BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH: CLINICAL OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
Guide for Authors
All contributions for the series are commissioned and no unsolicited material is accepted. The Editor-in-Chief will, however, consider
suggestions of topics and Guest Editors for forthcoming issues.
IMPORTANT: Please read these guidelines carefully and observe all
the directions given, paying particular attention to the instructions on REFERENCING STYLE and the requirements for ABSTRACT, KEY WORDS,
PRACTICE POINTS, RESEARCH AGENDA and MCQ (Multiple Choice Questionnaire). Failure to do so may result in unnecessary delays to the publication
of your and other authors' chapters.
Manuscript preparation
Manuscripts must be submitted in English and should be typed
on one side of A4 paper only. All sections should be typed double-spaced (i.e. a full line of space after every typed line). Margins
of at least 25 mm should be left on all sides.
The presentation of chapters will be standardized to make the information easily accessible
and of practical value. Please follow these guidelines carefully.
Chapters should focus on practical problems and issues.
Management
should be described in practical terms, so that it can be translated to the individual patient. Use appropriate examples to illustrate
management problems, so that the reader actually knows what to do, when to do it, how to do it and why.
Recommendations should be
evidence-based. The quality of the information available and what remains unknown should be highlighted. Meta-analysis data and systematic
reviews should be used where available. Emphasis should be given to randomized controlled trials, translating data from such trials to
clinical practice wherever possible. If recommendations are not evidence-based, this should be clearly stated.
Make clear what we
know, what we think we know and what we do not know. Use Practice Points and Research Agenda to emphasise these.
As one of the primary
functions of this publication is educational, please ensure that your chapter is well structured and clearly laid out, with level of
headings clearly indicated and figures, diagrams, tables and flow-charts used to explain points and reduce explanatory text.
The
abstract should include the key issues which will be addressed in your chapter, emphasising what we know, what we think we know and what
we do not know.
The summary should focus on the conclusions reached in the chapter, indicating unanswered and unanswerable questions.
Practice Points.
Where appropriate, present the most important points to note in current clinical practice; these should be
brief and set out as a bullet point list at the end of the main text.
Research Agenda.
Please indicate points which you feel
would repay further research, again presented as a bullet point list at the end of the text.
Digital Object Identifier
Elsevier assigns a unique digital object identifier (DOI) to every article it publishes. The DOI appears on the title page of the
article. It is assigned after the article has been accepted for publication and persists throughout the lifetime of the article. Due
to its persistence, it can be used to query Elsevier for information on the article during the production process, to find the article
on the Internet through various Web sites, including ScienceDirect, and to cite the article in academic references. When using an Elsevier
article in a reference section, it is important to include the article?s DOI in the reference as volume and page information is not always
available for articles published online. The References section shows samples of DOI included in references.
Number of Copies
WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR FINAL MANUSCRIPT, DISC AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Please send two copies plus disc to:
Mr Seán Duggan
RAPID MEDICAL MEDIA
207 Willingdon Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex BN20 9JP
UK
Note: A copy of the chapter should also
be sent to the Guest Editor.
Title
This should include the full name and address of each author, together with their
email address, telephone and fax numbers. The degrees and affiliations of each author should also be provided. Proofs will be sent to
the first author unless otherwise specified.
Abstracts
The second page should contain the abstract (which should not
exceed 150 words) and the key words. The abstract should be comprehensible to readers before they have read the paper. References or
illustrations should not be mentioned and abbreviations should be avoided. Ensure that the abstract focuses the reader on the key issues
that will be addressed.
Length
Length should be 7,000 words maximum, unless otherwise stated in your contract letter
(check). Please include a total of words used. The length given is inclusive of references and equivalent illustrative or tabular space.
As a guide for conversion, a half-page illustration or table is equivalent to 250 words of text.
Reference Format
These
should represent the most recent and pertinent literature available. It is essential that references are thoroughly checked as inaccuracies
cannot be detected by the Publisher. A maximum of 100 references should be included. Reference style
PLEASE PRESENT REFERENCES ONLY
IN THE STYLE DESCRIBED BELOW.
References should be provided in the Vancouver system.
1. Indicate reference(s) in the text with
a number in square brackets [1] to [100]. 2. At the end of the chapter, provide a corresponding numbered reference list. This should
not be alphabetised, but should appear in the same sequence as the numbers in the text.
All journal titles should be given in full.
Examples:
Books: Zucherman AJ, Smith O, Clark J et al. Infectious mononucleosis. In Top FH & Wehrle PF (eds) Communicable
and Infectious Diseases. 2nd edn, St Louis: CV Mosby, 1990, pp 558-9.
Journals: Taylor PE, Almedia JD, Zuckerman AJ & Leach JM. Relationship
of Milan antigen to abnormal serum lipoprotein. American Journal of Diseases of Children 1991;123: 329-331.
Papers that have been
accepted but not yet published should be included in the reference list followed by '(in press)'. Those in preparation including those
already submitted for publication, personal communications and unpublished observations should be referred to in the text only.
Please
indicate up to a maximum of 10 of the most important references clearly (e.g. by an asterisk).
When citing a Bailliere Tindall journal,
include the digital object identifier (DOI), if noted, from the article?s title page. Please note the following examples.
1. Tharmaratnam
S. Fetal distress. Bailliere's Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2000; 14: 155-172, doi:10.1053/beog.1999.0069.
2. Sivanesaratnam V. The acute abdomen and the obstetrician. Bailliere's Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
doi:10.1053/beog.1999.0065.
Figures
All figures must be cited in the text. They must be submitted as good quality glossy
black and white prints of original artwork of professional quality, ready for printing. The Author should retain all negatives. Photocopies
are not suitable for reproduction but are acceptable as duplicate copies. All figures should be on separate sheets, numbered sequentially,
and identified on the back with soft pencil by the first-named Author, and the number. Orientations should also be marked. Figure legends
should be typed on a separate sheet, numbered in arabic and all keys, etc. should be included in the legend rather than the figure. Colour
prints are not acceptable for reproduction as black and white prints. Photographs should be sharp with strong contrast. All authors wishing
to use illustrations already published must first obtain the permission of the author and publisher and/or copyright holder and give
the precise reference to the original work. Full instructions can be found at Elsevier
ARTWORK Instructions
Colour. If colour illustrations are essential, please inform Mr Sean Duggan immediately of your
requirements.
Tables
Authors are actively encouraged to use tables. The intended position of the Tables should be clearly
indicated in the text. Tables should be numbered consecutively using arabic numerals in the order in which they are cited in the text.
Each table should be typed in double spacing on a separate sheet of paper and given a brief explanatory caption.
Keywords
Key words should preferably be taken from the MESH index of Index Medicus.
Acknowledgements
Only the help of those
who have made substantial contributions to the study and/or preparation of the paper should be mentioned. The source of grant support,
equipment and drugs may be included.
Units & Abbreviations
Spelling. The publisher will ensure that this is consistent
with the Concise Oxford Dictionary (eg, haemoglobin, oesophagus, organized).
Headings. Information should be carefully organized
under headings that allow the reader to find practical information readily. Please indicate the level of headings (A, B, C or D) in your
manuscript. Try to avoid using more than four levels of heading.
Units. The International System of Units (SI) should be applied
(e.g. mm, kg etc.). For abbreviations, capitals withut full stops are preferred. If uncommon abbreviations are used they should be defined
at first mention.
Drugs. Generic names should be used; proprietary names may follow in parentheses (include both English and American
names if different). Great care should be taken in describing the use of drugs and details of the regimen should be thoroughly checked.
Footnotes. These should be avoided where possible.
Genetics. All genes should be underlined to indicate italicization. Proteins
should be left as Roman.
Text. Underline only the words or letters which are to appear in italics. Clearly identify unusual hand-written
symbols and Greek letters. Differentiate between the letter O and zero and the letters I and L and the number 1.
Disk/Electronic
Submission
Manuscripts on Disk
Always provide a 3½' pc compatible disk with your manuscript.
Ensure that the hard
copy which you submit with your disk is absolutely identical. If there are any discrepancies at all, hard copy will be used.
