BQ

BMJ Quality & Safety

BMJ Quality & Safety is an international peer-reviewed journal covering the science of improvement across healthcare service and provision. The journal encourages research and debate about improving the quality and safety of healthcare and serves clinicians, researchers, patients, improvement professionals, administrators and policy makers by integrating academic and clinical aspects of quality and safety in healthcare.

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Subject Health Care Sciences & Services, Health Policy & Services
Impact Factor 6.5
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Hybrid
ISSN 2044-5415
eISSN 2044-5423
Invitation Only No
Cost Range Open access APC: 4,370 GBP, exclusive of VAT for UK and EU authors; authors may also publish at no cost under the subscription model.

Submission Instructions

BMJ Quality & Safety accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Original Research

Cover Letter A cover letter is only required if research checklists are not applicable, in which case it must explain why they are not applicable. If research checklists are not applicable to the research, the cover letter must state the reason.
Abstract A structured abstract is required for Original Research articles. The structured abstract should typically be 250–300 words and may be up to 400 words when additional length is needed to reflect recommended reporting elements. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript The manuscript must be 3000–4000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions and references. The title must indicate the study design, and the article must include a Methods section. A distinct key messages section must appear after the abstract using the headings 'What is already known on this topic', 'What this study adds', and 'How this study might affect research, practice or policy', in no more than 3–5 sentences total.
References References must not be removed, redacted or anonymised, including citations to the authors' own previous work.
Figures & Tables The article may include up to 5 tables or illustrations.
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Systematic Review

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required for Systematic Review articles. The structured abstract should typically be 250–300 words and may be up to 400 words when extra length is needed to reflect recommended reporting-guideline elements. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript The manuscript must be 3000–4000 words or fewer, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Systematic Review articles must conform to the same guidelines outlined for Original Research. Key messages must appear after the abstract using the headings 'What is already known on this topic', 'What this study adds', and 'How this study might affect research, practice or policy', and must be distinct from the abstract and no more than 3–5 sentences in total.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables Systematic Review articles may include up to 5 tables or figures.
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Narrative Review

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract An unstructured abstract is required. Abstract should be approximately 275 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 3000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
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Quality Improvement Report

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract A structured abstract is required for Quality Improvement Reports. Abstract should typically be 250–300 words in length. Abstract must be structured.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 4000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Manuscript must clearly define the problem, include a theory of change or logic model, describe the intervention in detail including iterative development, report implementation barriers and facilitators, balancing measures and intervention fidelity where relevant, account for baseline trends, discuss sustainability strategies, and reflect on applicability beyond the institution. Key messages must appear after the abstract as a distinct section using the headings 'What is already known on this topic', 'What this study adds', and 'How this study might affect research, practice or policy', and the section must be no more than 3–5 sentences in total.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
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Short Report

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract An unstructured abstract is required. Abstract should be approximately 275 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript Manuscript may be up to 1000 words if it includes only one table or figure, or none.
References References requirements are not specified.
Figures & Tables No more than 2 tables or figures are permitted.
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Recent Publications

Building capacity for change: developing an evidence-based competencies framework to power champions

Harveer Punia, Giulia Zucal, Patricia Julian, Katherine Wallace, Susan McNeill, Doris Grinspun

10.1136/bmjqs-2025-019148
View Publication

Welcome to the jungle: collection and evaluation of quality indicators with the QUALICATOR instrument

Jonas Backes, Justus Vogel, Alexander Geissler, Michael M Havranek, Sarah P Schladerer, David Ehlig

10.1136/bmjqs-2026-020265
View Publication

Healthcare provision in prisons: an ongoing challenge

Emma Plugge, Caroline Watson

10.1136/bmjqs-2026-020252
View Publication

Professional support is an important lifeboat, but let’s also stop people falling into the water

Alison Pearson, Kathryn Bamforth, Alice Miller

10.1136/bmjqs-2026-020086
View Publication

Shifting boundaries of risk-work in virtual wards in North-West England: a multisite qualitative evaluation

Kelly Howells, Fay Bradley, Norina Gasteiger, William Whittaker, Emma Vardy, Dawn Dowding, Thomas Blakeman, Caroline Sanders

10.1136/bmjqs-2025-020002
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Time to first decision with review is 74 days (median), time to first decision without review is 3 days (median), and time from acceptance to publication is 19 days (median).

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Is a cover letter required?

A cover letter is used when research checklists are not applicable to explain the reason, and authors may mention uncertainty about suitability for the 'The problem with…' series in the cover letter.

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What are the publication costs?

Open access information and article processing charges are available.

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Research Topics

Patient Safety and Medication Errors Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life Healthcare Quality and Management Emergency and Acute Care Studies Healthcare Policy and Management Primary Care and Health Outcomes Healthcare cost, quality, practices Clinical practice guidelines implementation Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare Cardiac, Anesthesia and Surgical Outcomes Hospital Admissions and Outcomes Health Policy Implementation Science Innovations in Medical Education Electronic Health Records Systems Healthcare Systems and Technology Occupational Health and Safety Research Healthcare Technology and Patient Monitoring Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes Quality and Safety in Healthcare Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

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