Author Guidelines

Section

Details

Scope

TUJMS is an open-access, international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality, original research in general medical sciences and healthcare. This includes fields such as clinical medicine, biomedical sciences, public health, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, laboratory medicine, and allied health. The journal aims to promote the advancement of scientific knowledge, improve clinical practice, and support public health in the region and globally. TUJMS particularly encourages submissions from early-career researchers and underrepresented regions. The full text of the journal is freely available at https://journals.tu.edu.ly/tujms/index.php/jms.

Type of Papers

TUJMS considers the following types of submissions:

1. Original Research Articles – Full-length reports presenting novel findings from clinical, laboratory, or public health research.

 2. Review Articles – Comprehensive summaries and critical analyses of the existing literature on specific topics.

3. Short Communications – Brief reports of new insights or important preliminary data.

4. Case Reports – Detailed presentations of clinical cases that offer unique learning points.

5. Letters to the Editor – Concise responses, comments, or observations about published TUJMS content or recent medical developments.

Submission

Manuscripts must be submitted via the TUJMS Online Submission System: https://journals.tu.edu.ly/tujms/index.php/jms.

Email submissions are not accepted.

TUJMS Manuscript Submission Requirements

Authors must prepare their manuscript using the official TUJMS manuscript formatting template, available on the journal website.

The following documents must be submitted:

The Full Manuscript must be submitted in .docx format and include the names of all authors, their affiliations, and any acknowledgments. It must be prepared using the TUJMS manuscript formatting template.

A Blinded Manuscript must also be submitted in .docx format. This version should omit all author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, and any other identifying information. It is used for anonymous peer review and should otherwise match the full manuscript in structure and content.

A Cover Letter is optional but recommended. It should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief and briefly summarize the manuscript’s purpose, novelty, and relevance to the journal's scope.

An Author Declaration and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form must be completed by each author using the formatting template provided on the journal website. The Corresponding Author is responsible for collecting and compiling all completed forms into a single PDF file for submission.

An Ethical Approval Certificate is required for any study involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data. This document must clearly indicate the approving institutional body and reference number, if applicable.

The EQUATOR Reporting Checklist must be submitted based on the type of study. Authors should follow the appropriate reporting guideline, such as CONSORT for clinical trials, STROBE for observational studies, or PRISMA for systematic reviews.

A Data Availability Statement is required to describe where and how the data supporting the study’s findings can be accessed, or to explain any restrictions that apply.

Supplementary Materials may also be submitted as needed. These can include extended methods, raw datasets, appendices, or multimedia content relevant to the article but not essential for understanding the main text.

Permissions

Authors are responsible for securing permission to reproduce any previously published materials, such as tables, figures, or illustrations. Written evidence of these permissions must be submitted along with the manuscript. TUJMS cannot publish copyrighted material without verified consent.

Checklist Before Submission

Before submitting, ensure the following items are included and completed: ✓ Full contact details for all authors ✓ Signed authorship and conflict of interest forms ✓ Cover letter ✓ Structured abstract and 3–6 keywords ✓ All tables and figures in editable format ✓ Complete and correctly formatted reference list ✓ EQUATOR checklist (if applicable) ✓ ORCID ID for each author (recommended) ✓ Data availability statement

Manuscript Format

Manuscripts must follow the required formatting rules set by TUJMS. Submissions that do not comply with these guidelines or are not prepared using the TUJMS manuscript template will be returned without review. Manuscripts should be typed using Times New Roman, font size 12, with double line spacing throughout the entire document, including the references. A minimum margin of 2.5 cm should be maintained on all sides of each page. The text must be fully justified, including the abstract. All pages must be numbered consecutively, beginning with the title page. In addition, continuous line numbering should be applied throughout the manuscript to facilitate the review process.

