Journal of Travel Medicine—Instructions for Authors
The Journal of Travel Medicine will consider publication of manuscripts that deal with the broad field of travel medicine and migration health and have not been published, simultaneously submitted, or already accepted for publication elsewhere. This does not preclude consideration of a complete report that follows publication of preliminary findings elsewhere.
Online Submission
Authors with internet connections should submit manuscripts, including figures and tables, to the JTM submission website (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jtm). Loading instructions are given at this site. For assistance please contact ScholarOne technical support at +1-434-817-2040 x167 or email support@scholarone.com. If you are not able to submit online, please contact the Editorial Office JTM, c/o Prof. Robert Steffen, MD, Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail: jtm.editor@istm.org.
Manuscripts should be identified as submissions to one of the following categories:
- An original article: title page, a structured abstract, text pages, references, tables, figure legends, and figures (see Layout for all submissions, below)
- A brief communication: no more than 2 printed pages with a nonstructured abstract (maximum 50 words), 10 references, and 1 figure or table
- A review including a nonstructured abstract (maximum 100 words)
- An editorial/opinion/debate on commonly asked questions/ education
- A letter, usually referring to a previously printed contribution.
- A photograph (with accompanying brief legend) depicting a classic diagnostic feature of a tropical disease or condition, or of situations related to travelers’ health and travel locations; photographs will usually be published in black and white, and exceptionally in color
LAYOUT FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS
Each manuscript should be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document, including all tables on separate pages following the reference list, together with a full list of numbered figure legends. Figures should be submitted as separate documents, each bearing a figure number, and not embedded in Word or PowerPoint.
Create the text, preferably in Times New Roman, 12 pt, on standard size pages, double-spaced throughout with margins of at least 2.5 cm (1 in.). Do not right-justify margins and do not use a hard line return except when ending a paragraph. All pages should be numbered consecutively in the right upper corner, beginning with the title page.
Title Page
On the title page, include the following: the title of the paper; a running title of 69 or fewer letters and spaces; the first name, middle initial, and last name and the highest academic rank attained by each author; the name of department and institution for each author; footnotes indicating the meetings at which the paper has been presented, if any; grants or other financial support, if any; and the name and address of the person to whom reprint requests should be addressed.
Abstract
Abstracts are required for original articles, reviews, and brief communications. Original articles require a structured abstract of 250 to 300 words with the following headings: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Review articles require a nonstructured abstract of approximately 100 words, and brief communications require a nonstructured abstract of 50 words maximum. Use a separate page to provide an abstract.
Text
Usually the text is structured as mentioned under Abstract (see above) for original articles. Whenever research involves human subjects, authors must state in the Methods section that the project had obtained approval from a recognized ethics committee. For other contributions the structure is not regulated, but always keep the text as concise as possible.
All tables and figures must be cited in text and numbered in order of citation.
References
All references must be cited by number in the text, tables, or figure legends. References should be numbered and typed doublespaced in the order of their occurrence in the manuscript. List all authors when there are four or fewer; otherwise list the first three followed by "et al." References to journals should include (in this order) authors’ names with initials, article title, journal name (Index Medicus abbreviations), year, volume number, and inclusive page numbers.
Example: DuPont HL, Ericsson CD. Prevention and treatment of traveler’s diarrhea. N Engl J Med 1993; 328:1821-1827.
References to books should include (in this order) authors’ names with initials, chapter title, editors’ name and initials, book title and edition, city, publisher, year of publication, and inclusive page numbers.
Example: Goepp JG, Hirschhorn B. Fluid therapy of diarrhea. Part I: developing countries. In: Walker WA, Durie PR, Hamilton JR, et al, eds. Pediatric gastrointestinal disease. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, management. Vol 2. Philadelphia: BC Decker, 1991:1561-1566. Example: Bayless TM, ed. Current therapy in gastroenterology and liver disease. 3rd Ed. Philadelphia: BC Decker, 1990.
The author is responsible for the accuracy of the references. Manuscripts accepted but not yet published should be designated "in press." Unpublished information in manuscripts submitted for publication should be cited in text (not in the reference list) by name(s) of author(s) and "personal communication" and should include the date of the communication.
Tables
Tables should be prepared in Microsoft Word, not as images. They should be double-spaced, each on a separate page, including a brief title and all headings in place, and be placed at the end of the manuscript, following the reference list.
Figures
Figures should be provided in black and white. New line drawings should be prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator. Existing figures must NOT be embedded in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint as quality and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Existing line drawings should be saved in grayscale as TIF, JPG, or EPS files at 600 dpi at 13 cm (5 in.) in width (flow charts must not exceed 18 cm [7 in.] in width). Black and white photographs should be saved in grayscale as TIF files at 300 dpi at about 13 cm (5 in.) in width. It is advisable to send the original image (ie, an untouched digital image from a camera). When in doubt, send hard copies for scanning. Each figure should bear a figure number corresponding to a legend listed in the manuscript. Include the original magnification of photomicrographs, and identify stains used in preparations. Color photographs will need to be approved on an individual basis for publication in color.
PERMISSION
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to republish figures, tables, or other previously published material in their articles, and copies of the approved permission forms must be submitted with the articles. A signed consent form must accompany all photographs of identifiable patients, or, alternatively, the author must block out the eyes in such a way as to make the patient unrecognizable.
COVER LETTER
A cover letter should include the following:
- Identification of one person (with address, e-mail address, telephone, and fax number) as corresponding author, who is responsible for all communication.
- A statement that the manuscript has been seen and approved by all authors, who accept full responsibility for the content. It should also indicate that the authors had full access to the data and their analysis, as well as drafting the article or editing an author’s draft.
- Disclosure by the corresponding author of sponsorship of the performed research. Such information will not be released to reviewers or influence the editorial decision.
- Proof submitted by the corresponding author of registration in a
public trials registry as requested by the International Committee
of Medical Journals Editors. (See
All authors must sign individual and detailed declarations on possible conflicts of interest (COIDs). The corresponding author will be sent the COID form and will be responsible for sending this to each coauthor and for collecting and forwarding to the editorial office all completed declarations.
REVIEW AND ACTION
Manuscripts will be reviewed by the editor and sent to at least two outside reviewers. All manuscripts and letters are subject to editing before publication. Authors are responsible for reviewing the copyedited manuscript and providing answers to author queries and for proofreading the final typeset version sent as a pdf. A Reprint Order form with current rates will be e-mailed to the corresponding author along with the pdf page proofs.
Reprints in quantities of 100 or more may be ordered from The Sheridan Press, Reprint Department, 450 Fame Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331; tel: (717) 632-3535.
TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT
At the time of manuscript acceptance, authors will be required to grant copyright of their articles to the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), unless they are federal employees at the time the work is done, in which case there is no copyright.
Copyright assignment is a condition of publication and papers will not be passed to the publisher for production unless copyright has been assigned.
