How long does it take to publish?

Median time to first decision is 2 days without external peer review and 49 days with review. Median time from submission to acceptance is 92 days, and median time from acceptance to publication is 63 days.

Is a cover letter required?

A cover letter is recommended with complete contact information for the corresponding author and disclosure of whether the authors have published, posted, or submitted any related papers from the same study.

What are the publication costs?

Accepted research articles require payment of an article processing charge (APC). Waivers and discounts are available for eligible authors from Hinari Core Offer countries.

JAMA Network Open - Submission Guidelines & Formatting

Original Investigation

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended, not required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract Original Investigation manuscripts must include a structured abstract. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include a study type and contain an objective or hypothesis, design and methods, essential features of any interventions, main outcome measures, main results, a discussion of study limitations and context within the published literature, and conclusions with implications for clinical practice or health policy. Manuscript must include 3 Key Points and clearly describe any AI-generated content, including the tool details and authors’ responsibility, if such content is used.

References References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, while figures may be uploaded as separate files or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Randomized Clinical Trial

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and indicate whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance, with Design, Setting, and Participants presented separately, and it must include the trial registry name, registration number, and URL.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include a title page, Key Points, abstract, text, references, and as appropriate figure legends and tables, and the subtitle must be "A Randomized Clinical Trial". Manuscript must include Key Points, trial registration and ID, a trial protocol, and clear disclosure in the manuscript or Acknowledgment of any AI-generated content with the tool details and author responsibility.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript arabic numerals, journal names must use PubMed abbreviations, and lists must name up to 6 authors or editors or else the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total, including a CONSORT flow diagram. Figures must not be included in the manuscript text and must be submitted as separate files, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file rather than uploaded separately. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text, and primary outcome data must be reported in the text or a table and in the abstract rather than in figures alone.

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Meta-Analysis

Cover Letter A cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Data Sources, Study Selection, Data Extraction and Synthesis, Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. Text must describe the methods used for data sources, study selection, data extraction, and data synthesis, and the subtitle must include "A Meta-analysis." Manuscript must include 3 Key Points before the abstract and must clearly describe any AI-generated content with the tool details and an author responsibility statement.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript arabic numerals, journal names abbreviated according to PubMed, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Figures may be uploaded separately or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission, whereas tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file and not uploaded separately. Each table and figure must be numbered, cited in the text, and given a descriptive title.

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Cohort Study

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete corresponding author contact information and note whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. Manuscript must clearly state an objective or hypothesis, the design and methods, the essential features of any interventions or exposures, the main outcome measures, the main results, a discussion placing the results in context with the published literature and addressing study limitations, and the conclusions and relevant implications for clinical practice or health policy. Manuscript must include 3 Key Points and a Data Sharing Statement, and any AI-generated content must be clearly described with the tool details while authors take responsibility for it.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, with journal names abbreviated per PubMed and up to 6 authors listed or the first 3 followed by et al if more than 6.

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, while figures may be appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission or uploaded separately as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, cited in the text, and given a descriptive title, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Case-Control Study

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. Manuscript must clearly state an objective or hypothesis, the design and methods, the essential features of any interventions or exposures, the main outcome measures, the main results, a discussion placing the results in context with the published literature and addressing study limitations, and the conclusions and relevant implications for clinical practice or health policy. Manuscript must include 3 Key Points and must clearly describe any AI-generated content in the Acknowledgment section, including the tool details and how it was used.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in the order cited using superscript arabic numerals, not alphabetized, and list up to 6 authors or editors or the first 3 followed by "et al." if more than 6.

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, while figures may be uploaded separately or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Cross-Sectional Study

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and indicate whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must clearly state an objective or hypothesis, the design and methods, the essential features of any interventions or exposures, the main outcome measures, the main results, a discussion placing the results in context with the published literature and addressing study limitations, and the conclusions and relevant implications for clinical practice or health policy. Manuscript must include 3 Key Points and a clear AI-use disclosure in the Acknowledgment section if artificial intelligence tools were used to create, review, revise, or edit content.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript arabic numerals, not alphabetized, with journal names abbreviated per PubMed and up to 6 authors listed or the first 3 followed by et al if more than 6.

