Manuscript Preparation Guidelines for the Graduate Medical Education Research Journal
This document provides details on formatting requirements for manuscript submission to the Graduate Medical Education Research Journal.
General Formatting Requirements
- Do not include a title page. Begin the document with an abstract, followed by the introduction; a title page will be added to your paper by the editors.
- Abstracts should be 300 words or less. Please use the following subheadings in your abstract: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
- Do not include page numbers or headers. These will be added by the editors. You will have the opportunity to add a footer during the submission process, should you choose to do so.
- Write your article in English. Thoroughly check your manuscript for proper grammar and spelling. If there are extensive grammatical or formatting errors, the manuscript with be returned without review
- Submit your manuscript as a single file (Word or PDF files are accepted).
- All tables, figures, and images are considered "Additional Files" and will be uploaded as separate files after the main text document has been uploaded. Use the "Description" field to label the content and add a detailed caption. If your manuscript is accepted for publication, the editor will contact you if higher resolution, print-quality images are needed.
- Each table and figure should be clearly numbered consecutively based on the order it is referenced in the main text.
- Page size should be 8.5 x 11-inches.
- All margins (left, right, top and bottom) should be 1.0 inch (2.54 cm), including tables and figures.
- Double space your text and use a single column format.
- Font: 12 pt, Times New Roman font. Check that the same font is used for the main text, tables, figures, and captions. At no time should the font be smaller than 8 pt font.
- Set the font color to black for the majority of the text.
References
It is the author's obligation to provide complete references with the necessary information. GMERJ subscribes to the number system, meaning references are listed in numerical order (consecutively based upon appearance in text) and not alphabetical order. All citation numbers should be superscript and appear at the end of sentences (not within) and after the punctuation.
List the first three authors followed by et al. (if applicable).
The information to be given with each citation in the references is as follows:
1. Are C, Stoddard HA, Huggett K, et al. A regional perspective on the attitudes of fourth-year medical students towards the field of general surgery. J Surg Educ. 2009; 66: 123–128.
Guidelines for Specific Submission Categories
Original Reports
Full length original research articles that are 3,000 words or less, excluding abstract, references, figures, and tables. A maximum of 7 total tables and/or figures may be included. Major section headings should include: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References
Literature Reviews (Systematic and Meta-Analysis)
Reviews must critically evaluate and synthesize the scholarly literature on a specific topic in 6,000 words or less (excluding abstract, tables, figures and references). A maximum of 7 total tables and/or figures may be included. We strongly recommend that reviews follow the PRISMA Guidelines Checklist.
Case Reports
A case report presents an interesting or rare clinical case that offers a novel and valuable learning opportunity. It should include the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, and Conclusion and should not exceed approximately 1500 words.
Case reports, even if de-identified, must also include patient consent. This may be uploaded as an "additional file" at the end of the submission process.
For Case Reports, please use the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Case, Discussion, Conclusion, References.
Brief Reports
Brief reports provide a summary of a new initiative or pilot study limited to 1000 words.
Perspectives/Commentaries
Perspectives and commentaries offer views and opinions of issues that are well-supported by evidence and do not exceed 1000 words.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor provide comments on articles published in the Graduate Medical Education Research Journal and are limited to 500 words.
Creative Works
Creative works are original works by the author(s), including cover art, or any other novel items related to arts, humanities, and well-being in medicine (photography, sketches, sculpture, creative writing, among others). The work should include a short creative works essay (500 words or less) explaining how the meaning of the piece is relevant to medicine.