OUSL Journal of Health Sciences

Types of Manuscripts

The OUSLJHS welcomes a range of scholarly submissions that reflect the diversity of disciplines and perspectives within health sciences. The journal accepts the following types of manuscripts.

Original Articles

These are comprehensive reports of novel empirical research that make a substantive contribution to the advancement of knowledge in health sciences. Studies may employ quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods designs and should follow a structured format (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions/Recommendations). Observational studies (e.g., cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional designs) must be reported in accordance with the STROBE statement. Randomized controlled trials must follow the CONSORT 2010 guidelines, and diagnostic accuracy studies must adhere to the STARD guidelines. Authors are encouraged to refer the relevant reporting guidelines available via the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/) and must upload the appropriate completed checklist(s) with their manuscript submission. The word count should range between 4,000 and 6,000 words. Articles should include not more than five tables/illustrations. The manuscript should include an unstructured abstract of no more than 250 words.

Review Articles

Review manuscripts synthesize existing literature to provide an in-depth understanding of a defined topic. This may include narrative reviews, systematic reviews, scoping reviews, or meta-analyses. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses must be reported according to PRISMA guidelines available at the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/) and must upload the completed checklist with their manuscript submission. The word limit for review articles is 3,000 to 6,000 words, depending on the depth and scope of the review. The manuscript should include maximum five tables/illustrations and unstructured abstract of less than 250 words.

Short Reports / Brief Communications

These are concise research manuscripts that present preliminary findings, pilot studies, or narrowly scoped investigations. They must be methodologically sound and offer valuable insights, even if on a smaller scale. Word limits and structural guidelines may vary, but should maintain scientific rigor. Manuscripts should be structured similarly to full research articles, but should be limited to 1,500–2,500 words, with a maximum of 2 tables/illustrations and up to 15 references. An unstructured abstract of no more than 150 words is required.

Case Reports / Case Studies

These articles describe specific cases or interventions with significant educational or clinical relevance. Submissions should provide context, detailed description of the case, outcomes, and a discussion of implications for practice, research, or policy. Particularly suited for nursing, midwifery, public health, and allied health fields. Manuscripts should be 1,500 to 3,000 words in length.

Case reports present individual cases or interventions that offer important new insights, clinical lessons, or educational value. These are particularly relevant in nursing, midwifery, public health, and allied health fields. Acceptance is based on originality and the significance of the message. Case reports should not exceed 1000 words, include no more than one table or illustration, and cite up to five references. Authorship is limited to five. Case reports must follow the CARE guidelines available at the EQUATOR Network (https://www.equator-network.org/) and must upload the completed checklist with the manuscript submission.

Perspectives and Points of View

These articles offer reflective or experiential insights from scholars, practitioners, or educators. Although less formal than research articles, they should maintain intellectual rigor and be supported by relevant academic literature, professional knowledge, or practice-based evidence. This ensures that the viewpoints are informed, credible, and connected to existing knowledge in the field. Such articles are particularly suitable for highlighting emerging themes, innovations, or challenges within the field of health sciences. Submissions should be 750 to 1,000 words in length and may include up to eight references.

Editorials

Editorials are concise opinion pieces authored by members of the editorial board or invited experts. They may introduce the journal issue, highlight current trends, or discuss significant topics in academic publishing and health sciences. The word limit is 750 to 1,000 words. Editorials may include references, if necessary, with a maximum of eight references.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor offer brief, respectful, and evidence-informed responses to previously published articles or commentary on relevant issues in the field. They serve as a platform for scholarly dialogue and post-publication discussion. Submissions should be 750 to 1,000 words in length and may include up to eight references.

Manuscript Preparation

Authors must format manuscripts using Microsoft Word. The document should be prepared on A4-size paper with one-inch margins on all sides. The recommended font is Times New Roman, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing throughout. Pages must be numbered consecutively at the bottom center of each page.

Title:

The title of the manuscript should be concise, informative, and reflective of the content.

Abstract:

An abstract of 200 to 250 words should follow the title and be unstructured to include the study’s background, objectives, methods, key results, and conclusions. Authors should provide up to five keywords immediately after the abstract to facilitate indexing. Abstract should not include citations and references.

Main Body of the Manuscript

The main body of the manuscript should be divided clearly into sections. For original research articles, this typically includes the following sections:

Introduction

The introduction should clearly define the scope of the study, offering sufficient background to place the research in context. It should:

• Present relevant information that helps readers, including those from outside the specific field, understand the purpose and importance of the study.
• Clearly articulate the problem being investigated and explain its relevance.
• Provide a concise review of the most pertinent existing literature.
• Highlight any significant debates, differing perspectives, or gaps in the current knowledge base.
• End with a clear statement outlining the main objective(s) of the study.

Methods

Authors should describe the methodology in sufficient detail to ensure reproducibility. The section should:

• Clearly explain the study design and setting.
• Describe the population/sample, sampling method, and sample size
• Provide details of the study instruments/tools used.
• Explain the procedures for data collection and analysis, including statistical methods.
• Specify any protocols or techniques developed specifically for the study.
• Include references to previously published methods, if applicable, but ensure the current manuscript remains understandable on its own.
• State the name of the Ethics Review Committee that approved the study, along with the approval/reference number if applicable.
• Ensure all methods support transparency and reproducibility.

