ISSN 0864-2125
versión impresa
ISSN 1561-3038
versión electrónica

INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

• Scope and policy
• Manuscript layout and preparation
• Manuscript submission

The Cuban Journal of Comprehensive General Medicine has the mission of meeting the demand of professional information for family doctors. It publishes original, unpublished papers based on the experience of these professionals, as well as review papers on various topics; comments on scientific articles from the foreign press; updates on medical technology, pharmacology, medications, and medical statistics; abstracts of international medical literature, and other topics of interest that may serve the purpose of improving the work of family doctors in their communities.
Once handed over, manuscripts must not be submitted to any other journal or publication. Authors are entitled to withdraw their papers by formally communicating their wish not to have them published.
Papers undergo an evaluation process based on peer review, by which each paper is considered by two or more peer reviewers, who will issue a verdict. The final decision concerning publication of the paper is the responsibility of the editorial committee, irrespective of the decision reached by the peer reviewers.

The following are acceptable for evaluation: original research papers, review papers, case presentations or reports, as well as any other form of scientific communication prior approval by the editorial committee. Editorials will be requested and approved by the editorial committee.
Maximum length of manuscripts will be 10 pages for original papers, 15 for reviews and 6 for brief communications and case reports, including tables and figures.
For submission, papers will be printed on white paper in 12-point Arial font and one and a half line spacing, on only one side of the sheet, without any handwritten corrections or crossing-outs. All pages will be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals, starting from the first page.

• First page. It will contain the name of the institution sponsoring the paper; the title, which should not exceed 15 words; the full names and surnames of all authors ordered in accordance with their participation (if the number is higher than six, the contribution of each to the research or the preparation of the paper will be stated in writing); scientific degree and the highest teaching or scientific category of each author, as well as his/her address and telephone number.
• Second page. It will contain a structured abstract of no more than 300 words in Spanish and English, including the objectives, the procedures or methods used, the most important results and main conclusions of the paper, as well as any novel aspect contained therein. The author will make reference to the content of the document by listing 3 to 10 terms or phrases (key words) at the end of the abstract in order of importance.
• Papers on original research should have the following basic structure:

  - Introduction
  - Methods
  - Results
  - Discussion
  

• The remaining contributions should follow a logical order in the presentation of the information.
• Bibliographic references. The Vancouver writing style will be followed. References will be double-spaced in French paragraph style on a separate sheet. They will be numbered in the order in which they appear in the text and should be identified with Arabic superscripts in the text. Quotes from relevant and updated published documents will be included. References to personal communications or unpublished documents should be avoided; if indispensable, they will be included in the text between parentheses. References to papers approved for publication will include the name of the journal and the phrase 'in print' between parentheses. All the authors of the text quoted will be acknowledged; in case they are 7 or more, the first 6 will be mentioned, followed by 'et al'. Names of journals will be abbreviated according to Index Medicus (List of journals indexed in Index Medicus). None of their parts will be highlighted with capital letters or underlining. The ordering of bibliographic information and the use of punctuation marks will follow the conventions of the Vancouver style. Below are examples of some of the most relevant cases:

JOURNALS

- You CH, Lee KY, Chey RY, Menguy R. Electrogastrographic study of patients with unexplained nausea, bloating and vomiting. Gastroenterology 1980;79(2):311-4.
Optionally, omission of the volume number is accepted for journals with consecutive pagination of volumes.
- You CH, Lee KY, Chey RY, Menguy R. Electrogastrographic study of patients with unexplained nausea, bloating and vomiting. Gastroenterology 1980;79:311-4.
- Goate AM, Haynes AR, Owen MJ, Farrall M, James LA, LaiLy, et al. Predisposing locus for Alzheimer's disease on chromosome 21. Lancet 1989;1:352-5.
-New linking salt and hypertension [editorial]. BMJ 1981;282: 1993-4.

BOOKS AND OTHER MONOGRAPHS

- Weinstein I, Swartz MN. Pathologic properties of invading microorganism. In: Sodeman WA Jr Sodeman WA, eds. Pathologic physiology: mechanisms of disease. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1974:457-72.
- Eisen HN. Immunology: an introduction to molecular and cellular principles of the immune response. 5. ed. New York: Harper and Row, 1974:406.

• Tables, models and annexes. These will be presented separately (not interspersed in the paper) on vertical sheets consecutively numbered and mentioned in the text. They will not be accepted on photographic paper. Tables will follow the layout of the publication, and the publishers may modify them if they pose any technical difficulties. All tables and annexes should have a title and indicate the source of the data included.
• Figures. Photographs, graphs, drawings, sketches, maps, other graphic representations or non-linear formulas will be labeled as figures and follow consecutive Arabic numbering. Photographs should have sufficient sharpness and contrast, and their dimensions be perceptible by the human eye. All figures will be mentioned in the text and carry a caption or explanatory note. The total number of figures and tables will be 5 for original papers and reviews, and 3 for brief communications and case reports.
  The format of images should be JPG for photographs and GIF for sketches and other lined figures. Other formats will not be acceptable.
• Abbreviations and acronyms. These will be preceded by the full name the first time they appear in the text. They will not be used in titles or abstracts. Internationally recognized abbreviations and acronyms will be used.
• International System of Units (SI). All clinical laboratory results will be indicated in SI units or in units accepted by the SI. In case traditional units are included, these will be written in parentheses. Example: glycemia: 5,55 mmol/L (100mg/100 mL).
• Papers not following these instructions will not be accepted. Accepted papers will be processed following the standards issued by Editorial de Ciencias Médicas Publishing House (ECIMED). To facilitate the preparation of originals, authors are requested to consult the aforementioned uniform requirements.

All contributions submitted should be accompanied by a sworn statement from all the authors stating that the paper has not been submitted to any other journal or publishing institution.

Papers should be submitted in 2 printed copies and on electronic format (Microsoft Word).

The editorial committee will inform authors of the decision to publish, but the manuscript will not be returned.

Authors from Havana City should submit their papers to Editorial de Ciencias Médicas Publishing House headquarters. Authors not living in Havana do not need to submit the printed materials, and will mail their papers to the following addresses: cpresno@infomed.sld.cu; rosamora@ensap.sld.cu