All manuscripts must be submitted online electronically at http://manuscripts.dmphp.org

Scope
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness (DMPHP) seeks articles relevant to disaster medicine and public health preparedness from experts worldwide and from all specialties of clinical medicine, epidemiology, and public health to provide a global representation of the body of knowledge emerging to define this international field.

Types of Articles
 

•	Original research and high-quality critical analysis on topics ranging from epidemiological to statistical studies; clinical issues to management strategies; triage scenarios to training program development. Target length for original research articles: 3000–5000 words.
•	In-depth review articles on major topics of importance to all professionals involved in disaster preparedness; these review articles often will feature additional expert commentary from recognized leaders in the field. Authors must use a structured review methodology; see “Review articles,” pages 3 and 4 of the AMA Manual of Style, 10th edition for further direction. Target length for review articles: 5000 words; for invited commentary articles: 2000 words.
•	Special focus on disaster preparedness—short reviews and articles on key areas of wide interest including public health ethics; legal issues; policy reviews; staffing and education requirements; education and training, including simulation and modeling applications; technology and communication issues; and more. Target length for Special Focus articles: 3000 words.
•	Concepts in disaster medicine—articles on planning or prevention specifically related to disaster management, usually multidisciplinary in focus (eg, the need to build resilience in populations to reduce the possible psychological effects of the consequences of disasters). Target length for Concepts articles: 2000–2500 words.
•	Editorial—an opinion essay voicing a theory or conclusions about an issue in disaster medicine; target length: 1000–1500 words.
•	Letter to the editor—a letter commenting on or amplifying an article that has appeared in the journal or a letter from a previous issue; target length (including references): 750 words.

Ethical/Legal Considerations
A submitted manuscript must be an original contribution not previously published (except as an abstract or a preliminary report), must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere, and, if accepted, must not be published elsewhere in similar form, in any language, without the consent of the American Medical Association. Each person listed as an author is expected to have participated in the study to a significant extent. Although the editors and referees make every effort to ensure the validity of published manuscripts, the final responsibility rests with the authors, not with the journal, its editors, or the publisher. All manuscripts must be submitted on-line through the journal’s Web site at http://manuscripts.dmphp.org. See submission instructions under “Author Instructions”.

Patient Anonymity and Informed Consent
It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that a patient’s anonymity be carefully protected and to verify that any experimental investigation with human subjects reported in the manuscript was performed with informed consent and following all of the ethical guidelines for experimental investigation with human subjects required by the institution(s) with which all of the authors are affiliated. Authors should mask patients’ eyes and remove patients’ names from figures unless they obtain written consent from the patients and submit written consent with the manuscript.

Protection of Human Subjects and Animals in Research
When reporting experiments on human subjects, authors must confirm that the procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration, as revised in 2004: http://www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.htm. If doubt exists whether the research was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration, the authors must explain the rationale for their approach, and demonstrate that the institutional review body explicitly approved the doubtful aspects of the study. When reporting experiments on animals, authors must confirm that institutional and national guides for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

Compliance with NIH and Other Research Funding Agency Accessibility Requirements
A number of research funding agencies now require or request authors to submit the postprint (the article after peer review and acceptance but not the final published article) to a repository that is accessible online by all without charge. As a service to our authors, AMA will identify to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) articles that require deposit and will transmit the postprint of an article based on research funded in whole or in part by the National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Trust, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, or other funding agencies to PubMed Central. The revised Copyright Transfer Agreement provides the mechanism.

Copyright
All authors must sign a copy of the journal’s Authorship Responsibility, Financial Disclosure, and Copyright Transfer forms and submit them at the time of manuscript submission.

Copyright Transfer [PDF]

Permissions
Authors must submit written permission from the copyright owner (usually the publisher) to use direct quotations, tables, or illustrations that have appeared in copyrighted form elsewhere, along with complete details about the source. Any permissions fees that might be required by the copyright owner are the responsibility of the authors requesting use of the borrowed material, not the responsibility of the American Medical Association.

Preparation of Manuscript
Manuscripts that do not adhere to the following instructions will be returned to the corresponding author for technical revision before undergoing peer review.

Manuscript Submission
All manuscripts must be submitted online through the journal’s Web site at http://manuscripts.dmphp.org. In the section “Manuscript Submission” follow the link to the journal’s online submission and peer review system. On successful registration, you will be sent an e-mail indicating your login and password. Print a copy of this information for future reference. Note: If you have received an e-mail from us with an assigned login and password, or if you are a repeat user, do not register again. Just log in. Once you have a login and password, you do not have to re-register, even if your status changes (ie, author, reviewer, or editor). Authors: After logging in, click the "Submit Manuscript" link at the top of the screen. Submit your manuscript according to the author instructions.

A manuscript number will be assigned to each manuscript once it has been completely submitted, and that number will be used in all correspondence.

The time needed to review each submission is generally 30 days. Each manuscript should designate 1 corresponding author. Decisions on acceptance or rejection of a manuscript will be communicated to the corresponding author via e-mail. Authors must disclose any potential financial or ethical conflict of interest regarding the contents of the submission. You will be able to track the progress of your manuscript through the system.