Results

• Present the key findings clearly and logically, in alignment with the study objectives.
• Describe results in the text, supported by appropriate tables and figures.
• Ensure tables and figures are numbered consecutively and cited in the text accordingly.
• Avoid repeating all numerical data in the text if already presented in tables/figures.
• Focus on factual reporting; interpretation should be reserved for the discussion section.

Discussion

• Interpret the study findings in relation to the research objectives and existing literature.
• Compare and contrast the results with findings from previous studies.
• Explain how the results contribute to current knowledge or practice.
• Address any inconsistencies or unexpected outcomes.
• Discuss the implications for health care, policy, education, or further research.
• Limitations of the study should be included at the end of the Discussion.
  
  • Clearly acknowledge any methodological, practical, or contextual limitations.
  • Describe how these limitations may have influenced the results or interpretations.
  • Suggest how future studies could address these issues.

Conclusions

• Summarize the main findings concisely in relation to the study’s aims and objectives.
• Highlight the significance of the findings and their potential impact.
• Provide clear, actionable recommendations for practice, education, policy, or further research.
• Avoid introducing new data or arguments not covered in previous sections.

Formulae and Equations

Authors are required to format equations clearly and consistently in accordance with the APA 7th edition style.

• Punctuate all equations, whether they are in the line of text or displayed (i.e., typed on a separate line)
• Use standard mathematical symbols and notation.
• Note: A minus sign is a different typographical character than a hyphen (it is longer and slightly higher); your word-processing program has options for inserting a minus sign in your paper.
• Use an appropriate equation editor or insert as text (if simple).
• Number only equations that are referred to later in the text. Place the equation number in parentheses, flush right.

• Variables in equations should be italicized (e.g., x, y, z), while mathematical functions (e.g., sin, log), units (e.g., cm), and Greek letters (e.g., α, β) are not italicized.

• Define all variables either before or immediately after the equation.
• Avoid images of equations unless necessary; use equation editors for clarity and consistency.

Equations in Text

Place short and simple equations, such as a = [(1 + b)/x]1/2, in the line of text. To present fractions in the line of text, use a slash (/). To make the order of operations in an equation visually unambiguous, use parentheses, square brackets, and braces (together referred to as “fences”). Use parentheses first to enclose material; use square brackets to enclose material already in parentheses; and use braces (curly brackets) to enclose material already in square brackets and parentheses: first ( ), then [( )], and finally {[( )]}.

Equations in the line of text should not project above or below the line; for example, the equation at the beginning of this section would be difficult to set in the line of text if it were in this form:

a=1+bX

a = Result/output of the expression

b = A variable or constant added to 1 in the numerator

x = A variable or constant in the denominator (must be ≠ 0)

Instead, such equations are displayed on their own line.

Displayed Equations

Display simple equations if they must be numbered for later reference. Display all complex equations. Number all displayed equations consecutively, with the number in parentheses near the right margin of the page.

x+an=k=0nnkxkan-k

x = A variable or term in the binomial expression

a = The second term or constant in the binomial expression

n = A non-negative integer exponent (i.e., n=0,1, 2…n=0,1, 2…)

k = Index of summation, representing the current term number in the expansion

nk = Binomial coefficient, read as “n choose k”, defined as: nk=n!k!n-k!

Abbreviations and Symbols

Authors must use standardized abbreviations and symbols.

Nomenclature

Standard nomenclature must be followed when using terminology related to Health Sciences. Scientific and medical terms should be written using accepted conventions.

Units of Measurement

Authors must use the International System of Units (SI) wherever applicable, as it is the globally recognized standard. Non-SI units may be used only when standard practice in the discipline dictates, and their use must be consistent and clearly justified.

Tables and Figures

Authors must ensure that all tables and figures adhere to the latest APA 7th edition formatting standards. The following guidelines should be followed when preparing and submitting tables and figures:

General Principles

• Each table and figure must be referenced in the text (e.g., “As shown in Table 1…”).
• Place each table and figure as close as possible to the first mention in the manuscript, or include them at the end in a separate section if required.
• Do not duplicate information: If data are presented in a table, do not repeat them in text or in a figure.
• Use a consistent font style and size.
• All tables and figures must be numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, etc.).
• All tables and figures should be interpretable independently of the main text.
• Authors must obtain permission to reproduce tables or figures from other sources and include appropriate citations.
• Avoid the use of shading or borders unless necessary for clarity.
• Ensure figures are accessible (e.g., color-blind friendly color palettes).

Tables

• Title: Place the table title in italics, above the table. Use title case (e.g., Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Participants).
• Headings: Use clear and concise column and row headings. Use sentence case.
• Table notes: Place any notes below the table (general, specific, and probability notes). Use superscript letters (e.g., a, b) for specific notes.
• Use no vertical lines; use horizontal lines sparingly (only above and below column headings and at the bottom).
• Keep the table as simple and self-explanatory as possible.

