What to Look for When Choosing a Journal
Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:
- Clear step-by-step submission process documented on the journal website
- Author guidelines covering formatting, word count, referencing style, and figures
- Transparent editorial workflow — know what happens after you submit
- Reporting guidelines requirements clearly stated (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE)
- Ethics and clinical trial registration requirements explicitly described
- Responsive author support for questions before, during, and after submission
Recommended Journals — Cluster 3: Health, Medicine & Life Sciences
All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.
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Health Sciences and Medical Research Journal
(HSMRJ)
Health sciences, clinical medicine, public health, epidemiology, biomedical research, and interdisciplinary studies advancing human health outcomes.
Health Sciences Clinical Medicine Public Health Epidemiology -
Columbia Journal of Medicine and Healthcare
(CJMH)
Medical research, healthcare delivery, hospital management, clinical practice, health policy, and translational medicine bridging research and patient care.
Medical Research Healthcare Delivery Clinical Practice Health Policy -
Journal of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
(JNAHS)
Nursing practice, allied health professions, patient care, clinical nursing research, health education, and evidence-based practice across healthcare settings.
Nursing Practice Allied Health Patient Care Health Education -
Journal of Pharmacology and Biomedical Research
(JPBR)
Pharmacology, drug discovery, biomedical sciences, life sciences, oncology, biochemistry, and molecular medicine with clinical and applied relevance.
Pharmacology Drug Research Biomedical Sciences Life Sciences
Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — making us one of the fastest open access publishers in the health sciences and medicine field.
The Health Sciences Journal Publication Process — Step by Step
Publishing a health sciences research paper involves key stages: (1) Choose a journal with scope matching your research topic. (2) Read and follow the author guidelines precisely. (3) Ensure ethics approval is obtained and documented. (4) Register clinical trials before recruitment begins. (5) Prepare your manuscript following the appropriate reporting guideline (CONSORT, STROBE, CARE, PRISMA). (6) Submit through the online submission portal. (7) Await initial editorial screening (2–5 days at Keith Publications). (8) Undergo double-blind peer review (2–4 weeks). (9) Receive reviewer feedback — revise and resubmit if required. (10) Receive final acceptance. (11) Complete APC payment. (12) Article published online with DOI within 5–10 days.
Common Reasons Health Sciences Papers Are Rejected
Understanding why health papers are rejected helps you avoid common pitfalls. The most frequent rejection reasons are: (1) Scope mismatch — the topic does not fit the journal's stated aims. (2) Missing ethics approval — mandatory for all human participant research. (3) Insufficient originality — the paper does not make a clear new contribution. (4) Methodology weakness — study design, sample size, or statistical approach has significant flaws. (5) Failure to follow reporting guidelines (CONSORT, STROBE, etc.). (6) Missing clinical trial registration. (7) Poor abstract — does not clearly state problem, method, results, and significance. (8) Formatting non-compliance. Addressing all these before submission significantly increases your acceptance chances.
Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances
- Align your topic with the journal's scope — read the aims and scope carefully before submitting.
- Write a compelling abstract — clearly state your research question, methodology, key findings, and clinical or scientific significance.
- Ensure ethical compliance — include ethics committee approval, patient consent, and clinical trial registration details where applicable.
- Follow reporting guidelines — use CONSORT, STROBE, CARE, PRISMA, or other relevant Equator Network standards for your study design.
- Use current and relevant references — cite recent publications alongside seminal works in your health sciences discipline.
- Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without peer review.
- State practical implications — explain how your health or medical findings can improve patient care or inform health policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Research Guides
Explore other research journal guides in the Health, Medicine & Life Sciences cluster: