Submission Guidelines

Manuscript Preparation by Article Type

Tempo and Frame: Clinical Problem Solving

Tempo and Frame manuscripts should follow the structured format outlined on our Article Types page. All required sections must be included:

1. Case Presentation (cases in aliquot format followed by the blinded expert's discussion)
2. Discussion
3. Key Teaching Points (3–5 points)

Word limit: 5,000 words. Up to 20 references and 5 figures or tables.

In Reflection: Narrative Medicine

In Reflection pieces do not have a required structure. Authors are encouraged to find the form that best serves their story. First-person perspective is welcome. Word limit: 2,000 words. References are optional (up to 10).

Spot the Diagnosis: Image Challenge

Spot the Diagnosis cases should include a clinical vignette (150–200 words), one high-quality clinical image, a diagnostic question, and an answer with discussion. Images must be minimum 300 DPI, JPEG or PNG format, with all patient identifiers removed. Word limit: 500 words. Up to 3 references.

Clinical Reasoning Corner

Clinical Reasoning Corner pieces are shorter case vignettes with a focused discussion on core clinical reasoning concepts. Structure is flexible but should include a case presentation and a reasoning-focused discussion. Word limit: 2,000 words. References: 0–10 (optional). Up to 3 figures.

General Formatting

• File format: Microsoft Word (.docx) or plain text / Markdown
• Font: 11-point Times New Roman, double-spaced
• References: Vancouver style via superscript, numbered in order of appearance, following ICMJE recommendations
• Abstract: Up to 100 words summarizing the key points of the manuscript
• Figures and tables: Submitted as separate high-resolution files with descriptive captions. Tables should be editable (not images).
• Abbreviations: Define at first use. Use standard medical abbreviations.
• Title page: Include article title, all author names and affiliations, corresponding author contact information, conflicts of interest disclosure, word count, and number of references/figures/tables

Peer Review Policy

1. Review Model: Editorial Board Review

All research articles submitted to Journal of The Clinical Problem Solvers undergo a rigorous peer review process conducted by members of our International Editorial Board. This model utilizes experts from multiple global institutions to ensure technical accuracy and clinical relevance.

Anonymity: We employ a Double-Blind process. Neither the reviewers nor the authors are aware of each other's identities during the evaluation phase.

2. Initial Editorial Screening

Every manuscript is first assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or an Associate Editor. Manuscripts may be rejected without formal board review if they fall outside the journal's scope, contain major methodological flaws, or lack sufficient originality.

3. Formal Internal Review

Manuscripts passing initial screening are assigned to at least two members of the Editorial Board with relevant subject expertise.

• Rigor: Board members evaluate submissions for scientific soundness, clarity, and adherence to ethical guidelines.
• The Hybrid Clause: In cases where highly specialized technical expertise is required that falls outside the current scope of the Editorial Board, the editors reserve the right to invite ad hoc external reviewers to supplement the internal review process.

4. Conflict of Interest (COI) & Recusal

To maintain impartiality, board members must recuse themselves from any review involving:

• Institutional Affiliation: Any shared institution with the authors.
• Recent Collaboration: Co-authorship within the last two years.
• Personal/Financial Ties: Any direct financial interest or personal relationship that could influence judgment.
• Board Submissions: If a board member submits their own manuscript, they are completely excluded from the editorial workflow of that paper.

5. Editorial Decision and Publication Process

Initial editorial review will be performed within an estimated 4 weeks of submission with a final decision within 6 weeks. Final authority for publication resides with the Editor-in-Chief, based on board recommendations. If revisions are required, authors will have 4 weeks to address the recommended changes and resubmit the manuscript. Extensions will be provided as appropriate upon request. Accepted articles will be published on a rolling basis.

• Accept: Ready for publication.
• Minor Revision: Small-scale corrections required.
• Major Revision: Significant changes needed; may undergo a second round of board review.
• Reject: Not suitable for publication.

6. Appeal Policy

Authors may submit a formal appeal within 4 weeks of a rejection if they can demonstrate a material error or bias in the review process.

• Appeals must include a point-by-point rebuttal of the reviewers' concerns.
• An independent board member who was not involved in the initial decision will conduct the appeal review.
• The final decision on an appeal is non-negotiable.

Editor as Author

For submissions where an Editorial Board member or journal staff is a listed author, the Journal of The Clinical Problem Solvers maintains a strict separation of duties to ensure an unbiased review process. These authors are fully blinded to the editorial and peer-review process for their own manuscript. They are prohibited from accessing any internal communication regarding the submission and are excluded from all decision-making and voting.

In such cases, the handling of the manuscript, including the selection of reviewers and final editorial decisions, is transitioned to an independent editor or a senior member of the board with no conflict of interest.

• Independent oversight: A different editor oversees the entire review process for editor-authored submissions
• Transparency: Any published article authored by an editor will include a transparency note in the Conflicts of Interest section explaining how the review was handled
• Zero-preferential treatment: These manuscripts must meet the same technical and editorial standards as any other submission

Publication & APC Fees

The Journal of The Clinical Problem Solvers does not charge any article processing charges (APCs) or publication fees. All accepted articles are published at no cost to authors. The Journal of The Clinical Problem Solvers independently publishes all of its content without use of a third party.

Contact

For questions about submissions, manuscript preparation, or the editorial process, please contact the editorial team at journal@clinicalproblemsolving.com.