Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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BJ
British Journal of General Practice is an international journal publishing research, editorials, analysis, and clinical guidance for family practitioners and primary care researchers worldwide. It is an editorially independent publication of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
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Impact Factor
5.2
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Closed
ISSN
0960-1643
eISSN
1478-5242
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
Personal subscriptions: £245–£511; Institutional subscriptions: £310–£690; Corporate subscriptions: £700–£1620; SAPC member discounted print and online subscription: £115.
Submission Instructions
British Journal of General Practice accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Research Articles
Cover Letter
A cover letter must be uploaded with the submission. The cover letter must briefly explain why the submission is likely to interest the journal and be important to its readership, mention any previous discussion or email correspondence about the submission, and declare any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies for writing or language editing.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 250 words. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript
The main text should not exceed 2500 words, and the title must not exceed 12 words. The manuscript must include Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Figures, and Tables with captions, and the Discussion should use the subheadings Summary, Strengths and limitations, Comparison with existing literature, and Implications for research and/or practice unless there are good reasons not to do so. The manuscript must include a 'How this fits in' section, may include up to six MeSH keywords with primary health care, family practice, or general practice where appropriate, and must declare any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the Methods or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must be presented in Vancouver style, although any consistent style or format is acceptable at initial submission. References must include author names, journal or book title, article title where required, year, volume and issue or book chapter, and pagination, and journal titles must use standard NLM title abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
No more than six tables, figures, or boxes are permitted. Figures and tables may be placed within the text or uploaded as separate files, and the manuscript file must include text, figures, and tables. Supplementary data must be uploaded as a single PDF, and supplementary tables, figures, and boxes must be labelled with an S and cited in the main text as Supplementary Table, Supplementary Figure, or Supplementary Box.
Randomised Controlled Trials
Cover Letter
A cover letter must be uploaded with the submission. The cover letter must briefly explain why the submission is likely to interest the journal and matter to its readership, mention any previous discussion or email correspondence about the submission, and declare any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 250 words. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript
The main text should not exceed 2500 words, excluding tables and figures. The main text must follow the format Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion. The manuscript must include up to six MeSH keywords and a required 'How this fits in' section, and any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing must be declared in the Methods or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must be presented in Vancouver style. References may be in any consistent style at initial submission but must include author names, journal or book title, article title where required, year, volume and issue or chapter, pagination, and standard NLM journal title abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
No more than six tables, figures, or boxes are permitted. Figures and tables may be placed within the text or uploaded as separate files, and the manuscript file must include text, figures, and tables.
Systematic Reviews
Cover Letter
A cover letter must be uploaded with the submission. The cover letter must briefly explain why the submission is likely to be of interest to the journal and important to its readership, mention any previous discussion or email correspondence about the submission, and declare any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing.
Abstract
Systematic reviews must include a structured abstract. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript
Systematic reviews must not exceed 2500 words, excluding data presented in up to six tables, figures, or boxes. The manuscript must contain the essential elements needed for evaluation including Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Figures, and Tables with captions, and systematic reviews must include a statement of the question being answered and a description of the search strategy used. The manuscript must include keywords, all figures and tables must have captions, and any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies for writing or language editing must be declared in the Methods section or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must be presented in Vancouver style. References may be submitted in any consistent style at initial submission, but they must include author names, journal or book title, article title where required, year, volume and issue or book chapter, pagination, and standard NLM journal title abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
No more than six tables, figures, or boxes are permitted. The manuscript file must include figures and tables, which may be placed within the text or uploaded as separate files. All figures and tables must have a caption.
Qualitative Research
Cover Letter
A cover letter must be uploaded with the submission. The cover letter must briefly explain why the submission is likely to be of interest to the journal and important to its readership, mention any previous discussion or email correspondence about the submission, and declare and clearly describe any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 250 words. The abstract must be structured. The abstract must use the headings Background, Aim, Design and Setting, Method, Results, Conclusion, and Keywords.
Manuscript
The total word count including main text and quotes must not exceed 4000 words. The manuscript must contain Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Figures, and Tables with captions, and qualitative research articles must include illustrative quotes in the Results section where themes are described. The manuscript must include up to six MeSH keywords, a required 'How this fits in' section, and a declaration of any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing in the Methods or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must be presented in Vancouver style. References may be submitted in any consistent style at initial submission, but they must include author names, journal or book title, article title where required, year, volume and issue or book chapter, pagination, and journal titles abbreviated using standard NLM title abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
The manuscript file must include figures and tables, which may be placed within the text or uploaded as separate files. Figures and tables must include captions.