Preparation of Manuscript
Manuscripts that do not adhere to the following instructions will be returned to the corresponding author for technical revision before undergoing peer review.

Separate Title Page—Include all identifying author information on a Title Page separate from the full text of the manuscript. Include on the title page (a) complete manuscript title; (b) authors’ full names, highest academic degrees, and affiliations; (c) name and address for correspondence, including fax number, telephone number, and e-mail address; (d) address for reprints, if different from that of corresponding author; (e) any footnotes to these items; (f) a short running title not exceeding 45 letters and spaces; (g) sources of support that require acknowledgment; and (h) a list of 3 potential reviewers.

Manuscript Text—Do NOT include any identifying author information in the text of the manuscript.
Organize the manuscript into 5 main headings: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions. Define abbreviations at first mention in text and in each table and figure. If a brand name is cited, supply the manufacturer’s name and address (city and state/country). Acknowledge all forms of support, including pharmaceutical and industry support, in an Acknowledgment paragraph.

Key Words—Include in Manuscript Text File
List 3–5 key words or phrases for indexing.

Abstract for Original Research Articles—Organize the abstract in a structured format with the headings: Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Abstracts should not be structured for other types of articles; see below.

Unstructured Abstract and Key Words—Include in Manuscript Text File
Limit the abstract to 200 words. It must be factual and comprehensive. Limit the use of abbreviations and acronyms, and avoid general statements (eg, the significance of the results is discussed).

Abbreviations
For a list of standard abbreviations, consult the Council of Biology Editors Style Guide (available from the Council of Science Editors, Drohan Management Group, 12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 130, Reston, VA 20190) or other standard sources. Write out the full term for each abbreviation at its first use unless it is a standard unit of measure; include the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses after the first mention (eg, National Instant Check System [NCIS]).

References
The authors are responsible for the accuracy of the references. Key the references (double-spaced) at the end of the manuscript. Cite the references in text in the order of appearance. Use superscript numerals for text citations—eg, Jenkins surveyed first responders in Philadelphia for their awareness of health literacy issues.6
Cite unpublished data—such as papers submitted but not yet accepted for publication and personal communications, including e-mail communications—in parentheses in the text. If there are more than 3 authors, name only the first 3 authors and then use et al. Refer to the List of Journals Indexed in Index Medicus for abbreviations of journal names, or access the list at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/serials/lji.html.
For Internet sources—whether Web sites, online journals, other journal articles accessed online, online newsletters, or other Web materials—be sure to include the “date accessed” information as shown below under the “World Wide Web” example. Also, the National Library of Medicine recommends that authors retain a hard copy of the information accessed online for their own reference or in case of questions that may arise later; Web sites change frequently and the page you saw yesterday may not be up on the Web tomorrow.

Sample references are given below:

World Wide Web
1. Gostin LO. Drug use and HIV/AIDS. JAMA HIV/AIDS Web site. June 1, 1996. http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/ethics. Accessed June 26, 1997.

2. Emergency medicine participation in the Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative. Geriatrics for specialists page. American Geriatrics Society Web site. http://www.americangeriatrics.org/specialists/emergency_medicine/shtml. Accessed October 15, 2007.

Journal article
3. Ricci ZJ, Haramati LB, Rosenbaum AT et al. Role of computed tomography in guiding the management of peripheral bronchopleural fistula. J Thorac Imaging. 2002;17:214–218.

Online journal article with DOI (digital object identifier) number
4. Valent F, Messi G, Deroma L et al. A descriptive study of injuries in a paediatric population of north-eastern Italy. Eur J Pediatr [published online November 29, 2006]. doi:10.1007/s00431-005-0366-y
Note: To locate an article online by DOI number, access the DOI Web site at http://dx.doi.org, and enter the 10-digit number in the “search” box. Selected journal Web sites also allow you to access articles by doi number.

Book chapter
5. Steiner RM. Radiology of the heart and great vessels. In: Braunwald E, Zipes D, Libby P, eds. Heart Disease. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001:15–18.

Entire book
6. Kellman RM, Marentette LJ. Atlas of Craniomaxillofacial Fixation. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.

Software
7. Epi Info [computer program]. Version 6. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1994.

Database
8. CANCERNET-PDQ [database online]. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 1996. Updated March 29, 1996.

Figures
Figures: Due to space limitations, there is a limit of 4 figures per article. Digital art should be created/scanned and saved and submitted as a TIFF (tagged image file format), an EPS (encapsulated postscript) file, or a PPT (PowerPoint) file. Electronic photographs—radiographs, CT scans, and so on—and scanned images must have a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). Line art must have a resolution of at least 1200 dpi. If fonts are used in the artwork, they must be converted to paths or outlines or they must be embedded in the files. Color images must be created/scanned and saved and submitted as CMYK files. If you do not have the capability to create CMYK files, please disregard this step. Indicate in your cover letter that you are unable to produce CMYK files. Cite figures consecutively in the text, and number them in the order in which they are discussed.

