Author Guidelines

The author guidelines of the journal have been prepared in accordance with the principles of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which are widely adopted by scientific journals in the field of health sciences. These guidelines provide a general framework for manuscript types including original research articles, reviews, case reports, and short communications.

1. Article Types

• Original Research Article
• Review Article
• Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
• Case Report
• Short Report / Technical Note
• Letter to the Editor

Although the structure and length may vary depending on the article type, the fundamental writing principles are common to all manuscript categories.

2. General Format and Page Layout

• File Format: Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
• Language: The language of publication is English and Turkish.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point size.
• Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout the entire manuscript.
• Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides of the page.
• Page Numbering: Pages should be numbered consecutively in the bottom-right corner.

3. Manuscript Structure and Sections

Original research articles should be organized in the following order:

3.1. Title Page

• Manuscript Title: Concise and descriptive; the first letter of each word should be capitalized.
• Author Information: Full names, academic titles, institutional affiliations, and ORCID IDs of all authors.
• Corresponding Author: Full name, complete mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
• Running Title: A short title not exceeding 50 characters.

3.2. Abstract and Keywords

• Structured Abstract: Should include the following sections: Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
• Word Limit: Generally between 250 and 300 words.
• Keywords: Minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 keywords; should be selected from MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms.

3.3. Main Text

• Introduction: Background of the topic, brief literature review, and the aim of the study.
• Methods: Study design, population and sample, data collection tools, ethical approval, and statistical analysis methods.
• Results: Objective presentation of findings, supported by tables and figures where appropriate.
• Discussion: Interpretation of findings in comparison with existing literature, study limitations, and clinical or scientific significance.
• Conclusion and Recommendations: Key conclusions of the study and suggestions for future research.

4. Tables and Figures

• Tables: Should be presented on separate pages after the reference list, not embedded within the main text. Each table must have a descriptive title above it.
• Figures/Graphs: Must be high resolution (minimum 300 DPI) and uploaded as separate files.
• Citation: All tables and figures must be cited in the text as (Table 1), (Figure 1), etc.

5. References and Citation Style

The journal generally accepts Vancouver or APA 7th Edition reference styles. In health sciences, the Vancouver (numbered) style is more commonly used.

Vancouver Style Example:

• In-text citation:
  “Circadian rhythm disorders have negative effects on health [1].”
• Reference list:
1. Komada Y, Ikeda Y, Sato M, et al. Social jetlag and menstrual symptoms among female university students. Chronobiol Int. 2019;36(2):258–264.

6. Ethical Principles and Declarations

• Ethics Committee Approval: For all studies involving humans or animals, ethics committee approval (including date and reference number) must be stated in the Methods section.
• Informed Consent: A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from participants must be included.
• Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare whether any conflicts of interest exist.
• Funding: All financial support or sponsorship (if any) must be disclosed.
• Author Contributions: The specific contributions of each author (e.g., study design, data collection, analysis) must be clearly stated.

7. Cover Letter

When submitting a manuscript, authors are strongly encouraged to include a brief cover letter, addressing the following points:

• The significance of the study
• Why the manuscript is suitable for this journal
• A statement confirming that the manuscript has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere
• Contact information of the corresponding author

*The cover letter is usually submitted via the online submission system or by e-mail.

8. General Submission Checklist

✔ Word format
✔ Title page
✔ Abstract and keywords
✔ IMRAD structure
✔ Double spacing and appropriate font
✔ Proper placement of tables and figures
✔ Correct reference format
✔ Ethical approvals and declarations
✔ Cover letter