Public Health Reports (PHR) welcomes contributions that complement the mission and
purpose of the journal:
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To facilitate the movement of science into public health practice and
policy to positively affect the health and wellness of the American public.
To publish scholarly manuscripts that describe new and innovative ways to
deliver essential services, leading to improved quality, enhanced efficiency,
and reduced costs.
To publish evaluations of public health programs that describe models of
practice that can be replicated by others and that describe lessons learned.
In September 2016, PHR adopted the style and standards of the AMA Manual of
Style, available at http://www.amamanualofstyle.com. The journal subscribes to the
ethical standards contained in Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting,
Editing, and Publication of Scholarly work in Medical Journals (updated December
2015), available at http://www.icmje.org/icmje-recommendations.pdf.
The journal strongly recommends that all manuscript authors, especially international
authors, have their manuscripts reviewed and edited by a professional technical editor
prior to submitting their manuscript.
The journal accepts manuscripts of the following types, which are described in more
detail below:
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Original research
Public health evaluation
Public health methodology
Case study/practice
Brief report
Reports and recommendations
Systematic review
Commentary
Letter to the Editor
What to Expect After Submission
Corresponding authors will receive acknowledgment of receipt within 48 hours.
Typically, decisions regarding external peer review are provided within 2 to 3
weeks.
Submitting Your Manuscript to the Journal
Page numbering and line spacing/numbering: To aid in the review process, please
include page numbers, use continuous line numbering, and use 1.5-line spacing.
Manuscripts should be formatted with .75-inch margins on all sides and use 12-point
Times New Roman font.
Cover letter: Include a cover letter that contains the following information:
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A description of the article and explanation of why it is unique, relevant, and
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applicable to PHR.
A description of the contribution that the article makes to knowledge or
perspective on the topic.
A statement that the material has not been published nor is being considered for
publication elsewhere.
A statement indicating institutional review board determination (approval or
waiver) for all studies involving people, medical records, and human tissues.
A statement regarding any potential conflict of interest.
A disclosure noting any similar or related work submitted or published elsewhere.
Title page: (a) title (short and descriptive); (b) keywords; (c) full names of all authors,
including their graduate degrees (when the number of authors exceeds 10, the cover
letter should contain a justification for this); (d) all authors’ institutional affiliations and job
titles during the course of the research (and current affiliation and title for corresponding
author if different); (e) name, advanced degrees, affiliation, street address, telephone
number, and e-mail address of corresponding author; (f) word count of the text
(exclusive of abstract, tables, and references), and the number of charts, tables, and
figures.
Abstract: The abstract should be written clearly, succinctly, and generally in
accordance with AMA style. Structured abstracts of research articles (250-word
maximum) should contain four parts labeled Objectives, Methods, Results, and
Conclusions. Unstructured abstracts should be a maximum of 150 words without
abbreviations, symbols, or references to tables or figures. Numerical references should
not be included in the abstract.
Keywords: Please provide 3-5 keywords that represent the key topics presented in the
article.
References: References follow AMA style. Numerical references should not be
embedded in the text (ie, please do not use the “Footnote and Endnote” function in
Microsoft Word for references). Citations of personal communications or unpublished
material should appear in the text in parentheses. PHR does not use substantive
footnotes in the text.
Tables and figures: Tables and figures should be placed after the references, each on
its own separate page in portrait orientation. Tables and figures in landscape orientation
will be returned for revision. See criteria for specific types of manuscripts hereafter to
learn of table and figure limits per manuscript.
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Titles: PHR follows AMA style. In addition, all tables and figures should stand on
their own. This means that a reader who never sees the text of the article should
be able to understand the sense of the material being presented. The title should
state the “what, where, and when” of the material fully (e.g., “Demographic
characteristics of patients who were offered, accepted, and declined HIV testing at
an urban health center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2012-2014”). Footnotes
should be added to explain all notations and acronyms used in the table or figure.
If the table reports data from a source, the unabbreviated name of the source
should be included in the title. The time period covered by the data reported
should always be included.
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Format: TIFF, JPEG: Common format for pictures (containing no text or graphs).