Cover photographs: The journal seeks photographs that capture the essence of what the disaster medicine community does—prepare for and respond to catastrophic events. Selected photos, such as the Astrodome photo featured on the journal’s premiere issue, will appear on the journal’s cover. Before submitting photos, read these guidelines:

• Photos must be previously unpublished. Preference will be given to photos taken on-site by a health services provider responding to an event. Other images relating to disaster medicine will be considered, however.
• Photos should be submitted in an electronic file at 300 dpi resolution; either color or black and white is acceptable.
• All photos submitted require written permission/acknowledgment (model releases) from photo subjects to allow use of their images by DMPHP editorial and promotions.
• All submissions will be reviewed by the editors. Photos accepted by the editors will be featured on future covers of DMPHP.

Please visit http://manuscripts.dmphp.org to submit your photos online.

Tables and Online Data Supplements
Tables: Due to space limitations, there is a limit of 4 tables per article, but see also the section below on Online Data Supplements. Create tables using the table creating and editing feature of the word processing software (ie, Microsoft Word). Do not use Excel or comparable spreadsheet programs. Group all tables at the end of the manuscript, or supply them together in a separate file. Cite tables consecutively in the text, and number them in that order. Key each on a separate sheet, and include the table title, appropriate column heads, and explanatory legends (including definitions of any abbreviations used). Do not embed tables within the body of the manuscript. They should be self-explanatory and should supplement, rather than duplicate, the material in the text.

Online Data Supplements: Online Data Supplements are encouraged as an enhancement to the print Methods section. This optional section provides an opportunity to present supporting materials to the manuscript. Please note that all data supplements undergo peer review and must be submitted with the original manuscript at initial submission.

Online Data Supplements can consist of the following:

• Expanded methods and results
• Additional figures
• Additional table
• Video files

If citations are made in an Online Data Supplement, the supplement must contain its own reference section, with references numbered sequentially beginning with the number 1. File size should be 10MB or less.

Style
Pattern manuscript style after the American Medical Association Manual of Style (10th edition). Stedman’s Medical Dictionary (28th edition) and Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition) should be used as standard references. Refer to drugs and therapeutic agents by their accepted generic or chemical names, and do not abbreviate them. Use code numbers only when a generic name is not yet available. In that case, supply the chemical name and a figure giving the chemical structure of the drug. Capitalize the trade names of drugs and place them in parentheses after the generic names. To comply with trademark law, include the name and (city and state in USA; city and country outside USA) of the manufacturer of any drug, supply, or equipment mentioned in the manuscript. Use the metric system to express units of measure and degrees Celsius to express temperatures, and use SI units rather than conventional units.

Peer Review
Every article is reviewed by a minimum of 2 peer reviewers. If warranted, the submission will also be sent for statistical review. The author may suggest names of three potential reviewers. The identities of peer reviewers are kept confidential, but the author identities are made known to the peer reviewers.

AFTER ACCEPTANCE

Page Proofs and Corrections
Corresponding authors will receive copy editor queries via e-mail and will be expected to reply to and resolve such queries within 48 hours. Corresponding authors also will receive electronic page proofs of the complete typeset article before publication. Portable document format (PDF) files of the typeset pages and support documents (eg, reprint order form) will be sent to the corresponding author by e-mail. Complete instructions will be provided with the e-mail for returning corrections to the publisher within 24 hours. Those authors without an e-mail address will receive printed page proofs but will also be expected to e-mail corrections to the publisher within 24 hours of receipt thereof. It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that there are no errors in the proofs. Changes that have been made to conform to journal style will stand if they do not alter the authors’ meaning. Only the most critical changes to the accuracy of the content will be made. Changes that are stylistic or are a reworking of previously accepted material will be disallowed. The publisher reserves the right to deny any changes that do not affect the accuracy of the content. Authors may be charged for alterations to the proofs beyond those required to correct errors or to answer queries.

Embargo Policy
All information regarding the content and publication date of the accepted manuscripts is confidential. Information about or contained in accepted articles cannot appear in any media outlet (print, broadcast, or electronic) until the date specified for that issue by the AMA Media Relations public information officer. Media contact: Leah Dudowicz, AMA Media Relations, Phone: 1-312-464-4813; e-mail: Leah.Dudowicz@ama-assn.org.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
DMPHP is approved to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for one designated article per issue. After articles are accepted, a Continuing Education Committee of the Editorial Board selects the designated article for each issue based on the objectives that, at the conclusion of the activity, physicians should be able to:

• Cite DMPHP as a comprehensive resource for high quality peer-reviewed research, analysis and concepts in support of a discipline of disaster medicine and public health preparedness.
• Cite DMPHP as a resource for the global community of physician responders who are expected to manage the increasing number and magnitude of large scale disasters and public health emergencies.

Authors whose articles are designated must submit signed disclosure and attestation forms and a scenario or case study of not more than 300 words, with five questions that demonstrate the learner can apply knowledge gained from reading the article. The format for the five quiz questions is a stem plus four responses (one correct; three distractors).

The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Medical Association designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Author Reprints (article)

Concurrent with their receipt of page proofs, or upon publication, reprints may be ordered online from Reprints Desk.