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BMJ Open

BMJ Open is an online open access journal dedicated to publishing medical research from all disciplines and therapeutic areas. It publishes a wide range of research study types, including protocols, phase I trials, meta-analyses, small specialist studies, and negative studies, and uses fully open peer review with continuous publication. The journal promotes transparency by publishing reviewer reports and previous manuscript versions as pre-publication histories, and its papers are included in MEDLINE/PubMed and Science Citation Index Expanded.

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Subject Medicine, General & Internal
Impact Factor 2.3
Quartile Q2
Open Access Type Open
ISSN 2044-6055
eISSN 2044-6055
Invitation Only No
Cost Range Authors are asked to pay article-publishing charges on acceptance.

Submission Instructions

BMJ Open accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Original Research

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must include objectives, design, setting, participants, interventions where applicable, primary and secondary outcome measures for quantitative studies, results, conclusions, and trial registration where applicable.
Manuscript Manuscript title must include the research question and study design without declaring the results, and the article must include a Patient and Public Involvement statement in the Methods section under the subheading 'Patient and public involvement' plus a 'Strengths and limitations of this study' section after the abstract. Manuscript must include a 'Strengths and limitations of this study' section of no more than 5 bullet points focused on methods, provide the original study protocol as a supplementary file, include funding and competing interests statements, list each author's contribution individually at the end, and include a data sharing statement.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables Article must not exceed eight figures and tables in total. Figures must be uploaded as separate files rather than embedded in the manuscript.
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Protocol

Cover Letter Cover letter must include the dates of the study.
Abstract Abstract is required. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must contain the headings Introduction, Methods and analysis, and Ethics and dissemination, with registration details added as a final section if appropriate.
Manuscript Title must include the specific study type, the manuscript must report planned or ongoing research studies with data collection not complete, and it must include sections for Strengths and limitations of this study, Introduction, Methods and analysis, Ethics and dissemination, Patient and public involvement, funding, competing interests, and Authors' contributions. A Strengths and limitations of this study section of no more than 5 bullet points must appear after the abstract and relate to methods rather than results, and the manuscript must include statements for Patient and public involvement, funding, competing interests, and Authors' contributions.
References Full references must be included, and the introduction must reference appropriate previous literature including relevant systematic reviews.
Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
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Cohort Profile

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract is required and must use the headings Purpose, Participants, Findings to date, Future plans, and Registration. Abstract must be structured with the headings Purpose, Participants, Findings to date, Future plans, and Registration. Abstract must include the headings Purpose, Participants, Findings to date, Future plans, and Registration, and if linked to a clinical trial it must also give the registry and trial registration number.
Manuscript Manuscript must describe the rationale for the cohort’s creation, its methods, baseline data, and future plans, with sections covering Introduction, Cohort description, Findings to date, Strengths and limitations, and Collaboration. Manuscript must include a 'Strengths and limitations of this study' section after the abstract with no more than 5 bullet points, a Patient and public involvement subsection in Methods, a Collaboration section in the main text, plus funding and contributorship statements.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
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Pilot Studies

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript Manuscript must explain the wider context of the work, justify why the term 'pilot study' applies, justify the sample or patient size, and explain the impact of the pilot study on decisions regarding future research.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
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Recent Publications

Threats and deprivations as predictors of IPV perpetration: a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of Bangladeshi young adults

Azharul Islam, Mahjabeen Haque, Mohammad Salim Chowdhury

10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106731
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School-based versus community-based interventions for promoting mental health among school-age children in marginalised or underserved populations: a systematic review protocol

Nelson Ositadimma Oranye, Asseged Dibaba, Ignatius Uche Nwankwo, Lloyd Webb, Torhonda Lee, Margaret Alexander, Johnpaul Kagulire, Victoria Landu-Adams, Obiajulu Anthony Nnedum, Ehsan Abdalla, Stephen Sodeke, Jonnathan Underwood

10.1136/bmjopen-2025-113697
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Electronic nicotine delivery systems versus nicotine replacement therapies and risk of smoking relapse: evidence from a US nationwide prospective cohort (Cancer Prevention Study-3)

Johann L Westmaas, Mariah Landry, Tyler Nighbor, Zheng Xue, Ryan W Diver, Alpa Patel, Karli K Kondo, Samuel Asare, Adriana Lori, Priti Bandi, Nigar Nargis

10.1136/bmjopen-2025-111672
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Continuation of first-line therapy with radiotherapy for oligoprogression versus early switch to second-line therapy in oligoprogressive hepatocellular carcinoma (CROSS): study protocol of a multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label, phase III trial

Haohua Wang, Fang Shi, Xiang Zhang, Kunli Zhu, Shumei Jiang, Rui Feng, Xue Dou, Lei Xu, Jinbo Yue

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-118739
View Publication

Effect of yoga on musculoskeletal complaints in women during endocrine treatment for breast cancer: protocol of the randomised controlled COBRA trial

Stefanie G A Veenhuizen, Roxanne Gal, Holger Cramer, Rhodé M Bijlsma, Patricia Blickle, Job van der Palen, Quinty R C M Wagenaar, Esther van Leer, Inge Konings, Desirée H J G van den Bongard, Anne M May, Evelyn M Monninkhof

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117251
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Continuous publication, publishing research online as soon as the article is ready.

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Is a cover letter required?

A cover letter is required for communication article presubmission enquiries and should explain why the work is appropriate as a communication article. Protocol manuscripts should include the study dates in the manuscript and cover letter.

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What are the publication costs?

Authors are asked to pay article-publishing charges on acceptance.

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Research Topics

Global Maternal and Child Health Health Policy Implementation Science Chronic Disease Management Strategies COVID-19 and Mental Health Diabetes Management and Education Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins Cancer survivorship and care Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment Primary Care and Health Outcomes HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare Health disparities and outcomes Mobile Health and mHealth Applications Frailty in Older Adults Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum Meta-analysis and systematic reviews Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research Global Cancer Incidence and Screening Smoking Behavior and Cessation Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout Mental Health and Patient Involvement

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