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Ambulatory Pediatrics | Journal Mission | Manuscript Submission Instructions | Press Releases | Newsletter Update

Manuscript Submission Instructions for Authors

Guide for Authors

Ambulatory Pediatrics strives to:
  • Provide a forum for the publication of general pediatric materials;
  • Help further define the field of academic general pediatrics; and
  • Strengthen general pediatrics’ research and educational base.
The content areas of the journal reflect the general interests of Association members and other health professionals who care for children. These areas include such diverse topics as emergency medicine, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, adolescent medicine, child health policy, international pediatrics, informatics, abuse, pediatric education, day care, holistic medicine, child health services, health care financing, injury, the environment, and treatment of common primary care problems like asthma and ADHD.

Please address editorial questions to:
James M. Perrin, MD, Editor-in-Chief
Ambulatory Pediatrics
MassGeneral Hospital for Children
Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy
50 Staniford Street, Suite 901
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-8716
Fax: 617-726-1886
e-mail: ambpeds@partners.org

Submission Letter

With their manuscripts, authors should include a submission letter, stating that:
  • The manuscript is being submitted only to Ambulatory Pediatrics, that it will not be submitted elsewhere while under consideration, that it has not been published elsewhere, and, should it be published in Ambulatory Pediatrics, that it will not be published elsewhere—either in similar form or verbatim—without permission of the editors. These restrictions do not apply to abstracts or to press reports of presentations at scientific meetings.
  • They are responsible for the reported research.
  • They have participated in the concept and design, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting or revising of the manuscript; and that they have approved the manuscript as submitted.
  • They are disclosing any affiliation, financial agreement, or other involvement of any author with any company whose product figures prominently in the submitted manuscript. If this is so, the editors will discuss with the affected authors whether to print this information and in what manner.
The text of the cover letter should be submitted on the website. The original letter with all authors’ signatures should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief at:

James M. Perrin, MD, Editor-in-Chief
Ambulatory Pediatrics
MassGeneral Hospital for Children
Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy
50 Staniford Street, Suite 901
Boston, MA 02114

Manuscript Overview

Manuscripts, including title page, tables, figures, and references, should be prepared according to "Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals."1,2 Only information not included in the uniform requirements is included in the instructions that follow.

Manuscripts should hav a title page should include the names, degrees, and affiliations of all authors, as well as the complete contact information, including telephone, fax, and e-mail address, for the corresponding author. This page should also provide 3-5 key words, along with separate word counts for the abstract and the main text. Remember to acknowledge research or project support with the relevant agency and grant or project number. Authors should also address potential conflicts of interest and corporate sponsorship on the title page and the submission letter. Personal acknowledgements or thanks for technical assistance belong at the end of the main text.

Abstracts should be prepared with a structured format with a maximum of 250 words. Four elements should be addressed: why did you start, what did you do, what did you find, and what does it mean. Why did you start is the objective. What did you do constitutes the methodology and could include design, setting, patients or other participants, interventions, outcome measures, and analysis. What did you find is the results, and what does it mean would constitute your conclusions.3 Please label each section clearly with the appropriate subheading.

In general, manuscripts should have a maximum of 3,500 words. Manuscripts reporting on original research should have clear organization, with:
  • An introduction indicating the importance of the problem addressed, describing briefly key previous research leading directly to the study described in the manuscript and indicating the specific study questions to be answered;
  • The methods section should then briefly explain the type of study (e.g., randomized controlled trial, longitudinal follow-up), the sample, the intervention (if any), the measures used (describing dependent or outcome variables first, followed by independent variables and additional control variables), and the analytic plan used to answer each study question. The sample description should have enough detail that readers can determine potential for bias and the generalizability of the sample. Measures that have had previous publication in peer-reviewed literature can be briefly described, with an indication of their appropriateness to the study aims. Measures without previous publication require enough detail that readers can assess their reliability and validity, as well as appropriateness to the specific study. Analytic methods should indicate the means of answering each study question rather than providing a general list of statistical tests used. Statistical tests should have references.
  • Study results should first describe key characteristics of the sample and then describe findings for the dependent (outcome) variables and key independent variables. Results should then follow the study questions by describing findings related to each question.
  • The discussion should begin with a brief statement of the important findings of the study and then place these in the context of previous related research. What new information does the study provide? How does it support or dispute previous work? The discussion should include specific information on study limitations. The manuscript may conclude with speculations regarding the findings and their implications, as well as indicating key implications for programs and policy and for needed further research (please make specific recommendations rather than a general plea for more research).

