc@vcu.edu with a copy to paul.mazmanian@vcu.edu. Manuscripts will be reviewed with the understanding that their content is unpublished and not being submitted for publication elsewhere. A manuscript will be judged on the basis of style as well as content. Clarity, conciseness, and careful attention to syntax and grammar will be considered virtues. All parts of the manuscript, including the title page, abstract, tables, and legends should be typewritten in English and double-spaced. Allow margins of at least one inch (3 cm) on all sides of the typed pages. Number pages consecutively throughout the paper. Excluding references, tables, and figures, articles should not exceed 2,400 words (12 text pages); under exceptional consideration, longer articles may be published. Translations of papers previously published in languages other than English can be considered, but this information must be provided by the author at the time of submission.
» Title
All titles must be fewer than 12 words. Authors should supply a short version of the title, suitable for the running head and not exceeding 50 character spaces.
» Affiliation
On a title page, include full names of authors; academic and/or other professional affiliations, as well as academic or professional titles; and the complete mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and fax number for the author to whom proofs and correspondence should be sent.
» Abstract
Essays should be summarized in an unstructured abstract of 250 words or less. Each original research paper should be summarized in a structured abstract of not more than 250 words. The structured abstract should include four components:
- the introduction, including a literature review and problem statement
- a statement of methods, describing how data were collected and managed
- a synopsis of results, and
- a short discussion of the findings, including implications for practice.
Authors must supply from three to ten key words or phrases that identify the most important subjects covered by the paper.
» References
All references are to be numbered consecutively in the order of first mention and listed at the end of every paper. In the text, references should be cited consecutively by the corresponding superscript number. All papers that are published, in press, personal communications, and unpublished observations must be included. Abbreviations for journal titles should conform to those used in Index Medicus. Up to eight author names with initials should be provided in the reference listing.
Journal articles:» Figures
Fox RD. Using theory and research to shape the practice of continuing professional development. J Contin Educ Health Prof 2000; 20(4):238-246.
Books:
Dennett DC. Freedom evolves. New York: Penguin Group; 2003.
Internet Source (specific article):
National Library of Medicine. Fact Sheet: Medline. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/medline.html. Accessed January 7, 2005.
Internet Source (site):
American Board of Medical Specialties. Available at: http://www.abms.org. Accessed January 7, 2005.
All figures must be discussed or mentioned in the text and numbered in order of mention. Each figure must be provided with a brief, descriptive legend. Explanatory material for abbreviations in the figure should be explained in the legend for the figure. Every figure should be fully understandable even without narrative in the text. Microsoft PowerPoint files must be avoided. Figures that are "line art," should be saved as .tif or .eps, files at a minimum width 3 inches (height will then vary) or 100% of size desired, with a resolution of 1200 dots per inch. Halftone photograph-type images should be saved as .tif or .eps files at a minimum width of inches (height will then vary) or 100% of size desired, with a resolution of 300 dots per inch. The Journal is black and white; however, quotes for authors to bear the additional costs of printing the issue with their figure in color can be provided upon request.
» Tables
All tables must be discussed or mentioned in the text and numbered in order of mention. Each table should have a brief descriptive title. Do not include explanatory material in the title: use footnotes, keyed to the table with superior lower-case letters. Place all footnotes to a table at the end of the table. Define all data in the column heads. Every table should be fully understandable even without references to the text. All tables must appear on separate pages at the end of the article; do not include them within the text.
» Lessons for Practice
Every manuscript must include a separate page of lessons learned for planning, evaluation, or policy development. Each lesson is a single sentence report of a finding. At publication, all lessons appear in a text box within the printed article.
» Permissions
If any figure, table, or more than a few lines of text from previously published material is included in a manuscript, the author must obtain written permission for republication from the copyright holder and forward a copy to the editorial office with the manuscript.
» Copyright
Under the copyright law, the transfer of copyright from author to publisher must be explicitly stated. A copyright form will be sent to the author. It must be completed and returned, before an accepted manuscript can be scheduled for publication.
» Proofs
All proofs must be corrected and returned to the publisher within 48 hours of receipt. If the manuscript is not returned within the allotted time, the editor will proof-read the article, and it will be printed per his instruction. Only correction of typographical errors is permitted. The author will be charged for additional alterations to text at the proof stage.
For additional information, contact:
Natasha Williams
Editorial Assistant
Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions
Tel: (804) 828-5414
Fax: (804) 828-7438
williamsnc@vcu.edu