Structure

Manuscripts must be organised in the following order: - Title Page - Abstract & Keywords - Main Text (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion) - Tables and Figures - Acknowledgements - Declarations - References - Data Availability Statement

Title Page

The title page must include a clear, concise, and informative title of the manuscript, followed by the full names of all authors. Each author's affiliation should be provided and must include the department, institution, city, and country. Superscript numbers should be used to link authors with their respective affiliations, which should appear as footnotes to their names. The corresponding author should be clearly identified with an asterisk (*) and must provide a complete mailing address, telephone or mobile number, and email address. This information is essential to facilitate communication throughout the editorial and peer-review process.

Abstract & Keywords

A structured abstract (250-300 words) is required, divided into: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Abstracts must be written in clear, non-technical language and should not contain abbreviations or citations. Authors must include 3–6 keywords to facilitate indexing.

Main Sections

Introduction: Define the research problem and provide background context. Summarise previous studies and state the research hypothesis or aims. Materials and Methods: Describe study design, participant selection, experimental setup, ethical approval, and statistical methods. Include the manufacturer and model for the equipment used. Results: Present findings in a logical order. Use tables and figures to support the text, but avoid duplication. Include p-values and confidence intervals where appropriate.

Discussion: Interpret and compare findings with existing literature. Discuss limitations and implications for future research. Conclusion: Provide a clear, concise summary of major findings and their relevance to the field.

Acknowledgements

Recognise the contributions of individuals who did not qualify for authorship, including technical support and editorial help. All sources of financial support must be acknowledged here.

Declarations

Funding: Clearly disclose all funding sources and grant numbers. Conflicts of Interest: Declare any potential conflicts that may affect objectivity. Ethics: Provide details of ethics approval, consent processes, and welfare considerations. If not applicable, state explicitly.

Reference

To maintain consistency and quality across all published articles, TUJMS requires all submitted manuscripts to follow the Vancouver referencing style for citations and reference lists.

  • Number references consecutively in the order they appear in the text.
  • Use Arabic numerals in square brackets [ ] for in-text citations (e.g., [1], [2,3], [4–6]).
  • Include all authors if there are six or fewer; for more than six, list the first six followed by "et al."
  • Use abbreviated journal names as indexed in PubMed (no italics or bold).
  • Capitalize only the first word of the title and proper nouns.
  • End each reference with a period.
  • Do not include DOIs unless required by the editorial office.

Tables & Figures

Tables: Must be submitted in editable Word format. Use Times New Roman, 10 pt. Each table must include a title and footnotes explaining abbreviations and statistics.

Figures: Submit high-quality images (≥300 dpi) in JPEG or TIFF. Figures must be numbered and accompanied by descriptive legends provided in a separate section. Use colour schemes that are distinguishable by all readers.

Plagiarism & AI Policy

All manuscripts are screened using iThenticate 2.0 and Crossref Similarity Check. TUJMS allows a total similarity index of up to 20%, with no more than 5% from any one source. Limited use of AI tools for language support is permitted, but AI-generated content must not exceed 30% of the total manuscript. Authors must disclose AI usage in the cover letter and within the manuscript. Excessive or undisclosed use may lead to rejection. TUJMS uses AI detection software alongside editorial review.

Reporting Guidelines

Authors must adhere to EQUATOR Network reporting standards applicable to their study design: - CONSORT (randomised trials) - STROBE (observational studies) - PRISMA (systematic reviews) - CARE (case reports) Authors must submit the relevant completed checklist(s) at submission to ensure accurate, transparent reporting.

Privacy Policy

TUJMS strictly protects the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and associated author data. Author information is used only for processing submissions, correspondence, and publication workflows.

Editorial Independence

All editorial decisions are made independently by the editorial board and reviewers. Sponsorships, affiliations, or institutional ties do not influence peer review or acceptance. If TUJMS receives future sponsorship, this will be declared, and editorial processes will remain unaffected.

DOI and Indexing Timeline

Upon acceptance, articles are assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). TUJMS is actively applying for inclusion in indexing databases to enhance discoverability and citation.

Contact

For editorial enquiries, support with submissions, or technical issues, please email: tujms@tu.edu.ly