Grammar, punctuation, and scientific writing style should follow the American Medical Association Manual of Style, 9th edition.4 Please use conventional system measurements followed in parentheses by equivalent Systeme International (SI) values.5,6 Abbreviations should be limited to those listed in Chapter 11 of the AMA Manual of Style, 9th edition.4 Any uncommon abbreviations should be listed at the beginning of the article.

Confidence intervals usually provide more helpful information than p values. The journal typically prints significance values >0.05 and <=0.10 in parentheses, and values above 0.10 as NS.

Authors should have read all cited references. Please number references in the order they appear in the text. Include the names of all authors for six and fewer; for references with more than six authors, provide the names of the first three and then et al. References should follow AMA style, as per the examples below. Spell out journal titles or use standard AMA abbreviations.

  1. Schultz CP, Williams PQ, Peterson SU, SanFillippo RS. Return rates for dangerous child safety seats. Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2002; 2: 236-244.>
  2. Sanderson PC, Sanchez SN, Bedlam TC, et al. Health care purchasers' views of adolescent health needs. Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2003; 3: 122-134.
  3. Kenworthy OT, Hatchett EM. An optimistic view of child health policy. In Stretch PQ, Pull VR, eds, Futures for America's Children. Hercules CA: Samson University Press, 1999: 67-92.
Manuscript checklist
  • Entirely double spaced including references and tables
  • Corresponding author’s address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address on the title page
  • Structured abstract, no more than 250 words>
  • 3-5 keywords
  • References numbered consecutively according to their citation in the text. (Please style according to AMA Manual of Style, 9th ed.) List all authors unless more than six, in which case, list first three and then "et al."
  • Figures submitted according to website instructions
  • Submission letter and authors’ statement uploaded to website with signed original, copy mailed to editorial office.
References
  1. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. JAMA. 1997; 277:927-934.
  2. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:309-315.
  3. Ad Hoc Working Group for Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature. A proposal for more informative abstracts of clinical articles. Ann Intern Med. 1987;106:598-604.
  4. Iverson C, Dan BB, Glitman P, et al. American Medical Association Manual of Style. 9th ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
  5. Lundberg GD. SI unit implementation: the next step. JAMA. 1988;260:73-76.
  6. Systeme International conversion factors for frequently used laboratory components. JAMA. 1991;266:45-47.
Qualitative Research, Supplements, Commentaries, Research Reviews, and Brief Reports

The journal encourages submission of manuscripts reporting on qualitative research as well as quantitative research. Description of qualitative research should include most of the items noted for quantitative papers, although authors are referred to the excellent discussion of qualitative methods in the December 1999 supplement to Health Services Research.1 Shoshanna Sofaer, in the abstract of her review of qualitative methods, describes their advantages. "Qualitative research methods are valuable in providing rich descriptions of complex phenomena; tracking unique or unexpected events; illuminating the experience and interpretation of events by actors with widely differing stakes and roles; giving voice t those whose views are rarely heard; conducting initial explorations to develop theories and to generate and even test hypotheses; and moving toward explanations. Qualitative and quantitative methods can be complementary, used in sequence or in tandem. The best qualitative research is systematic and rigorous, and it seeks to reduce bias and error and to identify evidence that disconfirms initial or emergent hypotheses."2