Provide
2 copies of the manuscript and the disk to the publisher and 1 copy of the manuscript to each Guest Editor.
On the disk:
• Ensure your entire chapter is contained on the disk. • One copy of your chapter should be in either Word or WordPerfect
(any version). • An identical copy should be a text file, in either dos ASCII (or any other version of ASCII) or RTF (Rich Text
File). This can be very simply saved from your word processor.
Tables should be created in a spread sheet package and this should
again, be clearly indicated on the disk. • Label your disk clearly with your name, the name of the Guest Editor and the type
of programs that were used on the disk (ie WordPerfect for Windows version 5.2 and tables in Excel version 4). • Provide a list
of the file names on a sheet of A4 with the disk.• Always keep copies of your files on either disk or hard drive for safety.
• Package the disk as carefully as possible when posting.• Do not include copyright material, e.g. word processing software
or operating systemfiles, on the disk because this can create difficulties with Customs clearance. • Ensure that your files
are not saved as read only. • If you have used lots of special characters (i.e. Greek letters or accents) include them on a
separate file at the end of the disk as below, so that we can detect the code used (e.g. Greek beta - β, 'a' acute - á).
Text advice:
• Do not indent paragraphs on the disk - use 2 hard returns to signify the end of paragraphs and headings.
• Keep the layout as simple as possible - we will set it according to house style. Do not try to 'present' the document. •
Ensure that you use the correct characters - ie do not confuse lowercase letter 'l's and the digit '1', or zero and capital 'O'.
• Do not justify your text. • You must follow the Guidelines for Authors for all instructions relating to content of your
chapter.
Copyright Information
Authors contributing a manuscript do so on the understanding that once it is accepted
for publication, copyright in the article, including the right to reproduce it in all forms of media shall be assigned exclusively to
the Publisher. The Publisher shall not refuse any reasonable request by the author to reproduce any of his or her contribution elsewhere.
Permissions Information
OWING TO PROBLEMS IN OBTAINING PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND STORE MATERIAL ELECTRONICALLY, AUTHORS
ARE REQUESTED TO AVOID THE USE OF PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED MATERIAL.
Authors who plan to reproduce (unaltered) illustrations, charts,
tables or other material from previously published sources must obtain written permission from the copyright holder (usually the Publisher)
and send the letter granting this permission to Mr Sean Duggan (address given above). As a matter of courtesy, permission should also
be requested from the author of the original material.
A credit line giving the full source of the material should be included in
the manuscript (e.g. in the figure legend or in the footnote).
Necessary Permissions MUST be obtained by the author. Failure to do
so will result in delays to the processing of your chapter. When the manuscript is submitted authors should state whether they have obtained
or are applying for permissions. If material from the author's own published work is to be used, permission must still be obtained from
the Publisher.
WHEN SEEKING PERMISSION PLEASE NOTE THAT WE REQUIRE 'NON-EXCLUSIVE WORLD RIGHTS IN ALL LANGUAGES' AND THAT WE NEED
PERMISSION TO STORE AND REPRODUCE THE MATERIAL ELECTRONICALLY.
Proofs
Two sets of page proofs will be sent to the first
author, unless otherwise indicated. Only corrections of typographical errors will be accepted at this stage. Please therefore ensure
that when you submit your manuscript it is accurate and complete.
Conflict of interest
All authors must disclose any
financial and personal relationships with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. Examples
of potential conflicts of interest include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations,
and grants or other funding.
Role of the funding source
All sources of funding should be declared as an acknowledgement
at the end of the text. Authors should declare the role of study sponsors, if any, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of
data and in the writing of the manuscript. If the study sponsors had no such involvement, the authors should so state.
Policy
and Ethics
For work described in your article involving human experimental investigations of any kind, must have been carried
out in accordance with The Code of Ethics of the Declaration of Helsinki; http://www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.htm
Funding body agreements
and policies Elsevier has established agreements and developed policies to allow authors whose articles appear in journals published
by Elsevier, to comply with potential manuscript archiving requirements as specified as conditions of their grant awards. To learn more
about existing agreements and policies please visit http://www.elsevier.com/fundingbodies
