01Nature and scope of these guidelines

These Guidelines establish the technical, methodological, ethical, and documentary requirements that manuscripts must meet before submission to PRAXIS. Dominican Journal of Health Research. Their purpose is to facilitate the preparation of rigorous, transparent, and reproducible contributions across all areas of the health sciences, in accordance with Editorial PRAXIS's Institutional Standards for Scientific Integrity, Ethics, and Editorial Governance, NIIEGE-PRX-001 (1).

PRAXIS is a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed, bilingual, open-access scientific journal. It receives work relevant to research, practice, education, innovation, management, and health policy, and promotes exchange among the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the international scientific community. The journal maintains scientific autonomy in manuscript evaluation and decision-making under the editorial authority of Editorial PRAXIS.

Official submissions page: https://revistapraxis.org/index.php/praxis/about/submissions

02Accepted manuscript categories

For Original Articles and Review Articles, the published word limit excludes the abstract and references. For other sections, length is assessed on the main manuscript body; the title page, references, and supplementary materials will not be used to penalize minor differences in word count.

03Mandatory general format

• Main file: editable Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).
• Font: Arial, 12 point.
• Line spacing: 1.5.
• Margins: 2.5 cm on all sides.
• Alignment: justified text.
• Pagination: all pages numbered consecutively.
• Language: the main text may be submitted in Spanish or English. The title, abstract, and keywords must appear in both Spanish and English, except for Letters to the Editor, which do not require an abstract.
• Abbreviations: define each abbreviation at first use and avoid nonstandard abbreviations in the title and abstract.
• Units: use the International System of Units when applicable.
• Anonymization: the main manuscript must not contain author names, affiliations, ORCID identifiers, identifiable acknowledgments, or other information that could reveal author identity during double-anonymous review.

04Files required before submission

05Required title-page content

• Full title in Spanish and English. It must be specific and informative and must not make causal claims beyond the study design.
• Short title or running title of no more than 18 characters when useful for production.
• Full name of each author in the final publication order.
• Primary academic degree and complete institutional affiliation for each author: department or unit, institution, city, and country.
• ORCID for the corresponding author; ORCID is recommended for every author.
• Corresponding author: name, institutional or professional email address, and country.
• Contributor statement using the CRediT taxonomy (3), when applicable.
• Funding: funder and grant number. If none, state “No external funding.”
• Conflicts of interest: an individual declaration from each author or a collective statement that no conflicts exist.
• Word count for the main text and the number of references, tables, and figures.
• Registration identifiers: ClinicalTrials.gov or WHO ICTRP, PROSPERO, or another applicable registry.
• Preprint: DOI or persistent URL if a previous version exists.
• Acknowledgments, when applicable, only on the title page and never in the anonymized manuscript during the first review round.

06Order of the anonymized main manuscript

1. Title in Spanish.
2. Title in English.
3. Abstract in Spanish.
4. Keywords in Spanish.
5. Abstract in English.
6. Keywords in English.
7. Manuscript body according to article type and design.
8. Anonymized ethics statement, when applicable.
9. Data availability statement.
10. Artificial-intelligence use statement, when applicable.
11. References.
12. Tables.
13. Figure legends.
14. Figures embedded in the Word file for review.

07Abstracts and keywords

Keywords should preferably be selected from the DeCS controlled vocabulary (4) and, when an equivalent exists, MeSH (5). Original Articles, Review Articles, Clinical Cases, and Scientific Essays must include 3 to 6 keywords in each language. Letters to the Editor and Editorials do not require keywords. Authors should avoid repeating exact title terms when more specific descriptors are available.

