Colombia Médica is a highly recognized journal that is indexed in PubMed / Medline, which offers a valuable collection of articles focused on the health area in open access and without fees (APC) for authors (Diamond-OA) funded solely by the Universidad del Valle.

As the official Journal of Universidad del Valle, Colombia Médica encourages submission of articles aimed at improving patient care, education, and research in primary care and medicine in all settings. Submissions must be original and not currently under consideration for publication in another peer-reviewed medium (paper or electronic). Colombia Médica is committed to making the review process as timely and valuable as possible for authors.

To speed the processing of manuscripts, Colombia Médica only accepts manuscripts online via the following website: http://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co .This site contains complete instructions for authors and step-by-step instructions for submitting manuscripts, cover letters, and supporting materials (if necessary).

Instructions for authors

1. Manuscript categories

Submitted manuscripts must fit into one of the following categories:

1.1     Original research

These articles describe original observational or interventional research concerning clinical care, education, basic science, or health policy relevant to medicine, including hospital medicine, innovation and improvement, and health disparities. Organize manuscript text into Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion, generally following relevant Abstract headings. Please proofread the Abstract carefully to ensure that all results and conclusions mentioned in the Abstract are also reported in the main body of the Text, figures, or tables of the manuscript. To assure that studies with various methods have the highest quality reporting, Colombia Médica strongly suggests authors use standard formats as described at http://www.equator-network.org (i.e., CONSORT for randomized trials, STROBE for observational studies, COREQ for qualitative research, and SQUIRE for quality improvement studies, etc.). Authors are strongly encouraged to use the checklists offered for these guidelines, and those checklists may be requested during a manuscript review.

Original research articles should have a detailed description of the study's design and analysis. Colombia Médica does not restrict the number of words; however, it is suggested not to exceed 4500 words of Text (not including title page, Abstract, references, tables, figures, figure legends, or appendices) except for reports of qualitative research, which may be as long as 6,000 words, including Text, quotes, and tables containing quotes.

Abstracts: Original research articles should have 250 words or less structured abstract.

Use the following headings: Background, Objective, Methods, Results (principal findings), and Conclusions.

Tables and Figures: Tables and figures should be used as needed to convey the data; however, the number of combined tables plus figures in the article's main body should not generally exceed 6. Authors will be asked to delete or combine tables and figures felt excessive; optionally, they may be published online as a supplementary appendix. Authors are encouraged to make liberal use of electronic appendices (including textual, tabular, and audiovisual materials which help to inform the research but are not essential to understanding the main arguments); these will be published online.

References: References must be limited to those that are necessary. Colombia Médica does not restrict the number of references; however, it is suggested not to exceed 30 for manuscripts. It is preferred that references cite original research and correspond to the most current evidence on the subject

Any available works can be cited in the reference list. Acceptable sources include:

Published or accepted manuscripts

Manuscripts on pre-print servers, if the manuscript is submitted to a journal, and is also publicly available as a pre-print

Do not cite the following sources in the reference list:

Unavailable and unpublished work, including manuscripts that have been submitted but not yet accepted (e.g., "unpublished work," "data not shown"). Instead, include the data as supplementary material or deposit the data in a publicly available database.

Personal communications (these should be supported by a letter from the relevant authors but not included in the reference list)

 Clinical Trials Registration: Colombia Médica's Editors ascribe to the registration policies of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) that can be found at http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/publishing-and-editorial-issues/clinical-trial-registration.html. Appropriate registries (such as www.clinicaltrials.gov) must be accessible to the public at no charge and must be open to all prospective registrants and managed by a not-for-profit organization. There must be a mechanism to ensure the validity of the registration data, and the registry should be electronically searchable. Please include the appropriate Trial Registration Number on the Title Page of the submitted manuscript.

1.2     Reviews

The Journal welcomes review articles and are generally solicited by the Editor-in-Chief. Authors wishing to submit an unsolicited Review Article are invited to contact the Editor-in-Chief before submission in order to screen the proposed topic for relevance and priority, given other review articles that may already be in preparation. Review articles should focus on recent scientific or clinical advances in an area of broad interest to those in medicine and health. Such articles must be concise and critical and should include appropriate references to the literature. All Review Articles, including those solicited by the Editors, are rigorously peer reviewed before making a final publication decision.

Authors must be researchers with experience in the subject discussed

See the Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review to write the literature review manuscript.

Abstract: The paper's abstract should be succinct; it must not exceed 200 words. Authors should express the main idea and a concise argument position in one or two paragraphs. Avoid specialist abbreviations.

