Submissions

01. INTRODUCTION

Revista Gregoriana de Ciencias de la Salud is an electronic journal for Health Sciences professionals. The journal accepts publishing original articles, case reports, reviews, and letters to the editor in Spanish and English, previously approved by the editorial board and not proposed to other scientific journals. The evaluation process is double-blind and follows international standards. The submission and management of manuscripts are carried out through the Open Journal System platform. After receiving evaluations, authors will have up to 30 days to make corrections. If you do not send it within that interval, withdrawal from manuscript publication could be considered.

Ethics in research and publication

The Gregorian Journal of Health Sciences follows Ecuadorian and international policies regarding publication ethics. Authors must provide complete information on potential conflicts of interest during the research and data collection. The Editorial Committee trusts that the authors and their respective institutions comply with policies that preserve scientific integrity in research and support the ethical principles of publications.

The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Council for Science (ICSU) standards as part of its ethical commitment. The journal follows the principles of transparency and good practices of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), as well as the precepts established in the Declaration of Singapore on research integrity.

The journal recognizes and respects the guidelines established by the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador for research on human beings. The approval of the Human Research Ethics Committees and Health Care Ethics Committees is essential to guarantee the ethical validity of the study published in our journal. This policy reinforces our commitment to ethics in research and promotes scientific integrity in the field of Health Sciences.

Studies on patients and volunteers must have approval from an ethics committee, and informed consent must be documented in the manuscript. Appropriate consents, permissions, and authorizations must be obtained to include case details, personal information, and images of patients and others in the publication. Although authors must retain written consent, sending copies to the journal is only necessary if requested explicitly in exceptional situations. In the absence of written permission from the patient or, as appropriate, the next of kin, the personal data of any patient in the manuscript and supplementary material must be removed before submission.

The journal's policy on the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies aims to provide transparency and guidance on the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies. It is emphasized that these tools should enhance the language rather than replace key functions of the authors, such as knowledge creation or medical recommendations. The importance of human supervision is highlighted due to possible incorrect or biased results from AI. Authors must report the use of AI in their manuscripts to promote transparency and trust. The Journal of Health Sciences prohibits using AI to manipulate images, except when it is part of the research design, where the methods used must be detailed.

Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing

Code of Conduct for Journal Editors

02. PUBLICATION AGREEMENT AND AUTHORSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

Publishing agreement

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships with individuals or organizations that could unduly affect their work. Potential conflicts of interest include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications or registrations, and grants or other funds. It must be explicitly declared without conflicts of interest: "The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest."

The submission of an article implies that the work has not been previously published (except in the form of an abstract, conference, or academic thesis), that it is not being considered for publication in another medium, and that all authors have approved its dissemination, and, tacitly or explicitly, by the authorities responsible for the place where the investigation was carried out. The article will be reviewed using an originality detection service to verify originality.

Inclusive language

Inclusive language recognizes diversity, conveys respect for all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities. In articles, you should avoid making assumptions about readers' beliefs or commitments, as well as avoid content that suggests the superiority of one individual over another based on characteristics such as race, sex, culture, or others. It is recommended to use inclusive language at all times but consistent with established grammatical norms and styles of scientific writing.

Authorship

Up to six authors will be admitted. Authorship will be attributed to those individuals who have contributed significantly to the design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All authors must meet the authorship criteria established by international guidelines, such as the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria.

All authors must agree to submit the manuscript and include their names in the author list. Submission of the manuscript implies the consent of all authors for authorship and publication. Individuals who have contributed significantly to the study but do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section. Authors are expected to disclose contributions that do not meet the authorship criteria.

The order of authors will be determined according to their contribution to the work. Authors must agree and confirm the order of authorship before manuscript submission. All authors must review and approve the final manuscript before submission and be aware that they are assuming collective responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the work. Any change to the list of authors after acceptance of the manuscript will require all authors' written consent. The designated corresponding author will assume responsibility for communication with the journal and will make sure to send relevant information to the other authors.

03. MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION AND DOCUMENTATION

Submission

The journal has an online submission system. Authors must pre-register or log in if already registered to complete the five-step submission process. Correspondence, including editorial decisions and review requests, will be through the journal's OJS platform.

Authors must submit, in separate files, the cover letter, title page (which includes title, authors, affiliations, abstract, and keywords in Spanish and English), the authors' contribution (according to CRediT), anonymized manuscript (no authors or affiliations), and the publication agreement signed by all authors. Recommended templates are available on the journal's website. Only complete submissions will be considered.

The corresponding author must ensure that each has read and approved the manuscript before submission. The authors approve that accepted manuscripts will be editorially reviewed (syntax and spelling) to adapt them to the journal's style, according to the instructions for authors.

Referees

Please provide the names and institutional email addresses of five potential reviewers. The editor reserves the exclusive right to determine whether suggested reviewers will be used.

Supplementary material

Supplementary material such as images, sound clips, and videos may be added to your article to help it. Submitted supplemental items will be posted exactly as received (Excel or PowerPoint files will appear as such online). Send your material to the journal's email and provide a concise, descriptive title for each supplementary file. If you want to make changes to the supplementary material during any stage of the process, please make sure that you provide an updated file.

Supplementary material, such as images, sound clips, and videos, may be included with your article to make it more transparent. Supplementary elements will be published as received, preserving their original format (for example, Excel or PowerPoint files). Submit such material and attach a concise, descriptive title for each supplemental file. If changes are required to the supplementary material at any stage, please provide an updated version of the corresponding file.

04. GENERAL EDITORIAL STANDARDS

Manuscripts must be submitted in Word format, using Times New Roman font at size 12, single spacing, on A4 paper, with a maximum length of 12 pages for original articles, which will include tables and figures. Review articles can be up to 20 pages. It is mandatory to use the template available on the journal's website to prepare the blinded manuscript. You should have a look at the articles in the last published issue for additional guidance.

Abbreviations and symbols

Use only standard abbreviations, following scientific style and formatting guidelines (Scientific Style and Format, The CBE Style Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 6th ed. Council of Biology, Chicago IL 1994). Avoid using abbreviations in the title or main headings. The full term corresponding to an acronym must be introduced before its first use in the text.

Units

It must adhere to internationally recognized standards and conventions by the International System of Units (SI). If you refer to other units, provide their equivalent in the SI system.

Peer review

The journal uses a double-blind peer review process. Initially, the editor will evaluate all contributions for suitability. Papers deemed suitable will be sent to at least two independent expert reviewers to assess their scientific quality (consult the peer review tools). The final decision on accepting or rejecting manuscripts rests with the editor.

Article structure

The editorial structure suggested by the APA standards for the publication of works will be followed, which includes the title, authors, affiliation addresses of the authors, abstract and keywords in Spanish and English, introduction, methodology, or presentation of the case (clinical case), results, discussions, conclusions, acknowledgments (optional), and bibliographical references.

05. TYPES OF ARTICLES

Original articles

An original article presents unique and previously unpublished results. This article contributes new information, findings, or approaches in a specific field, supported by sound methodology and detailed analysis. Original articles are essential for expanding scientific knowledge and understanding particular phenomena or problems in various disciplines. For publication, the following editorial structure is followed: title, authors, authors' affiliation addresses, summary and keywords in Spanish and English, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, acknowledgments (optional), and bibliographic references.

Case study

A case study describes in detail the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of one or more patients with an engaging, rare, or significant medical condition. They provide valuable information about clinical aspects, unique characteristics, or responses to specific treatments that can contribute to medical knowledge and assist in clinical decision-making. They typically include patient medical history, physical examinations, laboratory tests, imaging, and progress. Case reports are relevant in medicine to share clinical experiences and offer information that may be useful in similar situations. Its publication presents the following editorial structure: title, authors, affiliation addresses of the authors, summary and keywords in Spanish and English, introduction, presentation of the case, discussion, conclusions, acknowledgments (optional), and bibliographic references.

Reflection articles

A reflection article is a document that, instead of presenting empirical data, offers a critical analysis of research results, opinions, and reflections on ethical, social, or health policy issues. These articles provide personal or group perspectives to contribute to the debate and deeper understanding of key issues in the field of health, encouraging critical thinking and discussion. The following editorial structure is recommended: title, authors, authors' affiliation addresses, summary and keywords in Spanish and English, introduction, methodology as appropriate, discussions, conclusions, acknowledgments (optional), and bibliographic references.

Review articles

A review article synthesizes, analyzes, and critically evaluates existing research on a specific topic within a particular discipline. These articles aim to provide a complete and up-to-date view of knowledge in a given area. The authors review and summarize the relevant literature, identify trends, highlight research gaps, and synthesize the most significant findings. Review articles are valuable to researchers, health professionals, and students because they condense scattered information and provide an expert perspective on a specific topic. Its publication follows the following editorial structure: title, authors, authors' affiliation addresses, summary and keywords in Spanish and English, introduction, methodology, results, and discussion depending on whether it is a narrative or systematic review, conclusions, acknowledgments (optional). ) and bibliographical references.

Research essay

A health science research essay is an academic document that analyzes, evaluates, and interprets relevant information on topics related to human health. These essays are based on scientific research and usually address current and pertinent health issues, contributing to advancing knowledge and guiding health professionals and other interested parties. The typical structure includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusions.

Letters to the editor

A letter to the editor generally communicates opinions, comments, constructive criticism, or responses to articles previously published in the same journal. Letters to the editor allow readers to express their views on specific topics, ask questions, or provide additional information. They are often used to encourage dialogue between authors, the scientific community, and readers, thus contributing to the exchange of ideas and the continuous improvement of knowledge in the field of health. Its maximum length is 800 words, 2 figures, a table, and up to 10 bibliographical references. Up to a maximum of 4 authors are allowed.

06. ARTICLE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

• Title. It must be clear and descriptive, in Spanish and English, and not exceed 20 words. Titles are essential for information retrieval; avoid abbreviations and formulas when feasible.
• Author names and affiliations. Indicate the authors' full names, corresponding to their author signature, without including professional titles. Place the authors' affiliation addresses below their names, with Arabic numerals as superscripts before each address. Include each author's email address and ORCID (Open Researcher and Contribution ID / https://orcid.org). Please provide the complete mailing address for each membership, with the corresponding country. A maximum of six authors are allowed. If more authors are included, each author's contribution must be justified in a communication to the editor, regardless of the presentation of the authors' contribution requested as part of the manuscript submission.
• Corresponding author. It will be indicated with an asterisk. He is the main point of contact for questions related to the manuscript and is responsible for communicating with the journal and coordinating revisions.
• Abstract. Provide a concise and objective abstract in Spanish and English, unstructured and in a single paragraph, with a maximum length of 150 words. It should briefly address the purpose of the research, methodology used, main results, and conclusions. Since the abstract can be presented independently of the article, avoid references and non-standard or unusual abbreviations, and if necessary, define them in their first mention within the abstract itself.
• Keywords. After the summary, include three to six keywords according to the terms of the Medical Subject Headings (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh or http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/). Avoid abbreviations unless they are widely accepted in the field. These keywords will be used to index the article.
• Introduction. This section should contextualize the topic, present background information that supports the study, and clearly state the research objective. It may also include a critical review of relevant literature to place the study in its existing context and highlight the scientific novelty and importance of the research.
• Methodology.

Original, review, and reflection articles: This section details the sample selection processes and identifies methods, techniques, equipment, and procedures. It emphasizes that all procedures in humans and animals must comply with ethical standards, include the informed consent of the participants, and have authorization from the corresponding ethics committee.

Clinical case analysis: In this section, the development of the clinical picture should be described chronologically. Laboratory test results should include the international scale and corresponding normal range in parentheses. In addition, the generic name and dosage of the medications must be provided as necessary, always keeping patient confidentiality in mind.