Figures

• Title: Provide a figure number and title on the same line below the figure in italics (e.g., Figure 1 Flowchart of the Participant Recruitment Process).
• Label all axes clearly and include units where applicable.
• Use legible fonts in all figure elements (minimum 8 pt).
• Figures should be high-resolution (300 dpi or higher), preferably in JPEG, PNG, or TIFF format.
• Avoid overly complex or 3D visualizations unless necessary.
• Color figures are acceptable if they improve readability.

Click on to view examples of formatting Tables and a Figures according to APA 7 style. https://guides.douglascollege.ca/APA-7/TablesFigures

Headings

Use relevant headings and sub-headings as appropriate, according to the following levels:

• Main Heading: 14-Point, Times New Roman, Bold, Title Case, Centered
• Second Level Heading: 12-Point, Times New Roman, Bold, Title Case, Left-aligned
• Third Level Heading: 12-Point, Times New Roman, Bold, Italics, Title Case, Left-aligned
• Normal Text: 12-point, Times New Roman, Justified, 1.5 spaced

Referencing Style

The journal follows the APA 7th edition referencing style for both in-text citations and reference lists. Authors should ensure that all cited works appear in the reference list and vice versa. The reference list must appear at the end of the manuscript, ordered alphabetically by the surname of the first author. All entries should follow APA conventions, including proper capitalization, italics, and punctuation. Authors are encouraged to include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and URLs where available.

Use following links to refer APA 7 citations and references.

• In-text citation examples: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations
• References examples: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-examples.pdf
• Reference Guide for Journal Articles, Books, and Edited Book Chapters: https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf

Conflict of interest statement

Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest, whether financial or non-financial, that could be perceived to influence the manuscript’s content.

Acknowledgements

All sources of funding should be acknowledged in a separate section before the references.

Ethical Considerations

The journal adheres to the highest standards of publication ethics. Submissions involving human or animal subjects must include a clear statement regarding ethical approval obtained from a recognized ethics review committee. Where applicable, authors must also confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. All manuscripts are subjected to similarity checks using plagiarism detection software. A manuscript with a similarity index exceeding 20% (excluding references and common phrases) will be returned for revision or rejected. Authors must ensure that all sources are properly cited and quoted.

Author Contributions (include in the Title Page)

Please clearly describe the specific contributions made by each author to the manuscript. Use individual names or initials, and refer to roles such as: conceptualization, study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, manuscript drafting, critical revision, supervision, and final approval. All authors listed must have made substantial contributions and should agree to be accountable for the content of the manuscript.

Example:

A.B.: Conceptualized the study, designed the methodology, and drafted the initial manuscript.

C.D.: Collected and analyzed data, contributed to interpretation of results.

E.F.: Revised the manuscript critically.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Note: All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and meet the authorship criteria. No one who made a substantial contribution should be omitted.

Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript to the OUSLJHS, authors are required to ensure that their submission meets the following criteria. Submissions that do not adhere to these requirements may be returned for revision prior to review.

Please ensure the following items are completed:

1. Originality and exclusivity
   
   1. The submission has not been previously published.
   2. The manuscript is not currently under consideration by another journal or publisher.
2. Title Page (submitted as a separate file)
3. Include both the ‘Title’ and ‘Running’ Title (Short Version) of the article
4. Names with initials of all authors with affiliations and email addresses.
5. ORCID IDs of the corresponding author.
6. Corresponding author’s full contact details (email, telephone number, and mailing address).
7. Acknowledgments, funding sources, and conflict of interest declarations (if any) are included here, not in the main manuscript.
8. Main Manuscript File
   
   1. The manuscript is anonymised for peer review.
   2. No author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, or self-identifying references are included.
   3. Tables, figures, and images are embedded within the text at appropriate places and clearly numbered.
   4. The text is 1.5-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font
   5. The manuscript follows the journal’s formatting style and structure (e.g., abstract, keywords, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references).
9. Declaration of Original Work (submitted separately)
   
   1. A signed Declaration Form stating that the manuscript is the authors’ original work, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under review elsewhere.
   2. All authors agree with the content and consent to its submission.
10. Ethical Approval Letter (if applicable)
    
    1. A copy of the institutional or national ethics review committee approval letter is included for research involving human participants, data, or biological material.
    2. Informed consent from participants has been obtained where applicable and is stated clearly in the manuscript.
11. References and citations
    
    1. References are prepared according to APA 7th Edition or the referencing style specified in the Author Guidelines.
    2. All in-text citations match the entries in the reference list.
    3. Where available, digital object identifiers (DOIs) and URLs have been provided for cited sources.
    4. In-text citations and the reference list are consistent and complete.
12. Permissions and copyright
    
    1. Necessary permissions have been obtained for any copyrighted material used (e.g., images, charts, or extended quotations).
    2. A declaration of originality and copyright transfer will be submitted upon acceptance.
13. Language and clarity
    
    1. The manuscript has been proofread for clarity, grammar, and spelling.
    2. Where necessary, professional language editing services have been used to ensure readability.
14. File Format
    
    1. All files are submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
    2. Figures and high-resolution images (if applicable) may be submitted as separate files in JPEG, or PNG format.