Registered Reports
Cover Letter
Cover letters are required for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 submissions. Stage 1 cover letters must include a brief scientific case for consideration, confirmation that necessary support and approvals are in place for the research to start immediately, an anticipated study timeline, and confirmation that the approved protocol will be registered on the Open Science Framework or another recognised public repository after in-principle acceptance, while Stage 2 cover letters must confirm that the manuscript includes a link to the approved Stage 1 protocol and, for primary Registered Reports, that no pre-registered study data other than pilot data were collected before in-principle acceptance.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Stage 1 protocols must include Introduction and Method sections, with Stage 1 submissions also including the research question and background literature, hypotheses, experimental procedures, planned analyses, and a sample size or power calculation, and the Method section must include any arrangements for data oversight. Stage 2 manuscripts must include a link to the approved Stage 1 protocol, clearly mark any textual changes to the Introduction or Method, cover newly relevant literature in the Discussion, and justify any additional analyses not included in the registered submission, and any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies for writing or language editing must be declared in the Methods or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must use Vancouver style.
Figures & Tables
Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
Clinical Practice
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required. Cover letter must briefly explain why the submission is of interest to the journal and important to its readership, mention any previous discussion or email correspondence about the submission, and declare any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript must be 800–1000 words, and the word count may need to be reduced to accommodate figures, boxes, and tables depending on their quantity and size. Manuscript should be structured around key clinical questions that are clearly answered in the text where possible. Manuscript must include a detailed declaration of potential competing interests, a subtitle, authors’ qualifications, job title, affiliation and location, an address and email for correspondence, funding information, provenance information, and any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies used for writing or language editing must be declared in the Methods or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must include 5–8 entries. References must use Vancouver style.
Figures & Tables
Submission may include 1–2 figures, tables, or boxes.
Letters
Cover Letter
Cover letter is required. Cover letter must briefly explain why the submission is likely to interest the journal and be important to its readership, mention any previous discussion or email correspondence about the submission, and declare any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies for writing or language editing.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Letters for the print issue must not exceed 350 words. Manuscript must have a basic structure that allows editors and peer reviewers to evaluate it accurately. Any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies for writing or language editing must be declared in the Methods section or Acknowledgements section where appropriate.
References
References must use Vancouver style.
Figures & Tables
Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
Recent Publications
Primary care quality and secondary healthcare utilisation in patients with multimorbidity: a retrospective cohort study
Qian Gao, Benedict WJ Hayhoe, Meryem Cicek, Geva Greenfield, Michaela Otis, Gesthimani Misirli, Ana Luisa Neves, Azeem Majeed, Paul Aylin, Alex Bottle
10.3399/bjgp.2026.0161
View Publication
Understanding Suicide through Coroners’ Narratives: implications for primary care from a mixed‑methods study of 157 Coroners’ reports
Phillip Oliver, Emily Reed, Joe Hulin, Brigitte Delaney, Jack Marshall, Caroline Mitchell
10.3399/bjgp.2026.0207
View Publication
Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer (2025): key clinical changes
Charlotte Williamson, Lorna Porteous, Phil Hodkinson, Sowmiya Moorthie, Samantha Harrison
10.3399/bjgp.2026.0194
View Publication
Unlawfully denying patients general practice access should be considered a ‘never event’
Fred Barker, Claire Rees, Joy Anderson, John Ford
10.3399/bjgp.2026.0328
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Once accepted, full articles are posted online as fully citeable publications as soon as possible.
Reformat to British Journal of General Practice using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A cover letter is uploaded with the initial submission.
Reformat to British Journal of General Practice using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Subscription journal. Personal, institutional, and corporate subscriptions are offered in print, online, and print plus online formats. Personal rates are £245–£511, institutional rates are £310–£690, corporate rates are £700–£1620, and SAPC members can obtain print and online access for £115.
Reformat to British Journal of General Practice using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Primary Care and Health Outcomes
Healthcare cost, quality, practices
Healthcare Policy and Management
Chronic Disease Management Strategies
Child and Adolescent Health
Healthcare Systems and Technology
Healthcare Systems and Challenges
Empathy and Medical Education
Innovations in Medical Education
Global Health Workforce Issues
Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Mental Health Treatment and Access
Health Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention
Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
Health Services Management and Policy
Diversity and Career in Medicine
Mental Health and Psychiatry
Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
Interprofessional Education and Collaboration
Nursing Roles and Practices
Obesity and Health Practices