zums.ac.ir5.2.2
Main Text
Manuscripts should be organized in a clear and logical order, including the following sections: Abstract and Keywords, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Declarations (such as Ethical considerations, Artificial intelligence use for article writing, Acknowledgments, Conflict of interest, Author contributions, Funding, and Data availability statement), and References. This complete structure ensures clarity, transparency, and makes the peer-review process easier.
Abstract and Keywords
The abstract should be a maximum of 300 words. The abstract should be clearly structured as follows:
Background & Objective: Briefly introduce the background of the study and its primary objective(s).
Materials & Methods: Summarize the key methods used in the study, including study design, data collection, and analysis techniques.
Results: Present the key findings or results of the study.
Conclusion: Provide a brief conclusion that highlights the importance of the study's findings.
Keywords: Provide 3-5 keywords coming from the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms.
Introduction
This section should clearly explain the importance of the study, define key concepts and terms, and present the theoretical or conceptual framework. A focused and relevant literature review should highlight the current state of knowledge and find existing research gaps. The objectives of the study must be clearly stated at the end of the introduction. Consistency should be maintained throughout the manuscript, avoiding any changes to the stated aims or scope.
Materials & Methods
This section should be clearly structured and include the following subsections: Design and setting(s); Participants and sampling (including sample size and characteristics); Tools/Instruments; Data collection methods; and Data analysis. Each subsection should provide enough detail and clarity to allow replication by other researchers.
Results
This section should clearly sjow the study findings in a textual format, supplemented by tables, figures, and diagrams as appropriate. It is not necessary to include the full content of tables within the text; simply refer to them by their assigned numbers (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2). Each table should be provided on a separate page and placed before the references section. Figures must be submitted as separate high-quality files. Focus solely on reporting the results without interpretation, explanation, or discussion. Explanation and critical analysis should be reserved for the Discussion section.
Discussion
This section should explain the study findings in the context of existing literature, focusing on new and significant results. It is not necessary to restate all the details of the findings here. Highlight the study's contributions and implications. Additionally, discuss the limitations of the study, which should be clearly stated at the end of the discussion section.
Conclusion
The conclusion should provide a summary of the key findings and their potential implications. No new information or data should be introduced in this section. Instead, it should focus on combining the results and discussing how the findings can be applied in practice or contribute to the field.
Declarations
The last part of the manuscript should include the following sections:
Ethical considerations: Clearly state any ethical issues or considerations related to the study, including adherence to ethical guidelines, approval by an ethics committee, and informed consent from participants. If applicable, mention whether any participants provided consent to participate and whether the study was approved by an institutional review board (IRB).
Artificial intelligence utilization for article writing: Acknowledge if artificial intelligence (AI) was used in writing or helping in the creation of the manuscript. Ensure that ethical principles related to AI usage are addressed, and any AI-generated content is appropriately cited.
Acknowledgments: Acknowledge individuals or organizations that contributed to the research or manuscript but do not meet the criteria for authorship. Mention anyone who provided significant help, such as advisors, funding agencies, or colleagues who contributed to the development of the paper.
Conflict of interest statement: Declare any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the integrity of the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors should state: "The authors declare no conflict of interest."
Author contributions: Clearly specify the roles and contributions of each author according to ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) and CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) guidelines. Common categories might include: conceptualization, methodology, data collection, analysis, writing—original draft, and final approval.
Funding: Disclose all sources of financial support for the study, including grants, institutional funding, or personal sources. If the study received no external funding, authors should include the statement: "This research received no external funding."
Data availability statement: Indicate whether the data underlying the findings can be accessed or shared, and if so, how other researchers can get the data. If data is unavailable, provide a clear explanation for its inaccessibility.
Ethical considerations: Clearly state any ethical issues or considerations related to the study, including adherence to ethical guidelines, approval by an ethics committee, and informed consent from participants. If applicable, mention whether any participants provided consent to participate and whether the study was approved by an institutional review board (IRB).
Artificial intelligence utilization for article writing: Acknowledge if artificial intelligence (AI) was used in writing or helping in the creation of the manuscript. Ensure that ethical principles related to AI usage are addressed, and any AI-generated content is appropriately cited.
Acknowledgments: Acknowledge individuals or organizations that contributed to the research or manuscript but do not meet the criteria for authorship. Mention anyone who provided significant help, such as advisors, funding agencies, or colleagues who contributed to the development of the paper.
Conflict of interest statement: Declare any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the integrity of the manuscript. If no conflicts exist, authors should state: "The authors declare no conflict of interest."
Author contributions: Clearly specify the roles and contributions of each author according to ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) and CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) guidelines. Common categories might include: conceptualization, methodology, data collection, analysis, writing—original draft, and final approval.
Funding: Disclose all sources of financial support for the study, including grants, institutional funding, or personal sources. If the study received no external funding, authors should include the statement: "This research received no external funding."
Data availability statement: Indicate whether the data underlying the findings can be accessed or shared, and if so, how other researchers can get the data. If data is unavailable, provide a clear explanation for its inaccessibility.
Note: Please refer to the EQUATOR network for more detailed study guides, reporting checklists, and other resources to make sure comprehensive and accurate manuscript preparation.
References
References should be listed at the end of the manuscript in Vancouver style, with sequential numbering in square brackets (e.g., [1], [1, 3], [1–4, 12]). For accuracy and ease of citation management, authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as EndNote, Zotero, or Reference Manager.
General Rules
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For works with up to three authors, list all authors.
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For works with more than three authors, list the first three authors, followed by "et al."
