• Phenomenon of Interest
• Aims
• Design
• Methods
• Rigor
• Findings
• Relevance to health science theory/research/practice:
• Keywords
Introduction: Use one short paragraph to briefly define your key variables, the research or knowledge gap, and the significance of your manuscript to address the gap.
Methodology: Under the methodology clearly note the design, study setting, sampling and sample characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, data collection, recruitment strategies, data collection instruments, data analysis, and ethical considerations. Use the headings as per your preference, however, ensure that all of these components are adequately addressed. Please follow EQUATOR Checklists provided in the general guidelines to organize specific studies as per the research design.
Clearly state the methodology such as interpretative phenomenology, descriptive phenomenology, descriptive qualitative, interpretative description, grounded theory, narrative research, historical research, and case study. Please do not say a qualitative approach was used. Themes and sub-themes should be stated clearly and supported with sparingly used participant quotes using pseudonyms. Verbatim quotes should be lightly edited for ease of reading. If thematic analysis was used for analysis, please provide example/s of thematic maps. Please clearly state the name of the methodologist and cite the source to support your methodological choices.
If the qualitative research was conducted in a Non-English speaking country, please include both the translated as well as the native language quotes. “Thematic Analysis” and “Content Analysis” are not accepted as study designs for qualitative research; these are methods for data analysis and should be stated as such. Similarly, “focus group” is not a methodology, but a method of data collection and should be presented as such.
Findings: Report your findings under relevant headings. Please do not repeat the information of tables in the findings and vice versa. Tables should be included within the manuscript in the designated section.
Discussion: Compare your research findings with national and international literature and outline areas for practice, research, and implications for practice and policymaking. The limitations should be included in this section as a separate paragraph. DO NOT repeat your research findings in this section.
Relevance to health science theory/research/practice: Choose one of the listed themes and present the contribution of your manuscript for the global health care community.
Conclusions: Conclusions should not repeat the key findings. Instead, focus on outlining the meaningful contribution of your manuscript and take-home messages for specialists and non-specialists.