• Results and discussion. The study's findings are presented and explained objectively, followed by an interpretation and connection to existing literature. Additionally, practical and theoretical implications, as well as limitations of the study, are addressed.
• Conclusions. This section summarizes key findings, highlights the importance of the results, discusses implications, and suggests directions for future research. It is the article's closing statement, highlighting the contributions to the field of study.
• Acknowledgement. The authors can express their gratitude to the people, institutions, and organizations that assisted with the research. This acknowledgment should be placed in a separate section at the end of the manuscript before references.
• Bibliographic references. References should follow the style guidelines recommended in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), seventh edition (2020). These resources are regularly updated as new media are developed, including guidance for printed documents, unpublished material, audiovisual media, material on CD-ROM, DVD or disk, and material on the Internet.

Detailed information about each cited source will be included, such as author, year of publication, work title, journal or book title, volume number, and pages. They should be organized in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first author. In-text citations can be inserted in the following ways:

• …according to García-Pérez et al. (2023), the food survey is an instrument to evaluate food intake in individuals or populations...
• …the food survey is an instrument to assess food intake in individuals or populations (García-Pérez et al., 2023)…

The author must ensure that all references cited in the text are present in the reference list and vice versa. As you know, referencing unpublished results or personal communications is not allowed.

07. AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS, FIGURES AND TABLES

Authors' contribution - CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy)

In the interest of transparency, the journal requests that authors submit a statement regarding the individual contributions of each author, regardless of the number of contributors. CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) is a taxonomy of authorship roles that many scientific publishers adopt to manage scientific publications.

Only those authors who have contributed significantly and made primary contributions (such as conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, funding acquisition, research, methodology, project administration, resources, software, supervision, validation, visualization, writing of the original draft, writing, review, and editing, among others). The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that contributions are accurate and by the number of declared authors. The journal's Editorial Committee reserves the right to consider, depending on the research characteristics, the effects of authorship. If there are inconveniences, these will be communicated to the authors during the evaluation process. The authorship contribution will be identified and used exclusively in research articles and clinical case presentations.

Figures

• Please make sure to maintain uniformity in letters and sizes when creating illustrations.
• Incorporate the fonts used if the application allows it.
• Use fonts such as Arial, Courier, Times New Roman, Symbol, or similar ones.
• List the figures according to their order of appearance in the text.
• Adapt the size of the illustrations to the desired dimensions for the published version.
• Ensure that color images are accessible to everyone, including those with color vision difficulties.

Tables

• Number the tables sequentially with Arabic numerals, accompanied by a descriptive heading.
• Avoid vertical lines and minimize horizontal ones.
• Include a description that allows an independent understanding of the table.
• Explain abbreviations, values, and statistics used in data analysis, referencing them correctly.

08. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Use updated and quality references, especially those published in the last five years and coming from scientific journals, both nationally and internationally, preferably indexed in databases of recognized prestige. Avoid citing your work. If you include information that is not part of your experiment and is not "common knowledge," be sure to attribute it with a citation. It is suggested that original articles contain between 15 and 30 references to maintain an appropriate balance. For review articles, between 35 and 50 references are recommended. In all cases, 50% of the references will correspond to primary and updated publications (at least 50% of the citations will be from the last 5 years).

General format

• You can use an alphabetical list of references at the end of the article.
• Organize references by the last name of the first author.

Online links to references

Including online links to references contributes to the dissemination of research and improves the quality of the peer review system. To ensure the creation of links to indexing services such as Scopus, CrossRef, and PubMed, the data in the bibliographic reference list must be accurate. Errors in author surnames, publication titles, years of publication, and pagination can hinder the creation of links to cited articles. The use of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is recommended. The DOI is used to cite and link articles before having complete bibliographic information (in press) since this identifier remains constant and can be used as a permanent link to an electronic article. Citations with DOI must follow the same style and format described in the standards for the rest of the bibliographic references.

It is important to highlight that the data and opinions expressed in the articles are the exclusive responsibility of the authors.

To access/download the Author Information Pack, click here.