GACOPA Medical Journal

Journal of the Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates

Guidelines for Authors

1. General Information

GACOPA Medical Journal (GACOPA Med J) publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed original research, reviews, case reports, and clinical studies in all fields of medicine and healthcare. We aim to provide a platform for advancing medical knowledge, promoting evidence-based practices, and contributing to global healthcare improvements.

Please read these guidelines carefully before submitting your manuscript to ensure that your submission meets our requirements. Manuscripts that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned for revision before being considered for peer review.

Types of Manuscripts Accepted

Original Research Article: Full-length research articles that present original data, methodology, and analysis that contribute to well-established knowledge in a particular field.

Scope 

  1. Medicine and medical sciences in all specialties
  2. Biomedical sciences
  3. Para-medical sciences
  4. Basic sciences

Length: 6000 words including figures, tables, references

Special Review Articles: Comprehensive reviews of a specific topic or research area, synthesizing existing evidence. Special articles includes  systematic review, meta-analysis, scoping review, integrative review and rapid review of special medical events, clinical notes and clinical investigation. Review articles should cite original works that lead to formulation of a concept, theory or hypothesis.

Scope 

  1. Medicine and medical sciences in all specialties
  2. Biomedical sciences
  3. Para-medical sciences
  4. Basic sciences

Length: 7000 words including figures, tables, references

Brief Reports (Letters to the Editor):

Short commentary on articles previously published in the journal or on important medical issues. This report reviews original article

Scope 

  1. Medicine and medical sciences in all specialties
  2. Biomedical sciences
  3. Para-medical sciences
  4. Basic sciences

Length: 1500 words including figures, tables, references

Case Report
Extremely rare cases and conditions including novel outbreaks. A collection of cases highlighting particular trends or problems in clinical practice.

Scope

  1. Medicine and medical sciences in all specialties
  2. Biomedical sciences
  3. Para-medical sciences
  4. Basic sciences

Length: 2500 words including figures, tables, references

Editorials (Commentary): Invited opinions, reflections, or perspectives from experts on current medical topics.

  • Main types
    1. Invited responses to plenary papers published in the journal
    2. Volunteered commentaries on articles published in the journal: The author of the critiqued
      article will have the opportunity to respond to the commentary; the commentary and the
      author’s response will appear together in the journal
    3. Perspectives in a particular field and on particular subject matter of substantial evidence are welcome
    1. Medicine and medical sciences in all specialties
    2. Biomedical sciences
    3. Para-medical sciences
    4. Basic sciences
    5. healthcare leadership
    6. clinical officers and physician associates professions

3. Submission Process

  • Online Submission: Manuscripts must be submitted through the GACOPA Med J online submission portal. Submissions by email are not accepted.
  • Registration: Authors must create an account on the journal’s submission system. You will be required to complete submission forms and upload necessary documents.
  • Manuscript Preparation: Ensure that the manuscript follows all formatting and style requirements as outlined in these guidelines.

Manuscript Preparation

All manuscripts should be written in clear, concise English. Non-native English-speaking authors are encouraged to have their manuscripts professionally edited to ensure clarity.

General formatting

  • Font: Use Times New Roman, 12 pt.
  • Margins: 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins on all sides.
  • Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout the manuscript, including the references.
  • Page Numbering: Pages should be numbered consecutively in the top right corner.
  • Sections: Manuscripts should be divided into the following sections (for research articles):
  • Title Page
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Main Text (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
  • References
  • Tables/Figures (each on a separate page)

 

Title Page

The title page should contain the following information:

  • Title: A concise title (maximum of 15 words) that clearly reflects the content and focus of the manuscript.
  • Author(s): Full names of all authors. Include the full affiliation (institution, department, city, country) for each author.
  • Corresponding Author: The name, email address, and postal address of the corresponding author.
  • Acknowledgments: Any acknowledgments of funding, contributions, or support from individuals or organizations.
  • Conflict of Interest: Declaration of any potential conflicts of interest for all authors.

Abstract

  • The abstract should be a maximum of 250 words.
  • It should be structured into Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusion sections (for research articles).
  • Keywords: After the abstract, provide 4-6 relevant keywords to assist in indexing.

