Author Guidelines

Pakistan Journal of Occupational Therapy and Health (PJOTH)

Presubmission Checklist for Authors – 2025 Edition

This checklist is designed to assist authors submitting manuscripts to the Pakistan Journal of Occupational Therapy and Health (PJOTH). It ensures that essential elements and formatting standards are met prior to submission, thereby streamlining the editorial and peer-review process. Authors must complete and upload this checklist as the first page of their manuscript submission. It will not be counted towards the manuscript’s word limit.

General Submission Requirements:

☐The manuscript is double-spaced throughout, including the abstract, body text, quotations, tables, figure captions, and references.
☐ All pages are numbered starting with the title page.
☐ Line numbering has been included starting from the abstract page.
☐ Manuscript is formatted in Times New Roman, 12-point font.
☐ All cited references in the text are listed in the references section and vice versa.
☐ A structured abstract is provided according to PJOTH's abstract submission guidelines (link to be provided by PJOTH editorial board).
☐ IRB Approval number must be submitted

For Randomized Clinical Trials:

☐ PJOTH’s definition of clinical trials has been reviewed in the author guidelines.
☐ Clinical trial registration number is provided at the time of submission.
☐ CONSORT checklist (https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/consort/) is completed and attached (not included in word/page count).

For Systematic or Critical Reviews / Meta-Analyses:

☐ PRISMA or PRISMA-ScR checklist is completed and uploaded along with the manuscript (not counted in word/page limits).
☐ Inclusion and Representation Considerations:
☐ Participants from marginalized or underrepresented communities are referenced using culturally sensitive and appropriate language.
☐ A positionality statement is included, acknowledging potential author biases and the influence on data interpretation.

Use of Artificial Intelligence:

☐ PJOTH’s policy on the use of AI and language models has been read and understood.

Pakistan Journal of Occupational Therapy and Health (PJOTH)

Structured Abstract Guidelines for Manuscript Submission – 2025

PJOTH requires a structured abstract for all submitted research articles. These guidelines are designed to help authors of original studies, qualitative research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses organize their abstract effectively. Structured abstracts enhance clarity, transparency, and readability for both clinical and academic readers. The abstract must align with the content of the main text and remain within a limit of 250 words (excluding the plain-language summary).

General Requirements for All Abstracts:

Include only information that is present in the main text of the manuscript.
Avoid excessive repetition of the findings.
Use phrases rather than full sentences where needed to meet the word limit.
Editorial staff may adjust or combine abstract headings as needed.
Include a Plain-Language Summary (not counted in word count) after the structured abstract.

Structured Abstract Format for Original Research and Qualitative Studies

Importance: Briefly explain the importance of the study question in one or two sentences.
Objective: State the main research objective and any secondary objectives or hypotheses.
Design: Describe the study type and design, including duration and blinding (if applicable).
Setting: Describe the research setting (e.g., clinic, hospital, community, institution).
Participants: Include sample size, selection criteria, and demographic features.
Intervention: If applicable, provide a brief description of the intervention and its duration.
Outcomes and Measures: List outcome measures established prior to data collection and justify any changes.
Results: Summarize key findings including participant demographics and statistical outcomes.
Conclusions and Relevance: Draw data-driven conclusions and indicate clinical or research implications.

Structured Abstract Format for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Importance: State the relevance of the study question.
Objective: Describe the primary aim and any population/intervention/outcome of focus.
Data Sources: Summarize all data sources and timeframes searched.
Study Selection and Data Collection: Describe inclusion/exclusion criteria and data abstraction methods.
Findings: Summarize study count, design types, participants, major findings, and sources of variation.
Conclusions and Relevance: Summarize key findings and relevance for practice or research. Draw conclusions only from presented results.

Structured Abstract Format for Meta-Syntheses

Importance: Describe the clinical issue addressed and its importance.
Objective: State the review’s aim and the specific population/intervention/outcome examined.
Evidence Review: Summarize sources searched, inclusion process, and quality appraisal methods.
Findings: Outline study count, types, participant info, and key results.
Conclusions and Relevance: Summarize conclusions supported by findings and note future directions.

Plain-Language Summary (Required)

This 150-word summary, written in accessible and nontechnical language, should follow the structured abstract. It should address: Why was the study done? What were the findings? What do the results mean for occupational therapy clients? What is the contribution to practice, research, or education? Avoid jargon, use short sentences, and define any necessary technical terms.

PJOTH Manuscript Types and Word Count Guidelines

Manuscript Type	Description	Word Count
Research articles: original research	Original research using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodology	4500-5,000 words
Research articles: critical reviews	Critical reviews, including systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and mapping reviews	4500-5,000 words*
Brief Reports	Original research that is pilot or exploratory in nature	3,000 -35000 words
The Issue Is …	Scholarly article addressing issues, policies, or professional trends important to the profession	2500-3,000 words
Health Policy Perspectives	Column that offers perspectives on occupational therapy practice within the context of the health care system	2500-3,000 words
Case Study	An in-depth analysis of a particular subject, often a real-world situation, individual, group, or organization	2000-3000 words
Editorial	Written by any editorial team/ guest editor about the publishing volume or any niche that need to be discussed	850-1000 words
Letters to the Editor	Scholarly letters contributing to the professional discussion around a topic	700-850 words