Introduction: The context for the article is set in the Introduction, and a logical case is made for the expression of the Viewpoint. The historical background is thoroughly reviewed, where appropriate. Key concepts and terms are well explained.

Main Text (broken into subsections as appropriate): These succinct, synthetic, well-focused, and engaging Reviews should appeal to a broad genetics readership. Aim for no more than 4,000 words (Introduction and main Text), two or three display items, and a concise list of the most relevant references. The article should include an overview of the existing literature that places the topic within a broader context. Still, it should also focus on the future: where is the field going, and what exciting developments are expected? It is imperative to highlight critical new advances, open questions, and standing controversies or paradoxes, as a general readership especially values these.

Colombia Médica encourages using tables and color figures to summarize critical points or illustrate the manuscript. The Journal offers assistance with preparation or improvement of figures by professional illustrators, once the article is accepted use of tables and color figures to summarize critical points is encouraged; the Journal offers assistance with preparation or improvement of figures by professional illustrators, once the article is accepted.

References: References must be limited to those that are necessary. Colombia Médica does not restrict the number of references; however, it suggests that not more than 100 for manuscripts.

Due to perceived conflicts of interest, Colombia Médica cannot accept review articles sponsored by commercial interests or written by freelance or commercial writers (including writers from communication and education companies).

Systematic reviews or meta-analyses should follow the guidelines in the PRISMA statement, which can be found at http://www.prisma-statement.org/. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) provides an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and is an update and expansion of the QUOROM Statement. The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. Authors must submit the PRISMA checklist and flow diagram along with their manuscript. Although PRISMA focuses on randomized trials, the PRISMA Statement can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly evaluations of interventions. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses should, in accord with PRISMA Guidelines (http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001419), include a structured abstract with the following headings: Background, Methods, Results, Discussion.

The Background section should describe study objectives. Methods should include eligibility criteria, information sources, and methods of assessing risk of bias. The Results section should include studies, synthesis of results, and description of the effect. Finally, the Discussion should consist of the strengths and limitations of the evidence. If the study is registered, specify the registry and the study's review registration number at the end of the Abstract. c encourages but does not require study registration, though it may request that the authors submit a copy of the protocol.

1.3     Viewpoints

These articles serve primarily as a forum for discussing controversial, emerging, or topical issues in the field; occasionally, the Discussion surrounds a challenge to findings in a published research article.

Viewpoints are a subset of articles that reflect a particular position adopted by a person or a group. It is an articulated, organized perspective on a specific topic or issue associated with health research. A Viewpoint must be clearly expressed and demonstrate a thorough and broad understanding of the literature and practices in the field. The opinion expressed must be cogently presented and lead to insights and possibly new and interesting perspectives. Colombia Médica expects a Viewpoint paper to stimulate discussion among the scientific community, which will result in advancing our knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues as well as practice in medicine and health.

While the subjective nature of Viewpoints manuscripts should be considered, high scholarly standards for relevance, documentation, organization, and content pertain. The author must establish a context for why the manuscript is justified and point to the implications or consequences that might follow from the opinions expressed in the article.

Authors must be researchers with experience in the subject discussed

Abstract: The paper's abstract should be succinct; it must not exceed 200 words. Authors should express the main idea and a concise argument position in one or two paragraphs. Avoid specialist abbreviations.

Introduction: The context for the article is set in the Introduction, and a logical case is made for the expression of the Viewpoint. The historical background is thoroughly reviewed, where appropriate. Key concepts and terms are well explained.

Viewpoint: The purpose of the Viewpoint is clear and well articulated. The Viewpoint is cogently argued. The parts of the manuscript are well integrated and coherent, and the conclusions follow. Contrasting viewpoints or counter-arguments are considered. The perceived benefits and limitations of the position advocated are clearly stated.

References: References must be limited to those that are necessary. Colombia Médica does not restrict the number of references; however, it is suggested not to exceed 30 for manuscripts

1.4     Case Report

Colombia Médica publishes original and interesting case reports that contribute significantly to medical knowledge. Manuscripts must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Unreported or unusual side effects or adverse interactions involving medications
2. Unexpected or unusual presentations of a disease
3. New associations or variations in disease processes
4. Presentations, diagnoses, and/or management of new and emerging diseases
5. An unexpected association between diseases or symptoms
6. An unexpected event in the course of observing or treating a patient
7. Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease or an adverse effect

Authors should indicate in the Abstract and cover letter how the case report adds to the medical literature. Submissions not including this information will be returned to the authors before peer review.

