Search

ACOP eJournal Article Categories

The ACOP eJournal welcomes the submission of papers in the following categories.


Each category contains, where relevant, recommended limits for word count, number of references, and number of tables or figures.  These limits should be seen as a helpful guide for authors as they prepare their manuscripts.  Manuscripts that exceed the suggest limits may be considered for publication with or without the editorial suggestion that the author shorten their manuscript.  Since the ACOP eJournal is an online publication, the recommended limits are more for readability and accessibility of the published articles.

Original Contributions: These include original clinical or applied research such as controlled trials, survey-based studies, observational studies, and quality improvement studies.  Authors must provide documentation of the decision from the author’s institutional review board for all investigational studies.  Original research should include an abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion section. Authors are encouraged to submit figures and tables.  Word limit: 4,500. Abstract word limit: 250. Figures/Tables: No more than 10.  References limited to:  50.

Evidence based medicine (EBM) corner: This section invites any evidence based medical investigations into clinical and practice based questions. All submissions should formulate a PICO question (Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome) and consist of a concise comparison of 3-4 quality studies with the authors’ original criticisms of the study and conclusions. Word limit: 2,500. Abstract word limit: 250.  Figures/Tables: No more than 4.  References limited to:  8.

Reviews: This section includes systematic reviews, meta-analyses, topic reviews, narrative reviews, and clinical reviews.  These manuscripts summarize and analyze published research that relates to a particular clinical question or topic. Reviews need to include a clear introduction to the topic, a detailed description summarizing the evidence, and a conclusion with identifiable take-home points and future implications.  Word limit: 4,500. Abstract word limit: 250.  Figures/Tables: No more than 8.  References limited to:  75.

Educational Communication:  This section invites authors to describe and discuss a variety of educational and biomedical topics of interest to osteopathic pediatricians including unique perspectives related to health care and delivery, osteopathic medical education, and career development.  Word limit: 2,500. Figures/Tables: No more than 4.  References limited to:  30.

Case Series and Case Reports: This section focuses on newly recognized or rarely reported clinical scenarios.  Submissions for cases are encouraged to provide images stripped of all patient-identifying information.  Each manuscript should include: an introduction to the specific disease/topic, a detailed description of the patient’s medical course (from presentation through diagnosis to treatment and outcomes), a summary of how this case differs from what has been reported in medical literature to date, and a conclusion. Word limit: 2,500. Abstract word limit: 250.  Figures/Tables: No more than 10.  References limited to:  50.

  • A case series: includes a collection of several patients’ with similar findings and reports.  The manuscript should provide pertinent details of each case.  These cases may report unusual or rare findings, but authors’ are also encouraged to submit common findings if they present a teachable lesson.
  • A case report: includes a clinical case that the author felt had significant educational value, such as a common disease that presented in an unusual way, in addition to rare cases or findings.

Picture Quiz: Authors are encouraged to submit a clinical image (photograph, radiographic image, etc) for use in educational purposes.  The image should be accompanied by a clinical question related to the finding in the image.  The answer to the question should provide more detail about the particular disease process/clinical finding.  Citations and permissions to reprint the image must accompany the submission.  Word limit: 200. Clinical Image: No more than 4.  References limited to:  4.

Student Contributions: An article that falls into any of the preceding categories written by osteopathic medical students, interns, or residents, including undergraduate and graduate research fellows.