Overview Submission Instructions Recent Publications Frequently Asked Questions Research Topics

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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

Nurses’ practices of intravenous antimicrobial therapy: a scoping review

Yue Zhai, Yu Du, Xiaohua Xu, Yuxia Zhang

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121098

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Mapping the landscape of substance use among students in Ghana: a scoping review protocol

Donne Kofi Ameme, Nana Yaa Adobea Brown, Blessing Enorioware Uteh, Fatoumata Jabbie, Richard Selormey

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-125880

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Patient acceptance of preventive antibiotic treatment for tuberculosis: a qualitative study in London, UK

Mélanie Antunes, Rubin Rose-Key, Ellen Steward, Sammy Assayad, Mahdad Noursadeghi, Luis Enrique Loría-Rebolledo, Elisa Crayton, Rishi Gupta

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-126587

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Cognitive behavioural therapy compared to compensatory strategy training for persisting memory symptoms after concussion in adults: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Noah D. Silverberg, Matthew J. Burke, Chantel T Debert, Tasha Klotz, Roger Zemek, Julia Schmidt, William J. Panenka, David L. Perez, Mark T. Bayley, Maria Carmela Tartaglia, Artee Srivastava, Andrew Howard, Craig Mitton, Michel Rathbone, Miles Byworth

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-125787

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Can maternal characteristics improve due date prediction without ultrasound? Development and internal validation of a machine-learning prediction model in 600 000 pregnancies in Sweden

Gilson Dutra, Mikael Elinder, Oscar Erixson

10.1136/bmjopen-2026-120970

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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