Case reports should include an up-to-date review of all previous cases in the field. Authors should seek written and signed consent to publish the information from the patients or their guardians before submission. Authors will be asked to confirm informed consent was received as part of the submission process, and the manuscript must include a statement to this effect by including a 'Consent' section, as follows: "Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this Journal.

See the CARE guidelines for writing a case report manuscript.

Abstract: For a Case Report, the structured Abstract must include the following headings: Case Description, Clinical Findings, Treatment and Outcome, Clinical Relevance

Introduction: The Introduction should put the manuscript's focus into a broader context. As you compose the Introduction, think of readers who are not experts in this field. Include a brief review of the key literature and epidemiology. The Introduction should conclude with a short statement of the overall aim of the case report and a comment about whether that aim was achieved.

Case Description: A Case Report begins with the signalment (eg, age, sex, ...) of the patient, followed by a chronological description of pertinent aspects of the diagnostic examination, treatment, and outcome, and ends with a brief discussion. When more than one patient is involved, a group representative should be described in detail; essential differences among patients can be addressed separately. For reports with 3 or fewer patients, pertinent abnormal findings should be summarized in the Text. For four or more patients, 1 table that summarizes pertinent abnormal findings may be accommodated, provided that such findings are not repeated in the Text.

Discussion: The Discussion should be concise and tightly argued.Should discuss the main findings, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic alternatives. Do not include the extensive literature reviews. Conclude with the value of the contribution to clinical practice or knowledge of the case report

References: References must be limited to those that are necessary. Colombia Médica does not restrict the number of references; however, it suggests not exceeding 12 for manuscripts

1.5     Editorial

The Editors solicit editorials and provide commentary on articles selected for publication. Editorials should be 1200-1500 words long and be accompanied by no more than 10 references. Solicited Editorials should be submitted as a MS Word document to the Editorial Office at editor.colombiamedica@correounivalle.edu.co.  

Comments provide a novel perspective on an essential topic of interest to Colombia Médica readers or make a conceptual contribution that advances thinking or debate in that area. Comments are limited to no more than two authors. The Editors may solicit comments, but Colombia Médica also welcomes unsolicited submissions, which may be submitted on the Colombia Médica submission site (at www.jgim.org). Comments should also be 1200-1500 words and have no more than five references.

1.6     Letters to the Editor

We welcome correspondence on content published in Colombia Médica. Letters about a Journal article must be received within 12 months after publication. Letter to the Editor submissions must be no longer than 750 words, include no more than 10 references, and no more than 2 figures and tables (combined). Letters are limited to no more than three authors. Provide a succinctly worded title that differs from the previously published Colombia Médica article. Include a title page.

All accepted letters are edited, and proofs will be sent to authors before publication. The Editor-in-Chief may invite the article's authors to write a Letter to the Editor reply.

2      Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

This Journal is committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record. As a member of the The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) the journal will follow the WAME, ICMJE and COPE guidelines on how to deal with potential acts of misconduct.

Authors should refrain from misrepresenting research results, which could damage the trust in the Journal and ultimately the entire scientific endeavor. Maintaining the integrity of the research and its presentation can be achieved by following the rules of good scientific practice, which include:

1. The manuscript has not been submitted to more than one Journal for simultaneous consideration.
2. The manuscript has not been published previously (partly or in full), unless the new work concerns an expansion of previous work (please provide transparency on the re-use of material to avoid the hint of text-recycling ("self-plagiarism")).
3. A single study is not split into several parts to increase the quantity of submissions submitted to various journals or to one Journal over time (e.g., "salami-publishing").
4. No data have been fabricated or manipulated (including images) to support your conclusions.
5. No data, Text, or theories by others are presented as if they were the author's own ("plagiarism"). Proper acknowledgements to other works must be given (this includes material that is closely copied (near verbatim), summarized, and/or paraphrased), quotation marks are used for verbatim copying of material. Permissions are secured for material that is copyrighted.
6. Important note: the Journal may use software to screen for plagiarism.
7. Consent to submit has been received from all co-authors and responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work was carried out before the work was submitted.
8. Authors whose names appear on the submission have contributed sufficiently to the scientific work and therefore share collective responsibility and accountability for the results.

3      A word on word count

Colombia Médica encourages brevity in the Journal. Word count limitations are limits, not targets; each published article should be no longer than required to convey why the research was conducted, how it was done, what it showed, and what it means.

