Preparing Your Article for Submission
As per the announcement made by the journal’s owner, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), CMAJ Open will no longer be accepting submissions. Read more…
CMAJ Open publishes only research papers.
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Prior to submitting your paper, please review the manuscript submission checklist.
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We also suggest that you consult the appropriate reporting guideline for your article type. Depending on your article type, a completed reporting guideline checklist may be required (see Box below).
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More information on article format is also available in the Instructions and Forms box on the CMAJ Open manuscript submission site.
All Manuscripts
Your manuscript should include the following sections:
✓ Title: The title should include the study type.
✓ Abstract: CMAJ Open requires a structured abstract of no more than 250 words. The abstract should contain the following sections and use the following subheadings: Background, Methods, Results and Interpretation. Ensure that all data presented in the Abstract are contained in the Results, tables or figures in the article itself.
a. Background: This should include one sentence giving the study context and a second sentence with a clear statement of the study aim/research question.
b. Methods: This should include the research design, setting of the study, timeline and participants, including criteria for selection, entry and exclusion. The interventions, if applicable, should be clearly outlined, as well as primary and secondary outcome measures.
c. Results: The main findings should be quantified with 95% confidence intervals and the number needed to treat or harm, if applicable. Absolute, rather than relative, risks are preferable.
d. Interpretation: This should be 2 sentences, the first with the main conclusions and the second with the study implications.
e. Trial Registration: Registry and number should be included for clinical trials and, if available, for other study types.
✓ Introduction: This section should inform the reader of the topic being studied and provide the context for the research question. The objective of the study should be clearly stated at the end of the introduction. The section should be no more than two paragraphs.
✓ Methods: Use a narrative style and avoid jargon when describing the protocol. We encourage authors to include their complete protocol, which may appear as an online appendix to their manuscript if accepted for publication. Subheadings (e.g., setting, design, data sources, outcomes) are helpful for readers; these will vary depending on the study type. The following subheads are required and should form the last subsections of the Methods.
a. Statistical Analysis (quantitative methodologies) or Data Analysis (qualitative methodologies)
b. Ethics Approval: please include a statement even if ethics approval is not required.
✓ Results: Wherever possible, results should be summarized in a table. Avoid any redundant presentation of data in tables and in the text of the manuscript. If presenting qualitative results, quotations should be placed in boxes.
✓ Interpretation: This section should include five parts:
a. Brief summary of the main results of the study (one paragraph)
b. Explanation of the findings; comparison and contrast of findings with other related studies in the literature (up to three paragraphs)
c. Knowledge gaps and future directions in the area of study (one paragraph)
d. Limitations: Include a" Limitations" subtitle (one paragraph)
e. Conclusion: This should include the main results of the study and implications (one paragraph), with a "Conclusion" subtitle
✓ Data-Sharing Statement: This is not a request to share data, but to indicate whether your data are available for use by other researchers. The statement should indicate the following:
a. Whether any, all or portions of the data are available to others;
b. Where, through whom, when and on what terms data will be available; and
c. How data may be accessed.
✓ Other:
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Word count: The maximum length is 2500 words, excluding abstract, figures, tables and references.
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Abbreviations:For only the most standard abbreviations (i.e., 95% CI, SD, OR, RR, HR), please spell out at first mention and include the abbreviation in parentheses. The abbreviations may be used throughout the remainder of the manuscript. Please remove all other abbreviations.
✓ Manuscript Submission Checklist: More information on what to include with your manuscript on submission can be found in the Manuscript Submission Checklist.
Required Reporting Guidelines
CMAJ Open requires compliance with the following reporting guidelines. A completed version of the appropriate checklist should be uploaded as a file with your submission and designated as "Reporting Guideline Checklist." View EQUATOR Network guidelines.
Required reporting guidelines:
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CHEERS: Health economic evaluations
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CHERRIES: Web-based surveys
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CONSORT: Randomized controlled trials (please use appropriate extension)
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COREQ: Qualitative research or SRQR
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GRIPP2: Reporting patient and public involvement
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MOOSE: Meta-analyses of observational studies
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PRISMA: Systematic reviews
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PRISMA-P: Protocols of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
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RECORD: Studies using routinely collected observational data
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SPIRIT: Protocols of randomized controlled trials
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STARD: Diagnostic accuracy studies
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SQUIRE: Quality improvement studies
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SRQR: Qualitative research (or COREQ)
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STROBE: Observational studies in epidemiology (please use appropriate checklist)
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TRIPOD: Studies developing, validating or updating a prediction model
For the checklists and more information on these and other reporting guidelines, see Equator Network.
Patient-Oriented Research Collection
CMAJ Open has a special collection focused on papers that advance the science and practice of patient engagement, a component of patient-oriented research.
The journal will consider for publication papers in which authors report clearly how patient partners were engaged in a meaningful and appropriate manner in the research, and the impact of this engagement on the research.
To see if your paper is appropriate for inclusion in this collection and how to format your paper, please consult our specific guidance for these articles.
Protocols
CMAJ Open will consider protocols for publication. This gives the research team opportunity to receive feedback from editors, reviewers and readers on the study methodology prior to launching the study.
To be eligible, the study should be planned (not yet underway) or the recruitment for participants should still be open.
Protocols should be formatted similarly to all submissions to CMAJ Open, with the following exceptions:
✓ Abstract:
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Results: Not required.
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Interpretation: Should include the dissemination plan and implications of the proposed study (maximum 2 sentences).
✓ Results: Not required.
✓ Interpretation: In addition to the Limitations and Conclusion subsections, this section should discuss the potential implications of the study, describe any ethical issues and outline the dissemination plan.
Methodology Papers
Typically, these papers describe the methodology for large or complex studies or for a series of studies that use a similar methodology. In contrast to protocols, the study can be completed prior to submission of the methods paper, but results should not yet be published.
Methodology papers should be formatted similarly to all submissions to CMAJ Open, with the following exceptions:
✓ Abstract:
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Results: Not required.
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Interpretation: Should focus on the implications of the study (maximum 2 sentences).
✓ Results: Not required.
✓ Interpretation: In addition to the Limitations and Conclusion subsections, this section should discuss the potential implications of the study and compare it to related work.
Transfers from CMAJ
CMAJ Editors may offer transfer to CMAJ Open for papers submitted to CMAJ that are methodologically sound but do not fit CMAJ criteria for publication. If the authors agree to the transfer, the editors' notes, decision letter and any completed reviews are transferred to CMAJ Open along with the manuscript. The authors have an opportunity to upload a revised manuscript for consideration.
Papers that have undergone peer review usually do not require peer review at CMAJ Open. In addition to the requirements for all submissions to CMAJ Open, we ask that authors address any CMAJ editor and reviewer comments in the version submitted to CMAJ Open.
Questions?
CMAJ Open
1410 Blair Towers Place
Suite 500
Ottawa ON K1J 9B9
Tel 866-971-9171
Email: [email protected]