Author Guidelines

You are invited to submit your manuscript for publication in the Bolan Journal of Medical and Allied Health Sciences (BJMAHS), published by Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan. The journal solicits high-quality papers related to the broad scope of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. We encourage the submission of original research in compliance with the journal’s editorial policy. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, clinical trials, basic sciences, medical education, public health, and allied health sciences.

All manuscripts should conform to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations and BJMAHS Instructions to Authors. Manuscripts can be submitted to BJMAHS via email at manuscript@bjmahs.com or by visiting the journal’s website www.bjmahs.com

The manuscript should be submitted in Microsoft Word format by the corresponding author via email, along with signed certificates for Author Declaration and a letter from the concerned Ethical Review Committee.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that the article has been spell-checked and grammar-checked. The manuscript must include a structured abstract, figures, tables, boxes, and appendices as required to report study findings in accordance with the study design. Word limits apply (refer to Article Type).

PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPT
Authors should follow the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines for manuscript preparation. Please review these guidelines carefully before submitting your manuscript.

Manuscript Submission Prerequisites

  1. Review the Aims & Scope to assess whether your manuscript is suitable for BJMAHS.
  2. Use the Microsoft Word template to prepare your manuscript according to ICMJE guidelines.
  3. Carefully review the Research and Publication Ethics guidelines and ensure compliance.
  4. Ensure that issues related to publication ethics, copyright, authorship, plagiarism, Artificial Intelligence (AI) declaration if used, and conflict of interest are appropriately addressed.
  5. Ensure that all authors have approved the content of the submitted manuscript.
  6. Download and submit the Author Declaration Form, duly signed by all authors (Note: manuscripts without this document will not be processed).
  7. An Ethical Review Board approval letter is mandatory for all original studies. If an ethical review board does not exist at your institution, submit the Ethical Declaration Form (mandatory).

 

MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION OVERVIEW

Manuscript submissions via the official email are accepted by BJMAHS. Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format by the corresponding author via email, along with signed certificates for Authorship, Author Declaration, Conflict of Interest, and Checklist. The manuscript must include a structured abstract and all necessary tables, figures, boxes, and appendices relevant to the study design. Word limits apply according to article type.

  • Article Type
  • Terms of Submission
  • Authors
  • Formatting Guidelines
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Ethical Consideration
  • Declaration

ARTICLE TYPE
BJMAHS accepts the following types of manuscripts for publication:

  • Original Article
    Original articles should align with the aims and scope of BJMAHS. They must include a structured abstract with 3–6 MeSH keywords and no more than six tables or figures. References should not exceed 50, with the majority from the last five years.
  • Systematic Review / Meta-analysis
    Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should follow PRISMA or QUOROM guidelines. The manuscript should not exceed 4000 words and must include an abstract of 450–500 words.
  • Clinical Trials
    Only registered clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov / ISRCTN / DRAP) will be considered. Reports must conform to CONSORT guidelines and be submitted along with trial protocols.
  • Observational Studies
    Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) should follow the STROBE checklist. Manuscripts should not exceed 4000 words and must include an abstract of 300 words.
  • Review Article
    Review articles should not exceed 4000 words, include up to 50 references, and have an abstract of no more than 300 words with 3–6 MeSH keywords.
  • Case Reports
    Case reports should not exceed 1800 words, include 10–15 references, and a maximum of five tables, figures, or photomicrographs. The CARE checklist is mandatory.
  • Short Communication
    Short communications should not exceed 2000 words, include a maximum of two tables or figures, an abstract of no more than 200 words, and 12–15 references.
  • Letters
    Letters to the Editor may include academic opinions related to articles published in BJMAHS. Letters should not exceed 500 words, have no headings, include no more than five references, and be signed by all authors (maximum three). The Editor reserves the right to edit letters and may send them for peer review if scientific data are included.

TERMS OF SUBMISSION
Manuscripts must be unpublished and not under consideration by another journal. The corresponding author is responsible for obtaining approval from all co-authors. For multicenter studies, institutional approvals are the responsibility of the respective authors. Editorial acknowledgment establishes the date of receipt. Authors permit editorial editing for clarity and readability.

CONTRIBUTORS
All authors must meet ICMJE and COPE criteria. Author contributions should be declared and may include study conception and design, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, manuscript drafting, and critical revision.

FORMATTING GUIDELINES
Manuscripts must be typed with 1.5 line spacing on A4 paper (21.0 × 29.7 cm) with 2.5 cm margins on all sides.
• Title: 14-point Times New Roman, bold
• Headings: 12-point, bold
• Text: 12-point
Paragraphs should be indented, left-aligned, with page numbers at the bottom center.

MANUSCRIPT SECTIONS
A. Title Page – Title (≤25 words, no abbreviations), author names, affiliations, corresponding author details, and suggested reviewers (two national, one international).
B. Abstract – Structured i.e. objectives, methods, results, conclusion, citation-free ( ≤300 words)
C. Keywords – 5-6 MeSH terms, alphabetical order.
D. Introduction – Background, rationale, gap statement, and objectives.
E. Materials and Methods – Detailed methodology, sampling, data collection, and statistical Analysis etc.
F. Results – Clear presentation with appropriate statistical measures.
G. Discussion – Interpretation, comparison, strengths, limitations, and implications.
H. Conclusion – Concise and evidence-based.
I. Ethical Approval.
J. Acknowledgements.
K. Conflict of Interest.
L. Funding Disclosure.
M. Author Contributions, and
N. References.

APPENDICES, REFERENCES, FIGURES & TABLES
Appendices must be labeled alphabetically. References should follow Vancouver style and be cited numerically as superscripts. Figures must be at least 300 dpi. Tables should be editable, without vertical lines, and placed on separate pages.

PLAGIARISM POLICY
BJMAHS follows ICMJE, PMDC, and HEC guidelines. All manuscripts are screened using Turnitin. Submissions with a similarity index above 19% will not be processed.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
Ethical approval from an Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee is mandatory. Written informed consent must be obtained where applicable.

DECLARATION
Authors must submit:
• Covering letter
• Certificate of Authorship
• Author Declaration Form
• Conflict of Interest Form
• Article Submission Checklist