Authors are urged to aim for compactness of expression in print, providing critical supplemental material as appendices for electronic publication. See the Table below for a summary of the recommended word count.

 

Tabla 1. Word count limitations recommended: summary

Article Type	Article Limit	Abstract Limit	Abstract type
Original Research	4,500	250	Structured
Qualitative Original Research	4,000 (incl. quotes/tables)	300	Structured
Reviews (Systematic)	6,000	250	Unstructured
Reviews (Narrative)	6,000	250	Unstructured
Viewpoint	2,000	200	Structured
Case Report	2,000	200	Structured
Healing Arts: Text and Context	1,000		None Needed
Editorials and Comments	1,500		None Needed
Letters	600		None Needed

 

4      Specific directions for submission

4.1     Authorship

Appropriate authorship: It is essential for the integrity of science and the proper effort attribution that only persons who have had an active role and significant impact on conceptualizing, funding, performing, analyzing, or writing up research be included as authors (http://www.icmje.org/#author). Every person who contributed to the writing of a manuscript must be listed as an author. Colombia Médica reserves the right to question the co-authors' role in the reported work.

Research group authorship: Where there are many investigators, they can be listed as part of a named research group, and the entire list can be included at the end of the Text. For promotion and other attribution of the work, individual authors can be listed as follows:

The TRIAD Study Group [Marrero DG]. Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD): A multi-center diabetes study in managed care. Diab Care 2002; 25:386-389.

Inappropriate authorship: "Honorary authorship" is not appropriate. For instance, one should not list as co-authors research unit directors who were not actively and significantly involved in the research or the resultant manuscript. "Author inflation" expands the number of authors on a peer-reviewed journal article with persons who have not contributed considerably to the work. This cheapens the work of the other authors and is misleading. The contributions of individuals contributing to the manuscript but not meeting authorship criteria should be included in the Acknowledgments.

Freelance and commercial writers: Anyone, including freelance writers and writers from communication and education companies, who contributes to reviewing the literature or drafting a manuscript must be listed as an author and complete a conflict of interest statement. Alternatively, such persons can be listed in the Acknowledgments.

Commissioning of manuscripts by for-profit companies is allowed for any category except Review articles. We will consider Pharma-sponsored Original research, but do not accept Pharma-sponsored Reviews. Again, persons contributing to the manuscript content must be listed as authors or acknowledged. Regardless, all these persons must always disclose and be included in the conflict of interest information. Precise financial relationships, direct and indirect, between the parties involved, must be explicitly described. Failing to do this will result in rejection of the manuscript. (World Association of Medical Editors. Commercial companies initiate ghostwriting. J Gen Intern Med 2005;20:549.)

If we learn that authors have violated these authorship principles during manuscript review, we will notify the authors, their institutions, and their sponsors about the breach of ethical conduct. Suppose we become aware of the violation of ethical conduct after manuscript publication. In that case, we will conduct the same notification AND publish a correction to clarify the authors' contributions and conflicts of interest. This requirement for acknowledging donations does not apply to writers who edit a manuscript solely to improve the clarity, style, or grammar.

4.2     Copyright form

All authors publishing manuscripts in Colombia Médica must complete a copyright form giving exclusive license to publish the manuscript to the Universidad del Valle. The copyright form will be required for all manuscripts accepted for publication in Colombia Médica. The copyright form is required before the manuscript can be sent for typesetting.

4.3     Cover letter

Submit a cover letter addressed to the Editors with each manuscript. Please review our suggested cover letter format (http://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co). Include a brief overview (manuscript title, type, design, significant finding) and illustrate the manuscript's importance for Colombia Médica. Where relevant, include additional context to help the Editors adjudicate this work. Include corresponding author contact information (name, title, affiliation, address, email, phone), and a backup contact. Proofs will be sent electronically, so include a valid author's email address. Please indicate that the work has not been published in any peer-reviewed media (other than in abstract form). Include a statement that all authors listed on the manuscript have contributed sufficiently to the project to be included as authors. If all or part of the manuscript information has been published previously, please indicate where it was published and the extent of overlap with this manuscript. Attach a copy of the articles (or manuscripts) in question. Where relevant, include your NIH study registry number. We encourage authors to provide the names and contact information for 3-5 appropriate potential reviewers with no conflicts of interest with the manuscript.

4.4     Submission

All manuscripts must be submitted electronically at http://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co except for Editorials, which should be emailed to the Editor in Chief at editor.colombiamedica@correounivalle.edu.co. Each manuscript must be in a single Microsoft Word file, including tables and figures. All communication among the Editors and reviewers will be done via email.