08Citations and references: Vancouver style

• PRAXIS uses Vancouver style in accordance with the bibliographic principles described in the National Library of Medicine's Citing Medicine (6) and the ICMJE recommendations updated in January 2026 (7).
• In-text citations must be numbered consecutively according to first appearance, using Arabic numerals in parentheses: (1), (2,3), or (4,7).
• The reference list must be arranged numerically, not alphabetically.
• Every reference must include an active DOI as a complete URL (https://doi.org/...) when available.
• References must genuinely support the cited statement. Authors are responsible for verifying accuracy and retraction status.
• As a general criterion, at least 60% of references should have been published within the previous five years. Justified exceptions include seminal, historical, or methodological sources; original instruments; current legislation; standards; guidelines; official or institutional documents; and other indispensable sources. In systematic reviews and meta-analyses, this criterion must not be used to exclude eligible studies defined by the protocol and search strategy.
• Preprints must be identified explicitly. If a peer-reviewed published version later becomes available, that version should be preferred when appropriate (7).
• Reference lists must not be inflated with irrelevant citations, coercive citations, or self-citations intended primarily to manipulate metrics.
• Reference guidance by section: Original Articles, recommended minimum 25; Review Articles, recommended minimum 50; Clinical Cases, recommended minimum 15; Scientific Essays, recommended minimum 20; Letters to the Editor, maximum 10; Editorials, maximum 15. These values must not be used to add low-relevance citations or exclude methodologically or scientifically necessary sources.

09Tables, figures, photographs, and charts

9.1 What counts as a figure

For editorial limits, figures include statistical charts, diagrams, maps, algorithms, photographs, clinical images, flow diagrams, and conceptual models. A multipanel figure (A, B, C, and so forth) may count as one figure when all panels form a coherent scientific unit and share one legend.

9.2 Table requirements

• Number tables consecutively as Table 1, Table 2, and so forth, in order of citation.
• Place a brief, self-contained title above each table.
• Provide editable Word tables; do not insert tables as screenshots.
• Define abbreviations, statistical tests, and footnotes below the table.
• Do not duplicate in a table the same data already presented fully in the text or a figure.
• Use consistent decimal precision and clearly specified units.

9.3 Figure and image requirements

• Number figures consecutively as Figure 1, Figure 2, and so forth, in order of citation.
• Place a complete legend below every figure so it can be understood without returning to the text.
• Raster images: a minimum recommended resolution of 300 dpi at final size; 600 dpi for line art whenever possible.
• Preferred supplementary formats: PNG, TIFF, or high-quality JPEG. Charts should also be supplied in editable form whenever possible.
• Screenshots of charts are not accepted as final artwork when the original editable file can be provided.
• Clinical images must be anonymized and accompanied by specific consent for publication when identification is possible.
• Digital modifications must be limited to global adjustments that do not change scientific meaning. Adding, deleting, moving, or duplicating elements deceptively is prohibited.

9.4 Specific requirements for statistical charts

• Prefer two-dimensional charts; avoid decorative 3D effects that distort perception.
• Label axes, units, groups, and sample size clearly when relevant.
• If error bars are used, identify in the legend whether they represent SD, SE, CI, or another measure.
• Report confidence intervals and effect estimates when relevant, not only p values.
• Colors and symbols must remain distinguishable in grayscale and for readers with color-vision deficiencies.
• Forest plots, funnel plots, and risk-of-bias plots must use legible labels consistent with the tables and results.

10Statistical and analytical reporting

• Identify the statistical software and version.
• Explain the sample-size calculation or justification when applicable.
• Define primary and secondary variables and methods for handling missing data.
• Report effect estimates with confidence intervals when appropriate.
• Report exact p values; use p<0.001 rather than p=0.000.
• Describe assumption checks, transformations, and multiplicity adjustments when applicable.
• In multivariable analyses, justify covariate selection and evaluate collinearity and model fit as appropriate.
• Do not interpret “not statistically significant” as proof of no effect.
• For qualitative research, describe the analytical approach, development of categories or themes, reflexivity, and saturation or information sufficiency according to the methodological tradition used.

11Ethics, registration, data, conflicts, and artificial intelligence

11.1 Research involving human participants

• State the name of the ethics committee or competent authority, institution, approval number or code, and date when available.
• State that informed consent was obtained or provide the exemption granted by the competent committee.
• Protect privacy and confidentiality; do not publish unnecessary identifiers.
• Studies conducted in the Dominican Republic must comply with applicable national provisions and the authority of the National Council on Bioethics in Health, CONABIOS, when relevant (8).

11.2 Clinical trials

Clinical trials must comply with Editorial PRAXIS's policy on prospective registration, ethics, and transparency, consistent with ICMJE recommendations on clinical-trial registration (7). Operational reporting, documentation, and registration requirements are detailed in Sections 12 and 13.

