What are Health Science Journals?
Health science journals aim to provide essential information about developing methods, best practices, new interventions, and much more. These journals also aim to provide scholars and members of the academic community with access to quality papers on different topics.
Major topics related to the health sciences are in Public Health, Medical Biochemistry, Health Engineering, Genetics, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Physiotherapy, and more. Let’s see more information about health science journals like types, examples, content, submission process, and much more.
What is a Health Science Journal?
A health science journal is a compilation of articles published after scientific research into different health-related topics. Health science journals usually hold information pieces about advancements in research and other essential topics about such sciences.
How Do Health Science Journals Publish Articles?
Health science journals publish articles in four (4) different forms:
Subscription-based – these journals require a fee before they publish articles from authors. The review processes on such journals are usually flexible. Many peer-reviewed journals usually do not follow the subscription-based format. Members of the health science community usually discredit research from some subscription-based journals as ‘predatory publishing’.
Open-Access – these are the most popular types of health science journals. Open-Access journals are available for public viewing and could contain information about general (broad topics) or specific (specialty research) health-science topics.
Pre-print – Many peer-reviewed journals may also adopt a pre-print format. The pre-print format grants authors access to publish their work for reviews. Authors can only submit the work for official listing in such journals after repeated internal reviews in pre-print format.
Many pre-print journals in the health sciences earn wide acclaim and can easily receive multiple citations as credible sources of information.
Trade – Trade journals usually do not have peer-reviewed articles among their publications. Most trade journals aim to announce new information about best practices, new products, and much more related to health sciences. Most trade journals for health sciences offer information about nursing, maternal care, childcare, and other related topics.
Examples of Major Health Science Journals
Some top health science journals offer valuable information to scientists, researchers, and academics about various topics. Examples of these major health science journals include:
Public health journals – usually seek to provide information about community health; can offer details to prevent endemics caused by different factors. These journals can also provide solutions to help fight against diseases that threaten public health.
Nursing education journals – deals with educating healthcare professionals about efficient ways to offer care to various patients
Maternal health journals – contain information to help protect mothers of childbearing age; usually also includes details to protect children born to these mothers
Physical health journals – contains information to help people maintain or improve their physical wellbeing through physical activity
Social/behavioral science journals – deals with topics concerning cognitive science, psychology, and mainly studies human characteristics
Health assessment journals – helps provide information to identify appropriate healthcare patients need for recovery or symptom management; usually done by way of physical examination
What Should Be in a Manuscript for Health Science Journals?
The manuscript of health science journals usually follow the IMRaD format. The format includes:
Introduction
This part of a health science journal provides a short background of information concerning the health science topic. It usually shows the importance of your paper by highlighting existing information about your topic and how it could affect wider research into related subjects. The health science journal you want to publish in or subjects of your research usually determine how long this section will be.
Materials and Methods
Some health science journals list this section as Methodology. However, most journals in the health sciences refer to this section as Materials and Methods. The Materials and Methods section contains information about:
The data universe
Health science manuscripts typically rely on information from a data population to draw a suitable sample. Information in this section usually contains details about the sample extracted from your data universe. It is usually difficult for a scientific research in health journals to study all members of a population. Samples are chosen to represent the entire universe in the analysis.
Findings from such research are then assumed to denote possible results if the whole universe was used for the analysis.
Tools used
Information in the methodology of health science manuscripts should also contain details about all instruments used to collect and analyze data. The tools used in your manuscript will determine how long this section will be. Some health science journals may require a short definition or summary of tools used in this section.
Results
The Results section holds details about findings you made from your analysis. It also shows your overall understanding of the problem and the potency of your solution. This section could contain graphical information, interpretations, and other details to explain your findings to readers.
Discussion
The Discussion section talks about your findings. It also details what your discovery may imply towards solving the existing problem or for future research.
Process to Submit Manuscripts for Publishing in Health Science Journals
Health science journals usually post similar steps to accept manuscripts from authors. The process may involve:
Selection of the journal – You need to choose a health science journal with the suitable database to host your article(s)
Write and submit your journal – You will need to write your article(s) according to the health science journal’s guidelines. Next, you need to submit your work in line with submission guidelines defined by your preferred journal.
Pass the peer review process – Your journal needs to pass a rigorous editorial process known as a peer review. Most journals for health science delegate their article review process to experts in your discipline. You may need to edit your article after a peer review process to see it published in your preferred health science journal.
Final Word
Health science journals usually post reliable and proven information for readers to access. Ensure your article meets peer review standards and you will be able to post all your research for interested readers to access and cite in their studies.