File size: Because some reviewers' email systems cannot accept files larger than 2MB, please keep the initial manuscript (including tables and figures) under 2MB in size. If this means making less dense figures than you would like, you can submit larger figure files if the manuscript is accepted for publication.

5      Manuscript

Component Order: The manuscript must be a single document, with components in this order: Title Page, Abstract, Text, References, and (if appropriate) Legends for Figures, Tables, Figures, and Appendices.

Format and Style: Except where overridden by specific requirements in this document, manuscripts should be prepared according to the "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals." This document can be found at http://www.icmje.org or in the following publications:

• Ann Intern Med 1997; 126:36-47
• N Engl J Med 1997; 336:309-315
• JAMA 1997; 277:927-934

5.1     Title page

This must be the first page of the manuscript. Start page numbering from the Title page onward. Include the manuscript title (less than 18 words). Provide a running title of 5-6 words. Include full names, highest degree(s) awarded, and authors' institutional affiliations. Use superscript numbers to designate institutional affiliations for each author. Provide the corresponding author's name and complete address, telephone numbers, and email address. Also include the number of references, tables, figures, and appendices along with word length for the article's Text (not including title page, abstract, references, tables, figures, or appendices). Please provide the word count of the abstract and up to five keywords or terms for indexing.

5.2     Abstract

Structured abstracts should adhere to the formats outlined in the instructions for each particular type of article. Include sufficient data in the Abstract to inform the reader of the most essential quantitative results in the manuscript. Except for some qualitative papers, including purely qualitative terms in the Abstract will be unacceptable, such as "The intervention group had significantly more hospitalizations than the control group." Ensure that the abstract and manuscript present consistent information.

5.3     Manuscript text

Organize the manuscript text for all articles into sections that generally match the abstract sections. Double-space all Text. Use a 12-point font for the Abstract, Text, and references. Number the lines continuously. Tables and table legends may be single-spaced with the font size smaller than 10-point. Tables should be formatted in portrait orientation unless the manuscript is a systematic review. Abbreviations should be kept to a minimum and defined when first introduced. Standard medical abbreviations, such as EKG, IV, are allowed without being defined if commonly used instead of the full term. It is also not necessary to define standard statistical abbreviations such as N, SD (standard deviation), CI (confidence interval), and OR (odds ratio). Do not abbreviate diseases or conditions (e.g., MI). Use generic drug names. For studies involving human subjects, include documentation of informed consent and institutional review board approval (or exemption) in the methods section. If your research is exempt, please include documentation of that as well. All measurements should be expressed in the International System of Units (SI). Other units may follow in parentheses if needed. Do not use footnotes, headers, or footers other than for page numbers. Do not use bulleted Text or bolding except in table headings, which should be bolded. Italics may be used.

All types of articles must complete the following Table. Use the least amount of words (100-150), and should not be part of the Abstract:

Remark

1) Why was this study conducted?

2) What were the most relevant results of the study?

3) What do these results contribute?

5.4     Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgment section should follow the Discussion and has three components.

Contributors: List those who contributed to the manuscript but do not meet the criteria for authorship. The Editors reserve the right to request a letter of agreement from those listed in the Acknowledgment section. Suppose you cite individuals (rather than groups) in any Acknowledgement. In that case, you will be asked to provide written approval from each for including their name(s) when the manuscript is accepted for publication.

Funders: Include all funding sources, grants, and other financial support received for the work represented in the manuscript (both internal and external). Include the granting institution and grant number (if relevant).

Prior presentations: Include the name and date of any conference at which the paper was presented (Include DOI)

5.5     Conflict of interest

Summarize and disclose all conflicts of interest by all authors in a paragraph, immediately following the Acknowledgements section, before the References section. The corresponding author must also submit a Conflict of Interest Form (available at http://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co) as a Word document. Include a line for each author, even if no conflicts of interest exist. Conflicts of interest are all relationships or interests that could influence or bias the work. Although an author may not feel conflicts, disclosing relationships and interests affords a more transparent process, leading to an accurate and objective work assessment. In addition, interests beyond financial interests and compensation (non-financial) that may be important to readers should be disclosed.

5.6     References

Number references consecutively, using Arabic numbers, as cited in the Text. List all authors when there are six or fewer; when there are seven or more, list the first six and add "et al.," Follow the format outlined in "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" (see citation examples listed below). Use a text list for your references. Authors must double-check the completeness and accuracy of all references because errors commonly cause delays in publishing accepted manuscripts. If possible, include the DOI in the reference. The Doi of each reference must be included.