EPS: Preferred format for graphs and line art (retains quality when
enlarging/zooming in).
Placement: Please add a placeholder note in the running text (ie “[insert Figure
1.]")
Resolution: Rasterized based files (ie with .tiff or .jpeg extension) require a
resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). Line art should be supplied with a
minimum resolution of 800 dpi.
Color: Figures can be printed in color for a fee. Otherwise, images supplied in
color will be published in color online and black and white in print. Therefore, it
is important that you supply images that are comprehensible in black and white
or grayscale. Captions should reflect this by not using words indicating color.
Dimension: Check that the artworks supplied match or exceed the dimensions of
the journal. Images cannot be scaled up after origination.
Fonts: The lettering used in the artwork should not vary too much in size and
type (usually sans serif font as a default).
Manuscript Types/Length/Additional Review Criteria
PHR publishes manuscripts in the following categories. Authors should indicate
which category papers are to be considered for and be familiar with review criteria
for that category.
Original Research
Description
Report of research conducted to increase the body of knowledge
of a particular public health concern, establish or confirm facts,
reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing
problems, or support previous or develop new theories.
3000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives,
Number of
words/tables/figures Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than 5
tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
Yes
Manuscript format
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion,
Conclusions, References, and Tables/Figures.
• Facilitates the movement of science into public health
practice.
• Presents actionable results derived from original research.
• Uses sound scientific methods, including appropriate
use of statistics.
• Reports on recent data (less than 5 years old preferred)
that include a description of entry criteria for clinical studies
and response rates for survey data.
• Uses plain language relevant to a broad range of public
health professionals.
Review criteria
Public Health Evaluation
Description
Report of an evaluation conducted to determine whether a public
health program or practice of potential interest to other
jurisdictions or policy makers has met its stated goals.
Number of
3000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives,
words/tables/figures Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than 5
tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
Yes
Manuscript format
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Description of program/project
being evaluated, Purpose of evaluation (including evaluation
criteria), Methods, Results, Lessons Learned, References, and
Tables/Figures.
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Review criteria
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Presents actionable results derived from original work.
Offers models of practice that can be replicated by others.
Uses sound scientific methods, including appropriate use
of statistics.
Reports on recent data (less than 5 years old preferred).
Public Health Methodology
Description
Describes a new or proposed application of epidemiologic or
other scientific methods (eg, surveillance, participatory research)
to public health problems.
Number of
3000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Introduction,
words/tables/figures Materials and Methods, Results, and Practice Implications), and
no more than 5 tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
Yes
Manuscript format
Review criteria
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods,
Results, Discussion, Practice Implications, References, and
Tables/Figures.
• Uses methods relevant to the theory and
practice of epidemiology/public health science.
• Includes applications and examples with original
data to illustrate methodology.
• Describes how the method can be used in practice
and the public health implications of its use.
Case Study/Practice
Description
Describes innovative public health programs and initiatives, their
current status, documented outcomes, and lessons learned.
Number of
2000-word limit, 150-word unstructured abstract, and no more
words/tables/figures than 2 tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
Yes
Manuscript format
Review criteria
Unstructured Abstract, Introduction, Purpose, Methods,
Outcomes, Lessons Learned, References, and Tables/Figures.
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Presents actionable results derived from original work.
Offers models of practice that can be replicated by others.
Reports on recent data (less than 5 years old preferred).
Describes lessons learned clearly.
Brief Report
Description
A short report that provides preliminary or exploratory results of
original research.
Number of
1500-word limit, 150-word unstructured abstract, and no more
words/tables/figures than 2 tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
Yes
Manuscript format
Unstructured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results,
Discussion, References, and Tables/Figures.
Review criteria
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Uses sound scientific methods, including appropriate use
of statistics.
Reports on recent data (less than 5 years old preferred).
Uses plain language relevant to a broad range of public
health professionals.
Reports and Recommendations
Description
Articles authored by a standards-setting or recommendationsmaking entity that affects public health policy or practice. These
manuscripts have been previously vetted by the issuing
organization.
Number of
Word limit to be negotiated with PHR Editor, 150-word
words/tables/figures unstructured abstract, and no more than 5 tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
At the discretion of the PHR Editor.
