• Systematic review
• Review
• Editorial
• Letter
• State of the science
• Case report
• Education
• Clinical Audit
• Features
• How I do it 
• Original research
  • Short report
  • Full report
• Qualitative & Mixed Methods
• Supplements

• This article type includes all research reviews that systematically synthesise evidence (e.g. Systematic reviews, Meta-analysis, Scoping reviews, Mixed methods reviews, etc).
• The date of completed search must be < 12 months from the submission date. If older, please update the search before submission.
• All systematic reviews must follow PRISMA guidelines and any other applicable guidelines listed by the EQUATOR network (http://www.equator-network.org/).

• What is already known on this topic – summarise the state of scientific knowledge on this subject before you did your study and why this study needed to be done
• What this study adds – summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before
• How this study might affect research, practice or policy – summarise the implications of this study

• This includes narrative reviews. Research reviews that systematically synthesise evidence (e.g. Systematic reviews, Meta-analysis, Scoping reviews, Mixed methods reviews, etc) are classified by the journal as Systematic reviews and must be submitted as such
• The date of completed search must be < 12 months from the submission date. If older than this, please update the search before submission.
• All reviews must follow any applicable guidelines listed by the EQUATOR network (http://www.equator-network.org/).

• Written by content experts, Editorials are intended to address controversial or timely topics of wide importance to palliative and supportive care.
• They may also provide context or perspective on accompanying articles in the corresponding edition of the journal.
• Editorials are typically solicited by the International Commissioning Editor or the Editor-in-Chief.
• Authors wishing to submit an editorial must seek advice from the Editor-in-Chief in advance. To contact, please email spcare@bmj.com.

• Letters with original data should be submitted via ScholarOne. Letters may be published in a shortened form at the discretion of the relevant Associate Editor or Editor-in-Chief.
• Some Letters may be published in the print version.

• These contributions are intended to be authoritative statements by content experts of advances in medicine, and their application to palliative and supportive care clinical practice.
• They are not Review articles, but concise statements of cutting-edge ideas with which all practicing clinicians in the field should be familiar.
• State of the Science articles will typically be solicited by the Editor-in-Chief or the International Commissioning Editor.
• Authors wishing to submit a State of the Science article must seek advice from the Editor-in-Chief in advance. To contact, please email spcare@bmj.com.

• What is already known on this topic – summarise the state of scientific knowledge on this subject before you did your study and why this study needed to be done
• What this study adds – summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before
• How this study might affect research, practice or policy – summarise the implications of this study

• A report/case history of ten cases or less.
• Title: ≤ than 7 words
• Must be submitted with a scanned patient consent form uploaded as a supplemental file.
• Usually published online only.

• Contributions should describe or evaluate techniques to impart concepts and skills to any palliative or supportive care professional.

• This is where the effectiveness (efficiency, quality) of healthcare is measured against published, proven standards or (where no published standard exists) through literature review and/or team discussion.
  • There is a complete cycle where care is measured against the standard, results reviewed, change implemented and the cycle repeated.
• The Audit must be complete to be considered.
• Topics must be confined to direct clinical practice.
• Authors should contextualize the reason for the audit/QIP.
• Standards must be easily identifiable, qualified and quantified. Authors should rationalize/critique both why the specified standard(s) were chosen, and the agreed level of performance.
• The impact of the audit/QIP on clinical practice and the effect on future patient care (what is next?) should be described.
• The phrase “A Clinical Audit” must appear in the title.

• What is already known on this topic – summarise the state of scientific knowledge on this subject before you did your study and why this study needed to be done
• What this study adds – summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before
• How this study might affect research, practice or policy – summarise the implications of this study

• Features will typically be solicited by the Editor-in-Chief.
• Authors wishing to submit a Feature should seek advice from the Editor-in-Chief in advance. To contact, please email spcare@bmj.com.

• These reports must present important and substantial new material. Articles should be of direct relevance to clinical practice or provide an important contribution to theoretical frameworks.
• Research reviews that systematically synthesise evidence (e.g. Systematic reviews, Meta-analysis, Scoping reviews, Mixed methods reviews, etc) should be submitted as Systematic reviews.
• The title should include information about the study design and high-level conclusions. Both titles and manuscripts should be succinct.
• Inclusion of additional material (website links, video clips, sound files) is strongly encouraged.
• We publish additional material “web only”, but the paper version must be self-contained.
• Research checklists should be uploaded during the submission process. If not applicable, authors should explain in a cover letter.
• Please include the key messages of your article after your abstract using the following headings. This section should be no more than 3-5 sentences and should be distinct from the abstract; be succinct, specific and accurate.

Original research – Short report

• the research, though interesting, is of mainly local significance;
• findings provide a largely additional or complementary perspective on existing research;
• findings correspond to a still early and relatively incomplete stage in the development of the project.

Original research – Full report

• Research is generalizable; of widespread significance
• The work is a stand-alone literature contribution
• A substantial piece of research (not a pilot or preliminary investigation)

• Describe the study goals/aim and research design, including data collection and data analysis strategies.
• Include the recruitment process, report sample size and characteristics and author reflexivity/standpoint.
• “Results” should present the themes to include analytic/conceptual material.
• Participant quotes should demonstrate results are grounded in data (not included in Word Count).
• Link overall findings to the research goals/aims and discuss the methods strengths and weaknesses.
• Describe how the study makes a meaningful contribution to current literature, as well as policy or practice and implicate future research.
• Usually published online only.

• What is already known on this topic – summarise the state of scientific knowledge on this subject before you did your study and why this study needed to be done
• What this study adds – summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before
• How this study might affect research, practice or policy – summarise the implications of this study

• The journal editor, an editorial board member or a learned society may wish to organise a meeting, sponsorship may be sought and the proceedings published as a supplement.
• The journal editor, editorial board member or learned society may wish to commission a supplement on a particular theme or topic. Again, sponsorship may be sought.
• BMJ itself may have proposals for supplements where sponsorship may be necessary.
• A sponsoring organisation, often a pharmaceutical company or a charitable foundation, that wishes to arrange a meeting, the proceedings of which will be published as a supplement.

• Journal in which you would like the supplement published
• Title of supplement and/or meeting on which it is based
• Date of meeting on which it is based
• Proposed table of contents with provisional article titles and proposed authors
• An indication of whether authors have agreed to participate
• Sponsor information including any relevant deadlines
• An indication of the expected length of each paper Guest Editor proposals if appropriate