Guidelines

Guidelines

The International Journal of Clinical and Medical Case Studies welcomes high-quality case reports that provide significant contributions to the field of clinical and medical research. To ensure smooth submission, review, and publication, authors are requested to strictly adhere to the following detailed guidelines.

Manuscript Preparation

• Manuscript Formatting:
  • Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word format.
  • The text must be in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spaced.
  • Ensure a margin of 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides of the document.
  • Include page numbers in the bottom right-hand corner of each page.
  • Use consistent heading styles for section titles (e.g., Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, Conclusion).
• Title Page:
  • Title: Should be concise, informative, and reflective of the case content.
  • Author Information: Full names of all authors along with their academic titles and institutional affiliations.
  • Corresponding Author: The corresponding author's full name, address, email, and phone number should be clearly listed.
  • Funding and Conflict of Interest: Disclosure of any funding sources or potential conflicts of interest.
• Case Report Structure:
  • Introduction: State the significance of the case and its relevance to the field.
  • Case Presentation: Provide a detailed patient history, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment approach. Avoid revealing identifiable patient information.
  • Discussion: Compare the case with existing literature, discussing key learning points and implications for clinical practice.
  • Conclusion: Summarize the clinical impact and significance of the case.
• Abstract:
  • Should be unstructured, concise, and not exceed 250 words.
  • Summarize the essential details of the case including clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome.

Keywords

• Include 4-6 keywords to facilitate easier discovery and indexing of your case report.
• Keywords should be relevant and specific to the topic of the case.

Figures, Tables, and Illustrations

• Figures: Should be submitted separately as high-resolution images (JPEG, TIFF, or PNG), with clear captions.
• Tables: Tables must be numbered consecutively and included at the end of the manuscript or as separate files. Provide clear titles and ensure that they are self-explanatory.
• Legends: Each figure and table should have a detailed legend for easy interpretation.
• Formatting: Avoid placing figures and tables in the text body. Reference them by number (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2) within the manuscript.

References

• Authors must adhere to the Vancouver style of referencing.
• Ensure all citations in the text match the references in the bibliography.
• Use the superscript numbering system for in-text citations.
• The reference list should appear at the end of the manuscript, arranged in the order of citation. Example:
  • Smith AB, Jones CD. Management of diabetes in clinical practice. J Clin Med. 2018;20(2):123-30.
• For online sources, include the URL and access date.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

• Patient Consent: All case reports involving patient data must include documentation of informed consent from the patient or legal guardian, ensuring anonymity is maintained. If images or identifiable data are included, explicit consent must be obtained.
• Ethical Approval: For clinical studies or reports involving novel treatments or procedures, authors must provide evidence of approval by an appropriate ethics review board.
• Conflicts of Interest: Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, or academic.

Plagiarism and Originality

• All submissions are checked for plagiarism using advanced detection tools. Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original, and proper credit must be given for any referenced material.
• Manuscripts that contain plagiarism will be rejected outright, and authors may face penalties such as retraction of published articles or bans on future submissions.
• Self-plagiarism, or submitting previously published material as new work, is strictly prohibited.

Peer Review Process

• All submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartiality.
• Submissions are reviewed by experts in the relevant field, who evaluate the case's significance, originality, and clinical impact.
• Authors should expect feedback within 4-6 weeks. In cases requiring revisions, authors will have an opportunity to make changes based on reviewer comments and resubmit for further consideration.

Open Access and Publication Fees

• The journal follows an open-access model, meaning that all accepted articles are freely available to readers globally without subscription fees.
• There is an article processing charge (APC) that covers the costs of editorial and peer review, production, and hosting of the content. Information regarding the APC can be found on the journal's website.
• Authors who lack funding or institutional support may apply for APC waivers under certain circumstances.

Submission Process

• Online Submission: All manuscripts should be submitted via the journal's online submission system, where authors can track their manuscript's progress through the review stages.
• Cover Letter: A cover letter must accompany the submission, outlining the significance of the case and stating that the manuscript has not been submitted or published elsewhere.
• Revisions: After peer review, authors may be required to revise their manuscript. Revised manuscripts should be submitted promptly, along with a detailed response to reviewers' comments.
• Copyright: Upon acceptance, authors will be required to sign a copyright transfer agreement.

Post-Acceptance

• Once accepted, manuscripts will undergo copyediting and formatting. Authors will receive proofs for final approval before publication.
• The journal encourages the use of social media and press releases to promote published articles and expand their reach within the medical community.