Manuscript format
Unstructured Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Recommendations,
Public Health Practice Implications, References, and
Tables/Figures.
Review criteria
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Systematic Review
Presents actionable recommendations or standards based
on original research (may be research of others).
Offers evidence of thorough vetting by appropriate
stakeholders prior to submission.
Provides recommendations supported by science.
Description
A thorough summary of literature relevant to a public health
research question, providing unbiased findings so that others can
draw conclusions or make decisions that affect public health
practice or policy.
Number of
3000-word limit, 250-word structured abstract (Objectives,
words/tables/figures Methods, Results, and Conclusions), and no more than 5
tables or figures.
Peer reviewed
Yes
Manuscript format
Structured Abstract, Introduction, Methods (data sources,
inclusion and exclusion criteria, and criteria for assessing data),
Results, Discussion, Public Health Implications, References, and
Tables/Figures.
Review criteria
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States clearly a set of objectives with predefined eligibility
criteria.
Provides an explicit, reproducible methodology.
Uses a systematic search that attempts to identify all
studies that would meet the eligibility criteria.
Offers an assessment of the validity of the findings of the
included studies (eg, through the assessment of risk of
bias).
Provides a systematic presentation and synthesis of the
characteristics and findings of the included studies.
Commentary
Description
Opinion pieces that initiate or focus discussion on current and
emerging public health issues via description of important
scientific and programmatic developments, new technologies,
relevant policy issues, and current scientific debates.
Number of
2000-word limit and no more than 2 tables or figures.
words/tables/figures
Peer reviewed
At the discretion of the PHR Editor
Manuscript format
Unstructured format including Introduction, Discussion, Public
Health Implications, References, and Tables/Figures.
Review criteria
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Proposes a valid argument that will improve public health.
Supports point of view with strong evidence.
Cites references to support the author’s opinion.
Letter to the Editor
Description
Comments on published manuscripts either to clarify or to expand
understanding of the subject.
Number of
500-word limit; tables/figures allowed if relevant to the discussion.
words/tables/figures
Peer reviewed
No; author(s) of originally published manuscripts will have
opportunity to respond.
Manuscript format
Unstructured
Review criteria
At the discretion of the PHR Editor
Contributions to "Law and the Public’s Health"
Public Health Reports welcomes contributions to the journal’s “Law and the Public’s
Health” department, edited by Sara Rosenbaum, JD, the Harold and Jane Hirsh
Professor of Health Law and Policy, Milken Institute School of Public Health, at The
George Washington University.
“Law and the Public’s Health” appears in each bimonthly issue of PHR. Articles
address issues of high importance to public health policy and practice in a succinct
style (under 2000 words). PHR encourages submissions by legal scholars and
practitioners. Potential authors should consult previously published columns to
determine likely topics and proper formatting. Cover letters should indicate that the
submission is intended for “Law and the Public’s Health.” Potential authors with
questions about the suitability of a submission should contact Professor Rosenbaum
at [email protected].
Contributions to "From the Schools and Programs of Public Health"
The journal welcomes contributions to "From the Schools and Programs of Public
Health," a department of the journal that specializes in articles on schools and
programs of public health, the theory and practice of public health education, and all
the issues that are faced by schools and programs of public health, and their faculties
and students. Submissions may be of any manuscript type. Submissions are
subjected to peer review according to the manuscript type.
Copyright
It is a condition of publication in the journal that authors, excluding authors employed
by the US government, assign copyright to the Association of Schools and Programs
of Public Health (ASPPH). Authors may use their own material in other publications
provided PHR is acknowledged as the original place of publication.
Material published in the journal may be used, modified, reproduced, and distributed by
the US government for government purposes.
Peer Review
After an initial review by the Editor and the Editorial Committee, the journal selects
promising submissions for external peer review; these manuscripts are sent to 2 or
more external reviewers. The journal does not routinely accept recommendations for
peer reviewers from authors. After external peer review is completed, the Editor and
Editorial Committee select articles for additional consideration after revision. The PHR
Editor makes final decisions on all submissions.