Examples:
Articles:	Braddock CH, Fihn SD, Levinson W, Jonsen AR, Pearlman RA. How doctors and patients discuss routine clinical decisions - informed decision making in the outpatient setting. J Gen Intern Med. 1997;12:339-45.DOI: 10.1136/jim-2018-001227
Books:	Fleiss JL. Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions. New York: John Wiley and Sons; 1981:165-8.
Websites:	Health Care Financing Administration. 1996 statistics at a glance. Available from: http://www.hcfa.gov/stats/stathili.com. Accessed 1996 December 2.

5.7     Legends for figures

Include a brief legend for each figure. The title of the figure should appear in the Legend, not on the figure itself. Use the Legend to identify all abbreviations, lines, bars, etc., used in the figure.

5.8     Tables

 

• Tables should follow the References and Figure Legends.
• Tables should be numbered with Arabic numerals, have a short title describing their contents, and have sufficient white space to be easily legible. If there is only one Table, then do not number it; refer to it as "Table" and do not include the designation "Table" in the Table's title.

 

• All tables must be cited in the Text. In many instances, tables containing little data can be deleted and included as Text in the manuscript.
• Do not repeat tabular information in the manuscript text. Instead, include data in the tables, and comment upon it in the Text.
• Ensure that the tabular information in the manuscript text and abstract agrees with that in the Table.
• Use the table editor of your word processing software to build a table. Using a regular text with spaces or tabs to line up data columns is unacceptable. Regardless of which program is used, each data piece must be contained in its own cell in the Table. Do not try to align cells with hard returns or extra spaces. Place each row of data in a separate row of cells. Construct the Table so comparisons between groups are read horizontally. Use the table grid feature in your word processor to draw the outlines of each cell; do not draw lines by any other means.
• Colombia Médica tries to fit tables into a single page column whenever possible and never more than the width of a journal page. Tables in manuscripts must be single-spaced and submitted one to a page (may continue onto a second page if there are too many rows for one page). Each table width must fit onto an 8.5 X 11-inch page, in portrait layout (i.e., 8.5-inch width) and in no less than 10-point font. If a table does not fit into this format, consider shortening row or column labels, using more than one Table or a figure to display the data, eliminating unnecessary data, or converting table data into a figure. Almost all tables will fit this format. Tables that cannot fit onto one journal page can only be published online in any format the author requires.
• Numbers and percentages should be presented in the same cell. Similarly, measures of variability (SD, 95% CI) should be in the same cell as their corresponding statistic. When presenting percentages, include the numbers from which they were calculated. For example, the number of subjects (denominator) can be included in a header – e.g., Control (N=130) – while the numerator and percentage can be displayed in the cell, e.g., 83 (64). Include variability where applicable (e.g., mean [SD] or median [interquartile range]).
• Table rows should be top-aligned. Use indentation to indicate the hierarchy for entries and subentries in tables. Use a single-space indent for the first level of subentry, and a double-space indent for the second level of subentry. Data must not fall into adjacent columns. Wrap the line(s) to avoid entries falling onto adjacent columns.
• For tables or Figures with 10 or fewer explanatory footnotes, the following symbols are set in the order shown: asterisk *, dagger †, double dagger ‡, section mark §, parallel mark ‖, paragraph symbol ¶, number sign #, asterisk [repeated] **, dagger [repeated] ††, double dagger [repeated] ‡‡. For tables with more than 10 footnotes, use superscript lowercase letters. Symbols and footnote letters should not be used in the same Table. The next word should be capitalized if an entry begins with a number or symbol.
• For dichotomous variables (e.g., sex), only include data for one category (e.g., women).
• Use arithmetic operators (e.g., <, >, +,-) instead of words in footnotes. Units of measurement should be contained in the column or row headings, not the Table's cells.

