BO

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.

Looking to publish in BMJ Open? Livewrite integrates seamlessly with Word to help you write, edit, and format faster.

Existing customer login
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.
Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

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.
Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

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.
Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

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.
Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

Recent Publications

Ebetsu Active Future Study (EAFS): cognitive function and physical and mental health in elderly residents of Ebetsu City, Japan – cohort profile

Hiroyo Kagami-Katsuyama, Naohito Ito, Makoto Hazama, Nobuyuki Toya, Takashi Wataya, Kouji Satoh, Namie Toda, Koki Kinoshita, Naoyuki Honma, Toshiya Nishibe, Hiroki Satoh, Kazuhiro Koshino, Seiji Saito, Fumio Chiba, Hiroki Hattori, Akihiko Ogata, Naoaki Tanaka, Mari Maeda-Yamamoto, Hiromi Kimoto, Mijin Kim, Miyuki Kumano-Kuramochi, Toshiro Kobori, Tsukasa Takeuchi, Yoshihiro Inoue, Shin Nakamura, Yoshihiro Minai, Satoshi Yomota, Sadanori Sekiya, Naoki Kaneko, Mikihiro Yamanaka, Tairo Ogura, Jun Nishihira

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-118786
View Publication

Association between infections and frailty: a systematic review protocol

Aleixo P Brunetti, Mohammed Baothman, Kwabena Asare, Kathryn E. Mansfield, Charlotte Warren-Gash

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117882
View Publication

Timing of anticoagulation after emergency endovascular therapy for acute ischaemic stroke with atrial fibrillation (TIMERS): protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Yibing Guo, Xiaole Jia, Wanqing Liu, Wanwan Zhang, Xiao Dong, Ran Meng, Hongrui Ma, Guiyun Cui, Yanbo Cheng, Tingyu Yi, Jiheng Hao, Yufeng Jiang, Xunming Ji, Yu Feng, Chuanjie Wu

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-120256
View Publication

Comparison of an ensemble machine learning model to a Cox regression model to predict colorectal cancer risk among people with HIV using retrospective nationwide cohort data in Sweden: a study protocol

Josefin Nilsson, Yunyang Deng, Olof Elvstam, Isabela Killander-Möller, Jiayao Lei, Fredrik Mansson, Pontus Naucler, Jonas Nygren, Suzanne Ruhe-van der Werff, Philippe Wagner, Aylin Yilmaz, Johanna Brännström, Magnus Boman, Christina Carlander

10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108693
View Publication

Physiological–behavioural discordance in paediatric perioperative anxiety assessment: a scoping review protocol

Shuang Guo, Hongchen Liu, Linyun Wang, Henghui Zhang

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-123570
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

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

Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

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.

Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

What are the publication costs?

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

Reformat to BMJ Open using Livewrite Premium

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

Related Journals

CM
Chinese Medical Journal LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
Am
Amyloid Taylor & Francis
JO
Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle Springer Science+Business Media
AO
Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal & Neonatal BMJ
BM
BMC Medicine BioMed Central
FI
Frontiers in Medicine Frontiers Media