11.3 Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses must meet applicable protocol, registration, and transparency requirements. Operational requirements for PROSPERO, PRISMA, and methodological documentation appear in Section 14.

11.4 Data availability

Every Original Article and Review Article must include a data-availability statement. Depending on the study, accepted statements include a public repository; reasonable availability upon request; restriction for privacy or ethical reasons; or “not applicable,” with justification.

11.5 Conflicts and funding

Every manuscript must disclose financial and nonfinancial conflicts, funding, and the sponsor's role. The absence of conflicts or funding must also be stated explicitly.

11.6 Artificial intelligence

Artificial-intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors. Any material use in writing, substantive translation, analysis, programming, data extraction, or image generation or modification must be disclosed, including the tool name and purpose. Authors retain full responsibility for accuracy, references, data, and originality (7).

12Mandatory reporting guideline by study design

13Original articles

PRAXIS accepts empirical, clinical, community-based, educational, biomedical, diagnostic, psychological, nutritional, pharmaceutical, rehabilitation, management, and public-health research as Original Articles, as well as other studies relevant to the health sciences. The main text is limited to 5,000 words and a combined maximum of six tables and figures. Abstract and keyword requirements appear in Section 7; citation and reference requirements appear in Section 8.

13.1 Required structure

1. Introduction.
2. Objective or objectives.
3. Methods.
4. Results.
5. Discussion.
6. Conclusions.
7. Final declarations: ethics, funding, conflicts, data, and AI when applicable.
8. References.
9. Tables and figures.

13.2 Minimum Methods content

• Exact study design and reporting guideline used.
• Study site, period, and context.
• Population, eligibility criteria, and sampling procedure.
• Sample-size calculation or justification when applicable.
• Variables, operational definitions, instruments, and validity and reliability evidence when applicable.
• Data-collection procedures and intervention or exposure.
• Statistical or qualitative analysis plan.
• Management of missing data and foreseeable bias.
• Ethics approval, consent, and prospective registration when applicable.

13.3 Requirements by Original Article subtype

14Review articles

This section accepts Systematic Reviews, Meta-analyses, and Integrative Reviews. The main text is limited to 5,000 words and a combined maximum of eight tables and figures, including the flow diagram when applicable. Abstract and keyword requirements appear in Section 7; citation and reference requirements appear in Section 8.

14.1 Systematic review or meta-analysis: required documents

• Completed PRISMA 2020 checklist (11).
• PRISMA flow diagram consistent with the manuscript and appendices.
• PRISMA-S or a complete reproducible search strategy for each source (12).
• Prior protocol; PROSPERO registration number and date when the review is eligible (15).
• List of full-text exclusions with reasons when requested as supplementary material.
• Extraction matrix or study-characteristics table.
• Risk-of-bias assessment using a tool appropriate to the included design.
• Files or tables showing domain-level judgments and justifications.
• For meta-analysis: analyzed data, software and version, effect measures, model, heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias or missing-evidence assessment when applicable.
• GRADE and a Summary of Findings table when the question requires certainty assessment for the body of evidence (21).

14.2 Risk-of-bias and critical-appraisal tools

14.3 Integrative review

• Identify explicitly the integrative-review methodological framework used.
• Present the question or objective, protocol or prior plan, inclusion and exclusion criteria, databases, dates, and a reproducible strategy.
• Describe deduplication, screening, extraction, and synthesis methods.
• Use critical appraisal appropriate to the included designs, such as JBI tools when required by the question and protocol (13).
• PRISMA may be used to make searching and selection transparent when applicable, but it must not be described as a methodological-quality tool (11).
• PROSPERO is required only when the review is eligible under the registry's current criteria (15).

15Clinical cases

Clinical Cases are limited to 3,500 words and a combined maximum of four tables, figures, or images. They must follow CARE (9). When a manuscript is within nursing practice, standardized NANDA-I, NOC, and NIC terminology may be used; other disciplines must use the relevant clinical or professional terminology. Abstract and keyword requirements appear in Section 7; citation and reference requirements appear in Section 8.