Main Text

  • Introduction: A brief introduction explaining the context and rationale for the study, the research question, and the objectives of the study.
  • Methods: A detailed description of the research design, population/sample, data collection procedures, analysis methods, and any ethical considerations.
  • Results: A summary of the findings, presented in a clear and objective manner. Avoid excessive interpretation of the results here.
  • Discussion: A thorough discussion of the results, their significance, comparison with existing literature, implications for practice, and limitations of the study.
  • Conclusion: A brief conclusion summarizing the main findings and their potential impact on the field.
  • References: All references cited in the manuscript should be listed in the correct format (see Reference Formatting Guidelines).

Tables and Figures

  • Tables: Tables should be numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Table 2) and should have a descriptive title. Tables should be clear, concise, and formatted according to journal guidelines.
  • Figures: Figures should also be numbered consecutively (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2). Each figure must be accompanied by a legend that explains its content.
  • Resolution: Images and figures should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
  • File Format: Tables should be submitted as editable text files, and figures should be submitted as high-quality images (JPEG, TIFF, or PNG).

Ethical Considerations

All manuscripts submitted to GACOPA Med J must comply with ethical guidelines.

  • Human and Animal Research: If the study involves human participants or animals, a statement confirming that the research was conducted in accordance with the relevant ethical standards (e.g., Declaration of Helsinki) must be included. Ethics approval should be obtained from a recognized ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB).
  • Informed Consent: Authors must ensure that informed consent was obtained from all human participants included in the study. A statement of this consent must be included in the manuscript.
  • Plagiarism: Manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism using appropriate software. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work is original and properly cited.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest related to the manuscript. This includes financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research.

References

  • References should be formatted in accordance with the GACOPA Med J citation style (see Citation and Reference Formatting Guidelines GACOPA REFERENCE FORMAT).
  • Only references cited in the manuscript should be listed.

Review and Publication Process

  1. Initial Screening: The editorial office will perform an initial review to ensure that the manuscript fits the scope of the journal and adheres to submission guidelines.
  2. Peer Review: Manuscripts that pass the initial screening will be sent for peer review. The review process is typically double-blind, where both authors and reviewers are anonymized.
  3. Revisions: Authors may be required to make revisions based on reviewer feedback. Revisions should be submitted within the timeline specified by the editor.
  4. Acceptance: Upon successful completion of the peer review and revision process, the manuscript will be accepted for publication.
  5. Proofreading: Authors will receive a proof of the article before publication. This is the final opportunity to correct any errors.

Publication Ethics

  • Originality: The submitted manuscript should be original, and authors should ensure that no part of the manuscript has been previously published or is under consideration for publication elsewhere.
  • Authorship: All individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All authors must approve the manuscript before submission.

Open Access and Copyright

  • GACOPA Med J is a hybrid Publisher and follows subscription-based and an Open Access publication model. This means that all articles  under the open access option are freely available to readers worldwide.
  • Authors retain copyright of their published articles, but they grant GACOPA Med J a license to publish, distribute, and display the article online.

Contact Information

For any inquiries related to the submission process, please contact the editorial office of GACOPA Med J:

This set of Author Guidelines provides clear instructions for authors submitting their manuscripts to GACOPA Medical Journal (GACOPA Med J), helping them prepare their articles according to the journal’s expectations. By adhering to these guidelines, authors will ensure their submissions are processed efficiently and meet the high standards of the journal.

Additional Resources

For further on authors guidelines, click the link below.

COUNCIL FOR PUBLICATION ETHICS

Disclosure of Financial and Non-Financial Relationships and Activities, and Conflicts of Interest

An author  shall make complete disclosure pertaining to the readers perceptions of conflict of interest and actual conflicts of interest from all relations, financial relationships including support funding and sponsored agreements.

READ MORE CPE GUIDELINES

 

Complete the GACOPA Disclosure of Interest Form

For the GACOPA Referencing Format (GRF) and citation style, click on the link below

GACOPA REFERENCE FORMAT