 

• Group similar data types together. Use emdash (—) or double hyphen (--) rather than blanks to indicate cells that lack data. Use "N/A" for "not applicable" or "N/D" for "not determined," where appropriate, for cells with missing contents. Use the numeral "0" to indicate that the value of the data in a cell is zero.
• Include a leading zero before the decimal point for numbers between 0 and 1 with decimals. For example, write 0.143 rather than .143. This pertains to both data and p-values (see below).
• Using more than two significant digits is seldom helpful (and often obfuscating). Laboratory data should be provided and rounded off according to the number of digits that reflect the precision of the reported results, and to eliminate reporting results beyond the sensitivity of the procedure performed. Exact P values are preferred, whether statistically significant or not. P values should be expressed to 2 digits to the right of the decimal point unless the first two digits are zeros. P values less than 0.001 should be designated as "p <0.001" rather than using exact values (e.g., p= 0.0002 or for p= 00006 use three digits to the right of the decimal place, p <0.001 ). For study outcomes, statistically significant values should not be expressed as "p <0.05" either in the Table or footnote. Non-significant p values should not be expressed as "NS" (not significant). The number of digits for confidence intervals should correspond to the number of digits in the point estimate (e.g., if an odds ratio is reported as 2.45, the 95% confidence interval should be noted as 1.32 to 4.78, NOT 1.322 to 4.784).

5.9     Text boxes

Sometimes, authors must present information that does not fit well into a table or figure. Examples include steps in a protocol or instructions for focus group participants. In such instances, use a text box. The best text boxes use white space and bulleted or numbered lists to make the information more easily readable. Text boxes should be numbered consecutively and included in the manuscript following tables and before figures. Formatting rules for tables should be used where appropriate. All text boxes should have a solid border around the entire box.

5.10  Figures

In the initial submission, each figure should be embedded directly into the manuscript document after the references, tables, and text boxes, if any. Do not put the title on the figure; put it in the Legend. Figures with few data should add some visual value; otherwise, include the data in the manuscript text or the Table instead. For all line and bar charts, the lower bound for each scale should be either zero (preferable) or the lowest possible physiologic value. Do not truncate values to accentuate differences between groups. Use symbols (defined in the Figure Legend) to define lines, groups, etc., as listed above for Tables.

 

Color photographs and figures will continuously be published in color in the online version of an article. Colombia Médica can publish articles in color in the Journal at no additional cost to the authors. The Editors will decide whether color is warranted in a manuscript accepted for publication that contains color figures, tables, etc. Authors should remember that reproducing color in black and white can reduce the contrast between parts of a figure when colors are reproduced as shades of grey. Authors should, therefore, use colors with different densities (e.g., dark blue vs yellow) in adjacent bars, etc., so they can easily be distinguished in black and white.

5.11  Permissions

Previously published illustrations, tables, and Text must be fully identified as the author and source. For all borrowed illustrations, tables, and verbatim quotations of 200 words or more, authors must obtain written permission from both the previous publisher and the author and forward such permission with the manuscript. The author is responsible for the fees associated with reprinting previously published materials.

The Editors encourage the submission of additional material if the authors believe it will aid the editors, reviewers, or journal readers in understanding their work. Appendices will be considered for publication in the online version of Colombia Médica. They may contain additional tables, figures, data collection instruments, curricula, or details too lengthy to include in the main article. The editors reserve the right to move to an online appendix any tables, figures, etc., which are not essential to understanding the text. The authors will be responsible for obtaining permission to include any copyrighted material.

5.12  Research data policy type 1

 

Colombia Médica encourages authors, where possible and applicable, to deposit data supporting their research findings in a public repository. Authors and editors who do not have a preferred repository should consult Springer Nature's list of repositories and research data policy.

• List of Repositories

General repositories—for all types of research data—such as figshare and Dryad may also be used.

Datasets assigned digital object identifiers (DOIs) by a data repository may be cited in the reference list. Data citations should include the minimum information DataCite recommends: authors, title, publisher (repository name), and identifier.

 

5.13  Data availability

Colombia Médica strongly encourages (but does not currently require) authors to provide a Data availability statement in their article. Data availability statements should include information on where data supporting the results reported in the article can be found, including, where applicable, hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets analyzed or generated during the study. Data availability statements can also indicate whether data are available on request from the authors and where no data are available, if appropriate.

Data Availability statements can take one of the following forms (or a combination of more than one if required for multiple datasets):

• The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the [NAME] repository, [PERSISTENT WEB LINK TO DATASETS]
• The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to [REASON WHY DATA ARE NOT PUBLIC]. Still, they are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
• The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
• Data sharing does not apply to this article, as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
• All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

6      Colombia Médica submission checklist

Most submissions will consist of four files:

• Cover letter
• Conflict of interest form
• Manuscript document
• Copyright form

Manuscript processing cannot begin until you have correctly submitted all relevant information. Please ensure that you have included:

COVER LETTER (as a Word document – PDF files not accepted)

Please review the "suggested cover letter format" (http://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co) before writing.