The journal publishes supplements on topics of interest to its readers. Recent supplement topics include: Children’s Oral Health, Health Services Research and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, the APA/HRSA Faculty Development Scholars Program, and Measurement of Child Health Status. The journal has also published special issues or sections on Pediatric Environmental Medicine, Child Health Services Research, Children with Special Health Care Needs, and Pediatric Health Care Safety. Authors interested in supplements to the journal should contact the editor-in-chief to discuss interest and procedures. Supplements should have a guest editor, who helps with the initial review of manuscripts and organization of the supplement, as well as suggesting reviewers for the manuscripts. All manuscripts proposed for a supplement go for external review (as with other submissions to the journal), and final decisions on publication remain with the journal editors, in consultation with the guest editor for the supplement.

The editors occasionally solicit commentaries and research reviews regarding an important subject for journal readers. These reviews typically describe key questions and recent important research in a field, indicating the recent advances in the underlying science. Such commentaries should conclude with discussion of key needed research in the area over the coming few years. The journal does consider unsolicited commentaries, and potential authors should contact the editor-in-chief or one of the associate editors to explore interest in a topic. All commentaries are peer-reviewed.

The journal also publishes brief reports, which describe interesting new ideas in pediatric medicine, health services, and education. Brief reports typically have only limited or preliminary data on a topic, although they raise new questions of interest to the journal readership. Brief reports should have no more than eight manuscript pages (excluding abstract, tables, and references) and a maximum of two tables. Other elements (abstracts and references) meet usual journal requirements for length and formatting.

References
  1. Devers KJ, Sofaer S, Rundall TC (eds). Qualitative Methods in Health Services Research. Health Services Research, 1999; 34: 1083-1263.
  2. Shofaer S. Qualitative Methods: What Are They and Why Use Them? Health Services Research, 1999; 34: 1101.
Manuscript Preparation

In preparing your manuscript on your word processor, use 12-point type and double space all text. Tables, in type no smaller than used in the text, should be placed together at the end of the manuscript. A reasonable number of black and white figures will be printed without charge. Payment for color illustrations and other special processing is the responsibility of the authors and should be arranged before manuscripts are processed. Do not mail original artwork or printed forms.

Figures should be saved separately as PowerPoint files, tif, eps, or jpg files. The online submission system is unable to process multi-worksheet Excel (or similar) table files and multi-slide PowerPoint files. To submit such documents, save each worksheet table or slide in a separate file.

Symbols and special characters should not be created graphically; instead, use the character set provided in your word processor. Use a legend as part of the figure when symbols are used. Do not use any automated word-processing features, such as footnotes or citation links.

Receipt of manuscripts will be acknowledged promptly by e-mail. If you do not receive acknowledgment of receipt after completing submission, contact the editorial office by e-mail ambpeds@partners.org. Generally, all papers will be reviewed by at least two outside consultants. We intend a swift review of submitted papers as a central promise of this journal, and the use of electronic mechanisms helps substantially to speed the process. Almost all submissions receive results of the initial review within eight weeks.

Manuscript Submission and Process

All manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s website, http://www.ees.elsevier.com/ambulpediatr/. Authors should upload to the website the submission letter and a complete copy of a manuscript, including tables and figures. The manuscript submission process is broken into a series of screens that gather detailed information about your manuscript, including title, article type, author listings, abstract, keywords, topical classifications, and that allow you to upload the pertinent files. A detailed tutorial with a step-by-step walk-through is available for download on the EES homepage. Before submitting a manuscript, please gather the following information:

