American Journal of Health Education Author Guidelines
How to Submit a Manuscript
For consideration, contributors must observe the following procedures for submitting manuscripts to the American Journal of Health Education. All submission and review processes are electronic and conducted through JournalSubmit.com (www.journalsubmit.com). JournalSubmit.com is self-explanatory and Web-based. From the JournalSubmit.com home page, click the "Submit a Manuscript" link to log in. If this is the first time submitting a manuscript using JournalSubmit.com the author must register a Username and Password. Authors may track their manuscripts using the Track Manuscript feature and following the on-screen instructions.
Author Guidelines for all Manuscripts
1.Type manuscripts in Microsoft WORD, double-spaced throughout with a 12-point font.
2.Format the manuscript using the divisions discussed in the following paragraphs.
- Title page: Provide manuscript title only with no author information or institutional affiliation.
- Abstract: Research Articles require structured abstracts up to 200 words in length using italicized headings identical to the ones listed above. Feature Articles require descriptive abstracts up to 200 words in length without headings.
- Text: Research Articles and Feature Articles can be up to 25 double-spaced pages (~ 6250 words), not including abstract, tables, figures, illustrations, and references. Longer manuscripts will be considered but are subject to editing. Teaching Ideas; Community, Care Setting, and Worksite Initiatives ; and Commentaries should be no more than 1500 words long, not including accompanying illustrations and references. Follow the American Medical Association (AMA) 9th edition Manual of Style for preparing narrative, graphics, and reference portions of manuscripts.
Journal references with three or fewer authors:
Vitale S, Cotch MF, Sperduto RD. Prevalence of visual impairment in the United States. JAMA. 2006;295:2158-2163.
Journal references with four or more authors:
Bonilla M-F, Kaul DR, Saint S, et al. Ring around the diagnosis. N Engl J Med . 2006;354:1937-1942.
Books:
Green LW, Kreuter MW. Health Promotion Planning: An Educational and Ecological Approach, 3rd ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publications; 1999.
Quoted chapter from a book:
Baranowski T, Perry CL, Parcel GS. How individuals, environments, and health behavior interact: social cognitive theory. In Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK, eds. Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice, 3rd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 2002:153–178.
Web site: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Adults: United States, 1999. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs. Accessed July 1, 2006.
- Tables : Tables should use Arabic numbers in sequence throughout the article. Each table should be on its own page at the end of the manuscript. Do not submit tables as separate or supporting documents. Reference tables in the text to indicate placement. Include descriptive titles and headings for columns or rows. Avoid unfamiliar abbreviations. General footnotes to tables should be collected as "Note:" or "Notes:" Sequenced letters—a, b, c, etc—should be used in footnotes. Use asterisks (* and/or **) to indicate .05 and .01 levels of significance, respectively.
- Figures, Illustrations, Drawings and Photos : These images should be numbered sequentially, captioned, and referenced in the text. They should be appended to the end of the manuscript and not submitted as separate or supporting documents. Photos need to be 300 dpi at the size they will be used. For example, an image at 3"x 4" needs to be 300 dpi at that size. If an 8-1/2" x 11" image is submitted, it needs to be 300 dpi at that size. An image that is 300 dpi at 3"x 4" cannot be used at the 8-1/2" x 11" size, because when enlarged it becomes about 76 dpi. Produce photos on the highest "image size" for the camera. Photo credits will be captioned upon request.
Guidelines for Authors Submitting Manuscripts to the Research and Feature Article Columns
The Journal invites manuscripts reporting original research, applications of theory, experiences in practice, historical analyses, and other topics of interest to health educators in universities and other research settings, health departments and community agencies, federal and state agencies, health care settings, worksites, schools, and other venues. Whereas the Journal considers all manuscripts with implications for health education, data based research reports are preferred. Data based research manuscripts must include the following headings: Background, Purpose, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Translation to Health Education Practice.