 

• Statement on no prior publication of manuscript contents
• Statement that the manuscript is not under review elsewhere
• Statement that this manuscript or a substantially similar manuscript was NOT previously submitted to Colombia Médica
• Authorship statement
• NIH trial registry number, if appropriate
• Corresponding author contact data (name, title, affiliation, address, email, phone)
• Backup contact
• Suggested reviewers with contact information (optional)
• Colombia Médica Conflict of Interest form (as Word document – PDFs not accepted)

6.1     Title page

 

• Title of manuscript (no more than 18 words)
• Full names of authors, with highest degree(s) awarded and institutions (linked by superscript numbers to each author)
• Running title of six words or fewer
• Corresponding author contact data (name, title, affiliation, address, email, phone)
• Abstract and article text word count
• Number of tables and figures
• Keywords (at least 3)
• NIH trial registry number, if appropriate
• Number pages consecutively as a footnote, beginning with the Title Page

6.2     Abstract

 

Structured where indicated (see guidelines by article type)

Ensure the abstract information matches the manuscript information

6.3     Manuscript text

 

• Follow the recommended format for the appropriate article type
• Number pages consecutively, beginning with the Title Page
• Begin each section on a new page in this order: Title, Abstract, Text (per article type), References, Legends for Figures, Tables, Figures, Appendices
• Document ethics/Institutional Review Board approval, if human subjects are involved. If the study is exempt, please include documentation of exempt status.
• Use abbreviations appropriately and minimally
• DO NOT use footnotes
• DO NOT use headers or footers, other than page numbers

6.4     Acknowledgements and conflicts of interest

 

• Acknowledgments (contributors, funding, presentations) follow the Discussion
• Conflict of interest summary for all authors follows the Acknowledgments

6.5     References

 

• Begin on a new page
• Number consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.)
• Use proper Vancouver format (see above)

6.6     Tables

 

• Must be included in the text document – separate files not accepted
• Number tables consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.)
• Title on each Table
• Fit width-wise on an 8.5 X 11-inch page in portrait mode in no less than 10-point font and one-inch margins.
• Define all abbreviations in footnotes using appropriate superscripted characters

6.7     Text boxes

 

• Number text boxes consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.)
• Use white space and bulleted or numbered lists for readability
• Follow all formatting rules for tables, where appropriate.
• Put a solid border around the entire text box.

6.8     Figures

 

• Must be included in the text document, but separate files are required for the edition.
• Number consecutively
• Avoid 3-dimensional graphs and charts
• Consider color if it adds to the presentation of results
• Must have a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (dpi).

6.9     PHOTOS (for CLINICAL IMAGE submissions)

 

• RESOLUTION: Resolution must be at least 300 dots per inch (dpi).
• DIMENSIONS: Graphic(s) should be close to the final desired size in print (approximately 4 x 4 inches).
• FILE FORMAT: Save line artwork, vector graphics, halftone artwork, or photographic images as either Tagged Image File Format (.TIF) or Encapsulated PostScript (.EPS) files (preferred file).
• DO NOT use .TIF files created by PowerPoint because they are not sufficiently dense.
• DO NOT send native graphics file formats or RAW files because our typesetters cannot use them.

6.10  Videos

Format for video files must be either .MP4 or .MOV.

6.11  Submission

Initial submission: Submit via the Colombia Médica editorial website: http://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co/index.php/comedica/login

 

• Attach a cover letter as a Microsoft Word document.
• Attach the completed Colombia Médica Conflict of Interest Form as a Microsoft Word document.
• Attach the manuscript as a single Microsoft Word file (not a PDF). The manuscript file should include a Title Page, Abstract, Manuscript Text, References, and any Tables, Text Boxes, or Figures.
• Attach any additional relevant files (e.g., PRISMA checklist and flow diagram, permissions to reproduce prior published material or previously published with potential overlap with the current manuscript, etc.) Note: Do NOT attach patient permission files; instead, send the signed Colombia Médica Statement of Patient Consent.
• Attach additional content files (multimedia, audio files, etc) that might be posted on
• Colombia Médica publisher's website if the manuscript is accepted.

7      Questions

For the submission process or manuscript management, contact the Colombia Médica Editorial Office.

Yesid Solarte Managing Editor Universidad del Valle Email: yesid.solarte@correounivalle.edu.co

Sonia Gil Ceballos Assistant Managing Editor Universidad del Valle Email: Sonia.gil@correounivalle.edu.co