Author Guidelines

Guide for Authors

The Saudi Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) welcomes submissions from researchers, academics, and practitioners in applied medical sciences. To maintain consistency and high quality, authors must adhere to the following guidelines.

 

Types of Submissions

  1. Original Research Articles

    • Full reports of experimental, observational, and non-experimental studies that make a significant contribution to applied medical sciences.
    • Includes clinical trials, epidemiological studies, surveys, implementation studies, and policy analyses.
    • Word limit: up to 5000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures).
    • References: up to 50.
    • Maximum: 6 tables/figures combined.

 

  1. Review Articles

    • Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, or narrative reviews that critically evaluate existing literature.
    • Word limit: 6000 words.
    • References: up to 120.

 

  1. Short Communications

    • Concise reports of significant findings requiring rapid publication.
    • Word limit: 2000 words, up to 25 references.
    • Maximum: 2 tables/figures.

 

  1. Case Reports / Case Series

    • Novel or rare clinical cases that provide important diagnostic or therapeutic insights.
    • Word limit: 1500 words, up to 20 references.

 

  1. Letters to the Editor

    • Brief commentary or critiques of published articles, or discussions of emerging issues.
    • Word limit: 400 words, up to 10 references.

 

  1. Editorials

    • By invitation only. Expert commentary on current issues in health sciences.

 

  1. Special Issues and Supplements

    • Guest-edited collections on specific topics of national or global importance.

 

Manuscript Preparation

  1. Cover Letter

Each submission must include a cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief. The cover letter should:

 

  • Confirm the manuscript is original, not under review elsewhere, and not previously published.
  • Declare conflicts of interest, funding sources, and ethical approvals (if applicable).
  • Confirm all authors have approved the submission.
  • Suggest 2–3 potential reviewers (optional).
  1. Title Page

The title page must include:

  • Full manuscript title (≤20 words).
  • Author names, academic degrees (max. two), and institutional affiliations (department, university, city, country).
  • ORCID iD for each author.
  • Designation of corresponding author (full contact details: postal address, email, telephone).
  • Word count (main text only).
  • Number of tables and figures.
  1. Abstract and Keywords
  • Maximum 250 words.
  • Structured as: Objective – Methods – Results – Conclusion.
  • Avoid abbreviations and references.
  • Provide 3–6 keywords, preferably using MeSH terms.

 

  1. Main Text Structure

The manuscript should be organized into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Methods (study design, participants, procedures, materials, software, ethics approval)
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Conflict of Interest Statement
  • Funding Statement
  • Ethical Approval (if applicable)

 

  1. Formatting Requirements
  • File type: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.
  • Line spacing: 1.5 throughout (including abstract, references, tables, and figure legends).
  • Margins: 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides.
  • Alignment: Left-aligned (not justified).
  • Page numbering: Bottom right corner.
  • Headings: Use a clear hierarchy (e.g., Heading 1 for main sections, Heading 2 for subsections).
  1. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations
  • Cite in the text in order of appearance.
  • Tables: Title above, notes below.
  • Figures: Legend below.
  • Figures must be submitted as high-resolution files (≥300 dpi, JPEG or TIFF).
  • All images must be clear, with scale bars where applicable.
  1. References
  • Follow the Vancouver (AMA) style.
  • Cited in numerical order, in brackets [1], [2,3].
  • Journal names abbreviated according to Index Medicus.

Examples:

Journal article:

Smith JA, Lee RT. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. J Mol Biol. 2020;432(10):3001–12. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2020.04.007

Book:

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th ed. Garland Science; 2015.

 

  1. Reprints and Author Copies
  • Authors will receive a PDF copy of the final published version free of charge.
  • Up to five complimentary print copies will be provided to the corresponding author.
  • Additional reprints may be purchased at cost through the publisher.

Post-Acceptance Process

  • Accepted manuscripts will undergo copyediting, formatting, and proofreading.
  • The corresponding author will receive proofs to approve before publication. Only minor corrections are allowed at this stage.
  • Final versions will be published online and/or in print in the next scheduled issue.
  • Corrections or errata, if necessary, will be issued by the Editorial Office.