Guidelines for Authors Submitting to the Teaching Ideas Column
Submissions to the column follow the same on-line submission process at www.journalsubmit.com (Journal ID for submission is AJHE-TI). Contributions to the teaching ideas column of the American Journal of Health Education should be suitable for an audience segment working with the school-age population (pre-K through college/university) and be a maximum of 1500 words long. There is a greater priority for ideas not primarily targeted for collegiate audiences. Authors should provide sufficient detail to allow easy adoption by instructors. Manuscripts must contain the following section headings: Introduction, Objectives, Materials and Resources, Target Audience, Procedure, and Assessment Technique. Authors should strive for clarity, and avoid lengthy literature reviews, long bibliographies, or wordy justifications. Prepare an abstract of ≤ 75 words that includes two italicized headings: Objectives and Target Audience. The Journal welcomes photographs and artwork if they enhance presentation and understanding. The bibliographic style is identical to that used for other submissions to the Journal. For further clarification, email Dr. Dixie Dennis, dennisdi@apsu.edu
Guidelines for Authors Submitting to the Community, Care Setting, and Worksite Initiatives Column
Submissions to the column follow the same on-line submission process at www.journalsubmit.com (Journal ID for submission is AJHE-CCSWI). Contributions should focus on practical ideas, procedures, and activities originating around the work of practicing health educators in non-school/university settings in the community, including health care facilities and worksites and be a maximum of 1500 words long. Appropriate ideas and procedures can relate to models that guide health educators' work, application of theory, program planning, needs assessment, setting priorities, goals and objectives, interventions, program implementation, resources development and allocation, community organization or mobilization, program evaluation, marketing, or other useful applications of health educator roles, responsibilities, or competencies. Authors should strive for clarity, avoiding extensive literature reviews, lengthy bibliographies, or wordy justifications. Manuscripts must include an unstructured abstract ≤ 75 words in length. The Journal welcomes photographs and artwork if they enhance presentation and understanding. The bibliographic style is identical to that used for other submissions to the Journal. For further clarification, email Dr. Leonard Jack, Jr. (ljack@lsuhsc.edu).
Commentaries
Submissions should follow the same on-line submission process previously described (Journal ID for Commentaries is AJHE). Commentaries are learned opinions that address contemporary issues in health education research, theory, philosophy, pedagogy, or practice. They are ≤ 1500 words in length, not including references. Submissions should have descriptive titles, followed by – A Commentary (e.g., The Future of Health Education – A Commentary). All submissions are peer-reviewed and are subject to editing. The bibliographic style is identical to that used for other submissions to the Journal but should not include an abstract or attachments.
Letters to the Editor
Letters are a maximum of 500 words, not including references. Letters referring to a recent Journal article must be received within 4 weeks of publication. Send the letter electronically directly to the Editor (rmcdermo@health.usf.edu). Letters are reviewed by members of the Board of Associate Editors. Receipt of letters and publication decisions will be acknowledged electronically.
General Information
The American Journal of Health Education cannot consider manuscripts simultaneously under review for publication elsewhere. All co-authors must have made a significant contribution to the manuscript. It is expected that authors adhere to ethical guidelines of the health education Code of Ethics, including disclosure of potential financial conflicts of interest. All manuscripts, except letters to the editor, are blindly reviewed by at least three reviewers. The evaluative disposition may be to accept, accept with revision, revise and resubmit, or reject. Upon acknowledgement of submitted manuscripts, authors are asked to submit the following release of copyright signed and dated by all authors to satisfy US copyright laws:
In consideration of American Journal of Health Education taking action in reviewing and editing my (our) submitted manuscript, the author(s) undersigned hereby transfer(s), assign(s), or otherwise convey(s) copyright ownership to American Journal of Health Education. The author(s) declare(s) that the manuscript contains no matter that is, to the best of the author's knowledge, libelous or unlawful, or that infringes upon any US copyright. In the event that the manuscript is NOT accepted for publication, copyrights revert to the author(s).
Articles in the Journal are a contribution to the profession, and no remuneration can be made. Authors receive three complimentary copies of the issue containing their manuscript. Page charges are not levied against authors. Authors may purchase reprints of their articles and they will be notified of ordering information upon acceptance of the manuscript. The Journal is published by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance on behalf of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE).
08/25/2009