15.1 Recommended and verifiable structure

1. Introduction and case relevance.
2. Anonymized patient information.
3. Clinical findings and comprehensive assessment.
4. Case timeline.
5. Diagnostic assessment.
6. Therapeutic, preventive, or rehabilitation interventions and/or care plan.
7. Outcomes and follow-up.
8. Discussion.
9. Patient perspective when possible.
10. Conclusion.
11. Informed consent for publication.
12. References.

15.2 Clinical images

Every image must be necessary to understand the case, anonymized, and accompanied by specific consent for publication when a person could be identified directly or indirectly. Up to four items are permitted across tables, photographs, diagrams, and other figures.

16Scientific essays

Scientific Essays are critical, theoretical, philosophical, or epistemological analyses related to professional practice, health policy, or disciplinary development. They are limited to 3,000 words and a combined maximum of two tables or figures. Abstract and keyword requirements appear in Section 7; citation and reference requirements appear in Section 8.

• Introduction: clearly define the problem and its relevance.
• Explicit thesis or argumentative position.
• Argument organized by themes or subheadings.
• Critical analysis supported by evidence rather than opinion alone.
• Consideration of alternative positions or limitations.
• Conclusions and final considerations consistent with the thesis.

17Letters to the editor

Letters to the Editor are limited to 1,000 words and one table or figure. They are intended for brief comments, constructive responses, and scientific discussion of articles published in PRAXIS or relevant health issues. Evaluation is conducted by the Editorial Committee, which may request external review when necessary. Abstract, keyword, and reference requirements appear in Sections 7 and 8.

• Brief title.
• Concise and respectful argumentative text.
• When discussing a PRAXIS article, identify it unambiguously and cite it as the first reference when appropriate.
• Do not use a letter to report a complete study that should be submitted as an Original Article.
• Disclose conflicts of interest and funding when they exist.

18Editorials

The Editorial section publishes institutional, scientific, disciplinary, strategic, or current-affairs texts concerning research, education, clinical practice, comprehensive care, management, public health, innovation, and health policy. It is managed by the PRAXIS editorial team and may include invited contributions. Editorials are limited to 2,000 words and one table or figure. Abstract, keyword, and reference requirements appear in Sections 7 and 8.

18.1 Recommended structure

1. Brief and representative title.
2. Contextualization of the topic.
3. Statement of the issue or editorial position.
4. Argument or critical analysis.
5. Integration of scientific, regulatory, or documentary evidence.
6. Implications for research, practice, education, or health policy.
7. Final considerations.
8. Conflicts of interest and funding when applicable.
9. Artificial-intelligence use statement when applicable.
10. References.

19Technical screening before peer review

During initial editorial screening, PRAXIS may return a manuscript before peer review when it contains correctable technical deficiencies. Screening criteria include:

• Correct submission section and alignment with PRAXIS's multidisciplinary health-sciences scope.
• Length, abstract, number of tables and figures, and references within section limits.
• Correct anonymization for double-anonymous review.
• Upload of the title page, cover letter, and required declarations.
• Applicable reporting guideline and completed checklist.
• Prospective registration when mandatory.
• Consistency of numbers across text, tables, diagrams, and appendices.
• Vancouver compliance and active DOI links when available.
• Ethics approval and consent when applicable.
• Text similarity and originality. The journal may use plagiarism-detection software, but no automatic percentage alone determines plagiarism; evaluation considers the nature and context of matches.

20Master pre-submission checklist

21OJS upload map

22Regulatory and technical basis

These Guidelines operationalize Editorial PRAXIS's Institutional Standards for Scientific Integrity, Ethics, and Editorial Governance, NIIEGE-PRX-001 (1), particularly its provisions on authorship, conflicts, peer review, ethics, systematic reviews, prospective registration, reporting guidelines, risk of bias, data, and artificial intelligence.

Reporting guidelines improve manuscript transparency and completeness but do not replace appraisal of methodological rigor (9-11). Risk-of-bias and critical-appraisal tools must be applied according to the design and research question (13,16-20).

23References

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3. National Information Standards Organization. CRediT: Contributor Role Taxonomy [Internet]. Baltimore: NISO; [cited 2026 Aug 15]. Available from: https://credit.niso.org/
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