  1. A long form asking for author, title, abstract, and file quantities. Please note: the web-based system will not accept abstracts exceeding 250 words.
  2. A screen asking for the actual file locations on your computer (via an open file dialog). After completing this screen, your files will be uploaded to our server.
  3. screen requesting the order in which files should appear in the system-generated merged PDF file.
  4. A completion screen that will provide you with a specific identification number for your manuscript.
  5. An approval screen that will allow you to verify that your manuscript was uploaded and converted to PDF format correctly.
Before submitting a manuscript, please gather the following information:
  • For all Authors
    • First names, middle names/initials, last names, credentials
    • Institution
    • Department
    • address, city, state, and zip code
    • E-mail addresses
    • The authors’ roles with respect to conception and design of the study; conducting the study; analyzing the data; contributing material assistance to the study; and writing the paper.
  • Title and Running Title (you may copy and paste these from your manuscript)
  • Abstract (you may copy and paste this from your manuscript)
  • Key words
  • Manuscript and cover letter files in Word or WordPerfect
  • Figures/Images in PDF, XLS, or PPT format or embedded at end of the manuscript file.
A submission letter should accompany all manuscripts. Please use the website to submit the letter with the manuscript AND send the signed copy of the letter with original signatures to the journal offices. In this letter, all authors should affirm:
  1. That the manuscript is being submitted only to Ambulatory Pediatrics, that it will not be submitted elsewhere while under consideration, that it has not been published elsewhere, and, should it be published in Ambulatory Pediatrics, that it will not be published elsewhere—either in similar form or verbatim—without permission of the editors. These restrictions do not apply to abstracts or to press reports of presentations at scientific meetings.
  2. That they are responsible for the reported research.
  3. That they have participated in the concept and design, analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting or revising of the manuscript; and that they have approved the manuscript as submitted.
  4. That they are disclosing any affiliation, financial agreement, or other involvement of any author with any company whose product figures prominently in the submitted manuscript so that the editors can discuss with the affected authors whether to print this information and in what manner.
One author must be specified as the correspondent with the journal. He or she will receive all communications from the Editor. Provide full mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address for the corresponding author on the title page. The journal limits authors to a maximum of eight. Exceptions to this rule will require justification and approval by the editor-in-chief.

After submitting the manuscript files, you will be asked to select the order you would like the files to be displayed in a merged PDF file that the system will create for you. Please include your abstract as part of the main manuscript in the merged file. Next, you will be directed to a page that will allow you to review your converted manuscript. If the conversion is not correct, you can replace or delete your manuscript files as necessary. After you have reviewed the converted files, you will need to click on "Approve Submission."

Manuscript Status

After you approve your manuscript, you are finished with the submission process. You can access the status of your manuscript at any time by:
  1. Logging into the system with your password
  2. Clicking on the link "Submissions Being Processed."
This procedure will display the status of your manuscript during the submission/peer-review process.

Starting

The manuscript submission process starts by pressing the "Submit Manuscript" link on your "Home" page. Please make sure you have gathered all the required manuscript information listed above BEFORE starting the submission process.

Acceptance Criteria

Relevance to readers (esp., educators, scientists, policymakers, and clinicians) is of major importance in manuscript selection. The journal will generally accept manuscripts in the following categories: reports of original research, particularly clinical, health services, and health policy research; systematic reviews of primary care and general pediatric topics; studies and descriptions of educational interventions; educational symposia; and papers regarding methodology. In general, commentaries and topic reviews will be limited to careful systematic reviews of the literature or to research agenda setting papers indicating important next steps in a field. The journal does not publish clinical case reports.

Reports of original research will be judged on the importance and originality of the research; its scientific strength; its relevance to clinical care, programs, or policy; and the clarity with which it is presented. How well the manuscript addresses the items indicated in the section entitled “Manuscript Overview” influences publication decisions. What new information the study provides is another important criterion.

Educational interventions should include an evaluation component, preferably one that goes beyond increasing knowledge to actually changing behavior. Multi-site programs are generally reviewed more favorably than single site experiments.

Copyright

Upon acceptance of a manuscript, the authors will be asked to download a standard Copyright Agreement from the website, which must be signed by all authors and returned to Ambulatory Pediatrics. All accepted manuscripts become the permanent property of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association and may not be published elsewhere, in whole or in part, without written permission from the APA. Authors who were employees of the United States Government at the time the work was done should so state on the Copyright Agreement.

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Updated 12/31/07
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