Study Protocols
Study Protocol articles
Study Protocol articles provide a comprehensive overview of the design of prospective research, aiming to facilitate the dissemination of ongoing studies and enhance transparency in clinical and biomedical research. These articles outline the hypothesis, rationale, methodology, and ethical considerations of the study, serving as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians.
We consider study protocols for proposed or ongoing prospective clinical research, provided that participant recruitment has not been completed at the time of submission. Protocols for retrospective studies, feasibility studies, or pilot studies are not eligible. Additionally, study protocols will not be considered if any articles reporting data from the study have already been published or are under review.
Submission guidelines
- Study Protocol articles undergo peer review.
- The manuscript should not exceed 3,500 words.
- A maximum of 10 figures and/or tables may be included.
- The paper should follow a 5-part structure: Highlights, Introduction, Methodology, Discussion, Conclusion.
- The abstract should not exceed 300 words and follow a 4-part structure: Introduction, Methodology, Discussion, Conclusion.
- Formal ethical approval from an appropriate ethics committee is mandatory.
- For clinical studies, registration in a public clinical trial registry is mandatory before manuscript submission.
- Authors are strongly encouraged to follow the SPIRIT guidelines (SPIRIT Statement).
This structured approach ensures that Study Protocol articles contribute meaningfully to the research community while maintaining rigorous academic and ethical standards.