Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

1. Introduction

Health Nexus is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Panorama Scholarly Group (PSG). The journal welcomes high-quality submissions that advance integrative medicine, particularly the intersection of Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Authors are expected to submit manuscripts that demonstrate scientific rigor, ethical compliance, and interdisciplinary relevance.

2. Article Types

The journal accepts the following categories:

2.1 Original Research Articles

  • Structured format: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion
  • Typically 3,000–6,000 words
  • Must include robust methodology and statistical analysis

2.2 Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

  • Must follow PRISMA guidelines
  • Include search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and bias assessment

2.3 Narrative Reviews and Perspectives

  • Critical synthesis of current knowledge
  • Clear methodological description recommended

2.4 Case Reports

  • Must follow CARE guidelines
  • Include clinical relevance and integrative insights

2.5 Methodological and Theoretical Papers

  • Novel frameworks or interdisciplinary models
  • Strong conceptual clarity required

3. Manuscript Preparation

3.1 Language

Manuscripts must be submitted in clear, academic English.

3.2 Anonymization for Double-Blind Peer Review

To ensure a strictly anonymous double-blind peer review process, authors must carefully prepare their manuscripts so that their identities are not revealed to reviewers. Submissions must be separated into two distinct files:

  • Document 1: Title Page (Unblinded)
    • Full and concise manuscript title
    • Full names, academic degrees, and institutional affiliations of all authors
    • Corresponding author contact details (address, email, and phone number)
    • Acknowledgments (including contributions not justifying authorship)
    • Funding Statement and Conflict of Interest Statement
    • Data Availability Statement
  • Document 2: Blinded Manuscript (For Peer Review)
    • Title of the manuscript
    • Abstract (150–300 words; structured where applicable) and Keywords (3–6)
    • Main Text (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) and References
    • Critical: This document must not contain author names, affiliations, identifying institutional details, or unblinded funding information.
    • Self-Citations: Refer to your own previously published work objectively in the third person (e.g., "Smith et al. previously demonstrated..." rather than "In our previous study, we demonstrated...").
    • Document Metadata: Authors must ensure that all personal metadata and author identification properties are removed from the file properties prior to submission.

4. Formatting Requirements

  • File format: Word (.docx)
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
  • Line spacing: Double-spaced
  • Figures and tables: Submitted separately with captions or appended at the end of the blinded manuscript. Ensure they do not reveal institutional affiliations.

5. Reporting Guidelines

Authors should follow appropriate reporting standards:

  • CONSORT (clinical trials)
  • PRISMA (systematic reviews)
  • STROBE (observational studies)
  • CARE (case reports)

Submissions may be returned unreviewed if reporting standards and blinding requirements are not strictly met.

6. Ethical Requirements

6.1 Human and Animal Studies

  • Ethical approval must be obtained and stated (blinded in the main text if necessary, e.g., "Approved by the Institutional Review Board of [Blinded for Review]")
  • Informed consent is required

6.2 Clinical Trials

  • Must be registered in a public registry

6.3 Conflict of Interest

  • All potential conflicts must be disclosed on the unblinded Title Page.

7. Data Transparency

Authors are encouraged to:

  • Provide raw data and supplementary materials
  • Include a Data Availability Statement
  • Deposit datasets in public repositories when possible

8. Reference Style

  • Follow the journal's standard reference style consistently
  • Ensure accuracy and completeness
  • Use DOI where available

9. Submission Process

Manuscripts should be submitted via the journal’s online submission system:

Submit Your Manuscript Here

All submissions undergo:

  • Initial editorial screening for scope and proper blinding
  • Double-blind peer review
  • Editorial decision

10. Revision Process

Authors must:

  • Respond to reviewer comments point-by-point
  • Highlight revisions clearly
  • Resubmit within the requested timeframe

11. Publication Ethics

Authors must comply with the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy, including:

  • Originality of work
  • No duplicate submission
  • Proper authorship attribution

12. Open Access and Copyright

  • Articles are published under CC BY 4.0 license
  • Authors retain copyright
  • Articles are freely accessible upon publication

13. Article Processing Charges (APC)

  • Health Nexus is an open-access journal.
  • APC will apply to manuscripts accepted from 2027 onward.
  • Refer to the journal website for updated fee details.

14. Post-Acceptance

After acceptance:

  • Copyediting and formatting
  • Proofreading by authors
  • Final publication online

15. Contact Information