instructions to authors - OMJ

Instructions to Authors
SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS
Manuscripts should be submitted online (http://www.omjournal.org), but if you have difficulty with online submission you may mail us
an electronic copy of the manuscripts on floppy disk or CD. To ensure that peer review is double-blinded, there should be no title page in
the file of the manuscript that is submitted online. The file name should not include the author’s name or other identifying text. Portions
of the submission (photographs, artwork, etc.) may be sent by mail if necessary, but we prefer that these be prepared in digital form and
submitted online. If you have difficulty, contact us by e-mail at omj2007@gmail.com.
MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION
The format of the Oman Medical Journal complies with “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals”
published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (see http://www.icmje.org). We encourage the use of reporting
guidelines such the CONSORT statement for randomized, controlled trials and the STROBE statement for observational studies
(see http://www.equator-network.org/). Manuscripts, including tables, references, and figure legends, must be prepared using a word
processing program and submitted online (http://www.editorialmanager.com/omj). Before submitting a manuscripts, create an account
on the Editorial Manager website.
We publish editorials, original articles, review articles, case reports, brief communications, clinical quizzes and letters to the editor.
Manuscripts should be produced to fit A4 paper, with approximately 3-cm margin on all sides. The length should not exceed 30 pages
(double spaced and single sided), less for case reports and book reviews. Use the Times New Roman font, 12 point in Microsoft Word.
Use minimum formatting, since most formatting will be removed before typesetting. Restrict formatting to superscripts and what
is absolutely essential to reveal various heading levels. All manuscripts must be accompanied by a covering letter, signed by all the
authors.
Title Page. This must contain only (a) The title of the paper, (b) The full names of all the authors and (c) Their affiliations and addresses,
including the email address of the corresponding author.
Abstract. All original articles must contain a structured abstract of not more than 250 words. Usually, the abstract should be divided into:
Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
Manuscript Format. Most Original Articles have the following format: Introduction (the question the paper intends to answer, what
remains unknown, how patients could benefit from the answer); Methods (study design and methods, operational definitions of major
variables, description of the patients or subject population, and laboratory and statistical methods); Results (pertinent findings in a
logical sequence with tables and figures as necessary); and Discussion (conclusion based on the findings, evidence from the literature
that supports the conclusions, conflicting evidence, applicability of the conclusions, limitations of the study, and implications for future
research or clinical applications).
References. List references in consecutive numerical order (the order of citation in the manuscript, and not alphabetically). Once a reference
is cited, all subsequent citation should be to the original number. All references must be cited in the text or tables. References to material
on the Internet should include the date of access. Manuscripts with incorrectly formatted citations will be returned to the author for
correction. The author is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the references and for their correct textual citation. In-text
reference numbers should be in superscript and place after the period or comma (not in parentheses), as at the end of this sentence. 1
Within a reference list all authors up to a maximum of six. If there are more than 6 authors then write “et al.” after the sixth author.
Please adopt the exact style as shown in the examples below, including punctuation and abbreviations of journal names, which should be
as per Index Medicus (see Journals Database section in PubMed)
Journal Citation (Omit month and issue number. List all authrs, but if the number is more than six, write “et al.” after the sixth author)
Heindenreich C, Lye P, Simpson D, Lourich M. The search for effective and efficient ambulatory teaching methods through the literature.
Pediatrics 2000; 105:231-237.
Oman Medical Journal 2008, Volume 23, Issue 2, April 2008

Instructions to Authors
Book Chapter
S.M. Breathnach. Drug Reaction. In Rook et al. Text Book of Dermatology. 7 th Edition. London, 2004. p.73.1-73.180, 74.1-74.20.
Book
Dewey J. The Quest for Certainty. New York: Minton, 1929.
Report
1. Ministry of Health, Oman. Annual Health Report 2007, Directorate General of Planning, Department of Information and Statistics,
2008.
2. Akutsu T. Total heart replacement device. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Health, national Heart and Lung Institute; 1974 Apr.
Report no: NIH-NHLI-69-2185-4
Online sources
1. Onlien book or website
Tardiff A, Harvey P, Cole III, Ralph E, et al. Dacryocele. Available at: www.fetus.net. Accessed May 30, 2006.
2. Online journal article:
Miyamotto O, Auer RN. Hypoxia, ischemia and brain necrosis. Neurology [serial online] 2000; 54:362-271. Available at: www.
Neurology.org. Accessed April 18, 2006.
3. Others:
Pregnancy after 35. From www.marchoftimes.com. Accessed Sept 2004.
Units of Measurement. With the exception of blood pressure, all units of measurement and laboratory values must be expressed in SI
units; conventional units may be included parenthetically.
Illustrations. Photographs, scientific graphs and other illustration should be uploaded as separate files, not embedded in Microsoft Word.
The format should be .TIF or .EPS at 300 dpi (dots per inch) or greater resolution (please see http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/about/
image_quality_table.html). File saving option can be found in most software in the ‘Save As’ or ‘Export’ commands under the ‘File’ menu.
Save original files in the event that submitted files are not suitable for publication. Graphs must be digitally scanned, if not prepared
initially as an electronic file in a scientific graphing program. Simple line and bar charts are usually sufficient. Avoid 3D charts. The
resolution of images prepared in Microsoft Powerpoint (72dpi) is not usually sufficient for print publication. Subjects in pictures should
not be identifiable. Written permission must accompany any illustration that has been previously published. All illustration must be
numbered as cited in the text in consecutive numeric order. For photomicrographs, the legend should include the original magnification
and stain used.
Tables. Tables should be prepared using the table function in Microsoft Word or other software. Verify tabular statistics to make sure
they tally and match data cited in the text.
Oman Medical Journal 2008, Volume 23, Issue 2, April 2008