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Use full titles for journals and books. Do not abbreviate journal names.
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Do not italicize any part of the reference (e.g., journal names, book titles, etc.).
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Always provide a DOI. If a DOI is not available, include the URL or persistent link instead.
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For internet sources, include the access date in the following format: [Accessed: Month Day, Year]
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Ensure consistency in formatting across all references.
Examples
Journal Articles
Gill IS, Higginson LA, Maharajh GS. Do training novices to criteria and the rapid acquisition of skills on laparoscopic simulators have predictive validity, or are we just playing video games? Journal of Medical Education Development. 2021;69(2):46–51. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050685]
Books
Edelman CL, Mandle CL. Health education throughout the life span. St Louis: Mosby; 2021. p. 163–165. [https://doi.org/10.2507/s005466050685]
Book Chapters
Philips SJ, Whisnant. Training in the field. In: Laragh JH, Brenner BM, editors. Medical education. 3rd ed. New York: Raven Press; 2021. p. 78–231.
Theses/Dissertations
Kaplan SJ. Postgraduate students' professionalism [dissertation]. St. Louis (MO): Washington University; 2021.
Accepted/In Press Articles
Leshner AI. Learning process among pharmacy students: A grounded theory research study. Journal of Medical Education Development. In press. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050685]
Internet Resources
Norton A, Fisher B, Green R. How to train a dental student to get patient consent. East Indy Dental Care. [Online]. Available from: https://www.nwemergencydentist.com. [Accessed: Dec. 3, 2021]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050685
Conference Proceedings
Smith J, Brown P. The impact of technology on medical education. In: Proceedings of the 10th Annual Medical Education Conference; 2021 May 10-12; New York, USA. New York: Academic Press; 2021. p. 101–105.
Preprints
Zhang Y, Li X, Wang M. The impact of virtual reality on medical education [Preprint]. bioRxiv. 2021 [Accessed: Mar 5, 2022]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.04.21252934
Technical Reports and Research Studies
World Health Organization. Global status report on health and education. Geneva: WHO; 2021. [Online]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240061005. [Accessed: Aug 14, 2025].
Databases and Online Resources
National Institutes of Health. PubMed. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [Online]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. [Accessed: Dec. 10, 2021].
Tables
Each table must feature a concise, informative title (one phrase or sentence) that describes its content clearly, using the format "Table 1. Table caption". The title should be self-explanatory without needing reference to the text. All nonstandard abbreviations should be defined in the footnotes below the table, not in the title. Tables are appropriate when data cannot be effectively presented in narrative form or when presenting a large amount of precise data that would be difficult to expalin in text. They should enhance the understanding of the relationships between variables. Simplicity and clarity should be prioritized. Avoid clutter and ensure each table is easy to explain at a glance.
Use of Symbols: Instead of numbers, the following symbols should be used in place of numerical values: †, ‡, §, §§ (for various annotations). If needed, asterisks (*, **, ***) should be used for p-values to denote statistical significance.
Table Formatting: Use the table tool in your word-processing software to ensure proper alignment. Ensure that each piece of information is entered in a separate cell, so the table is clean, readable, and correctly formatted.
For an example of how to format tables, please refer to the template section on Table formatting here.
Use of Symbols: Instead of numbers, the following symbols should be used in place of numerical values: †, ‡, §, §§ (for various annotations). If needed, asterisks (*, **, ***) should be used for p-values to denote statistical significance.
Table Formatting: Use the table tool in your word-processing software to ensure proper alignment. Ensure that each piece of information is entered in a separate cell, so the table is clean, readable, and correctly formatted.
For an example of how to format tables, please refer to the template section on Table formatting here.
Figures
Figures should be prepared in a separate file with good resolution (at least 300 dpi). A variety of formats for figures, such as JPEG, TIFF, and PDF, are acceptable. Make sure the resolution is high enough for publication and that the figures are clear and easy to read. Each figure must have a caption that includes the figure number and a short description, preferably one or two sentences. The caption should directly follow the figure with the format "Figure 1. Figure caption."
Note 1: All Review and Interventional Studies Should Include a Diagram to Show the Entry and Exit of Samples.
Note 2: Please submit figures in a separate file from the manuscript.
Note 2: Please submit figures in a separate file from the manuscript.
For clarity, make sure all labels, axes, and any text in the figure are easy to read and of high quality. For an example of how to format figures, please refer to the template section on figure formatting here.
Appendices
Appendices, if needed, should be included as separate files and submitted after the main manuscript and supplementary materials. They must be clearly mentioned in the main text at the right points, making sure that each appendix is cited when relevant. Appendices usually contain extra information, like detailed tables, additional data, technical details, or more analyses that aren’t essential to the main manuscript but help provide more context or explanation. Authors should make sure all appendices are formatted the same way as the main manuscript and are presented in a clear, organized way. Each appendix should be clearly numbered and titled (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B), with a brief description of its content included in the text.
Supplementary Files
Supplementary files are not required for the main manuscript but are helpful for providing extra context, details, or background information that supports the study. These may include, but are not limited to, tables, figures, videos, datasets, or other materials that add more details beyond what is covered in the manuscript. Supplementary data should be submitted as separate files, clearly numbered, and titled. These files can be made available online without changes or editing. If supplementary files are provided, authors must include clear instructions on how the data can be accessed (e.g., a direct link, repository details, or access instructions). It’s important to note that authors don’t have to share supplementary data if doing so conflicts with ethical concerns, legal rules, or data privacy laws. Authors should make sure any shared supplementary data follows privacy, consent, and data protection standards.
