We think broadly that academic communities extend beyond educational institutions and include medical centers, hospitals, departments of public health, community organizations and partners, and policy makers. Building a healthy academic community requires diversity in people, thought, and research. We encourage submissions that cover a variety of wellness topics including health promotion, wellness programming and management, environmental health and safety, epidemiology, preventive health care, and evidence-based wellness.
Author Guidelines
Journal Focus and Scope
The Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) Journal is the official journal of the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities (https://healthyacademics.org/). It is an Open Access journal published by The Ohio State University (OSU) Libraries. No author fees are charged. The journal is published twice a year.
We think broadly that academic communities extend beyond educational institutions and include medical centers, hospitals, departments of public health, community organizations and partners, and policymakers. Building a healthy academic community requires diversity in people, thought, and research. We encourage submissions that cover a variety of wellness topics, including health promotion, wellness programming and management, environmental health and safety, epidemiology, preventive health care, and evidence-based wellness.
Submission Categories:
- Research Manuscripts
- Research or Policy Brief Report
- Case Study
- Quality Improvement Project
- Educational Brief
Style & Format
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. is used for editorial decisions regarding style. Manuscripts must adhere to the following format:
- For article structure by submission category, see table below.
- Microsoft Word, or RTF format.
- One-inch margins on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.
- Text should be left-justified using 12-point type.
- Double spaced throughout, including the title and abstract used 12-point font.
- Include page numbers in the footer.
- Use Standard English with American spelling and punctuation. We recommend performing an American English spell check: in Microsoft Word, go to Tools>Language>English(US).
- Avoid personal pronouns.
- Tables must be typed double spaced, one table to a page, numbered consecutively, and placed in the manuscript at the appropriate place. Since tables must be individually typeset, consolidation of data into the smallest number of tables is encouraged. A horizontal double underline should be made beneath the title of the table, and single underlines should be made the width of the table below the column headings and at the bottom of the table. Do not use vertical lines, and do not place horizontal lines in the interior of the table. Use footnotes, to clarify possible questions within the table, should be noted by asterisks, daggers, or other symbols to avoid confusion with numerical data. Tables should be referred to parenthetically in the text, for example (Table 1).
- Figures may be photographs, computer -generated drawings, or graphs and should uploaded as separate files. Position of figure placement should be clearly marked in the manuscript. All illustrations are referred to as “Figures” and must be numbered consecutively. Illustrations other than those generated by the author(s) must include permission for use and credit to the originator. The size and proportion of each illustration should be suitable for reduction to a single column. Excessive white space should be avoided. Illustrations will be reduced to one column width (3 and 3/8 inches) or two column width (7 inches) at the discretion of the editor. Font size must ensure readability after reduction. Incorporate a graphic scale on maps and other illustrations where original size is a concern. Each figure must have a complete legend that is typed, double-spaced, on a separate sheet which precedes the figures in the manuscript. Figures should be referred to parenthetically in the text, for example (Fig. 1).
- All figures, charts, graphs, and images should include alt text. Please consult the submission page for more information about writing and adding alt text to your manuscript.
- Peer Review: To ensure a blind review, do not include your name on your manuscript or in your file properties. Delete your name(s) from the text, with “Author” and year used in the references and footnotes, instead of the author’s name, article title, etc. To remove identifying information from the file in Microsoft Word, go to File>Properties.
- Single Document: Submit the article, notes, references, and captions in a single document.
Article Formatting by Submission Category
Each submission category has additional formatting requirements that must be followed.
Research Manuscripts
- Research manuscripts report new researching findings or critical reviews of the literature (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or integrative and scoping reviews).
- Page Limit: 25 pages (including references & tables/figures)
- Structure: A structured abstract ≤ 200 words with: Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusions. Keywords (3-5) should be listed on the abstract page. Article must be structured with clearly defined sections: Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions.
- Observational studies must follow STROBE (strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology) reporting guidelines: https://www.strobe-statement.org/checklists/
- Randomized controlled trial studies must follow CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) reporting guidelines: https://www.consort-statement.org/
- Critical literature reviews must follow PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines: https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.n71
Research or Policy Brief
- Research brief articles should briefly and concisely summarize research knowledge on a particular health and wellness topic. A research brief can also include a concise summary of a small pilot study.
- Policy brief articles should explore questions currently being discussed in health and wellness policy at institutions of higher education and healthcare.
- Page Limit: 8-10 pages (excluding references & tables).
- Structure: A structured abstract ≤ 200 words with the following: Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusions. Keywords (3-5) should be listed on the abstract page. Article must be structured with clearly defined sections: Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions.
Case Study
- Case studies should discuss new or rare diseases; evaluate therapeutic effect, adverse event, and cost of an intervention; or improve problem-based education. The report should be applicable to a real-world setting.
- Case studies must follow CARE (CAse Reports) Guidelines: https://www.care-statement.org/
- Page Limit: 8 pages (including references & tables).
- Structure: A descriptive abstract providing a brief overview of the content, detailing major points and findings. Keywords (3-5) should be listed on the abstract page.
Article must be structured with clearly defined sections: Background, Analysis of the Case, Effective Strategies, and Recommendations
Quality Improvement Project
- QI articles should prospectively and proactively examine existing processes and making measurable improvements. Can include an evaluation component that assesses a program and uncovers needs.
- Page Limit: 8 pages (including references & tables).
- Structure: A structured abstract ≤ 200 words with the following: Background, Aims, Methods, Results, Conclusions. Keywords (3-5) should be listed on the abstract page. Article must be structured with clearly defined sections: Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions.
Educational Brief
- Educational briefs report on strategies that have enhanced health and wellness competency in students, clinicians, patients, or community members.
- Page Limit: 8 pages (including references & tables).
- Structure: A descriptive abstract providing a brief overview of the content, detailing major points and findings. Keywords (3-5) should be listed on the abstract page. Article must be structure with clearly defined sections: Background, aim(s) or the teaching strategy, implementation, and outcomes.
Revised Submissions
When submitting your revisions, please upload a tracked and clean version of your article documents and a letter to the editor detailing how you responded to each reviewer comment in the form of a table (see table example below). Revisions should be returned within 3 weeks of receiving the notification, unless told otherwise.
|
Reviewer Comment |
Response |
|
On the first page, please add an abstract using the headers Background, Aims, Methods, Results, Conclusions. |
An abstract has been added to the first page using the requested headers. (page 2, paragraph 2) |
|
The literature was limited and not up-to-date |
We removed literature cited over 10 years ago and added 5 new references including two systematic reviews recently published (pg 3, paragraphs 3-5) |
|
The study rigor is limited because of non-randomization of participants |
We agree that randomization of participants would increase the rigor of the study but this was not possible because the patients were already being treated in a program based on their BMI (Provide rationale for not making reviewer requested edits)
|