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, while figures may be appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission or uploaded as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, cited in the text, and given a descriptive title, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Systematic Review (Without Meta-Analysis)

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings are Importance, Objective, Evidence Review, Findings, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript should be organized as Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, and the subtitle must be "A Systematic Review." Manuscript must include 3 Key Points, a table rating the quality of the studies or evidence, and clear disclosure of any AI-generated content.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, use PubMed journal abbreviations, and list up to 6 authors or the first 3 followed by "et al." when there are more than 6.

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Tables must appear at the end of the manuscript file, and figures may be appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission or uploaded separately. Manuscript must include a table with ratings of the quality of the studies or evidence, and every table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text.

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Research Letter

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract Abstract must not be included.

Manuscript Text must not exceed 800 words. Manuscript should be divided into Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections and must include the study type. Key Points must not be included, and any use of AI in manuscript content must be disclosed in the Acknowledgment section with the tool details, dates of use, description of use, and author responsibility statement.

References Reference list must not exceed 10 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, with journal names abbreviated per PubMed and up to 6 authors listed before using the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables A maximum of 2 small tables and/or figures may be included. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, while figures may be uploaded as separate files or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission. Each table or figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Consensus Statement

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and indicate whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract Consensus Statements must include a structured abstract. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings are not specified for Consensus Statements.

Manuscript Text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include Introduction, Methods including description of the consensus process and participants, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, with section lengths of 150-250 words, 150-250 words, 1000-1250 words, 1000 words, and 2-3 sentences respectively. Manuscript must include Key Points before the abstract, include ratings of the quality of the evidence in the Results section, and clearly describe any AI-generated content in the Acknowledgment section with the tool details and author responsibility.

References Reference list must include 50-75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al.," and use PubMed journal abbreviations.

Figures & Tables A total of no more than 5 tables and/or figures is permitted. Figures may be uploaded separately or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file and not uploaded as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and limited to material necessary to support the article.

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Parallel-Design Double-Blind Trial

Cover Letter A cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. The manuscript must include Key Points before the abstract and use the subtitle "A Randomized Clinical Trial." The manuscript must include Key Points, trial registration and ID, and a trial protocol, and any AI-generated content must be clearly described in the manuscript or acknowledgment.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in the order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, with up to 6 authors listed or the first 3 followed by "et al" if more than 6.

Figures & Tables Manuscript may include no more than 5 total tables and/or figures, including a CONSORT flow diagram. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, and figures may be appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission or uploaded as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text, and primary outcome data must not be presented in figures alone.

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Crossover Trial

Cover Letter A cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. The manuscript must include a subtitle reading "A Randomized Clinical Trial." The manuscript must include Key Points, trial registration and ID, and a trial protocol, and any AI-generated content must be clearly described with the tool details and author responsibility acknowledged.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in the order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals, with up to 6 authors listed or the first 3 followed by "et al." if more than 6 are named.

Figures & Tables Manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total, including a CONSORT flow diagram. Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file rather than uploaded separately. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text, and primary outcome data must be reported in the text or a table and not only in figures.

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Equivalence And Noninferiority Trial

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include the subtitle "A Randomized Clinical Trial." Manuscript must include Key Points, trial registration and ID, a trial protocol, and a clear description of any AI-generated content including the tool details and author responsibility.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript arabic numerals, journal names abbreviated according to PubMed, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total, including a CONSORT flow diagram. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, and figures may be uploaded as separate files or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and primary outcome data must not be presented in figures alone.

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Cluster Trial

Cover Letter A cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and state whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include a title page, Key Points, abstract, text, references, and trial registration and ID, and the subtitle must be "A Randomized Clinical Trial." Manuscript must include Key Points, a trial protocol, and clear disclosure in the manuscript of any AI-generated content with the tool details and author responsibility.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, use PubMed journal abbreviations, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables Manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total, including a CONSORT flow diagram. Figures may be uploaded as separate files or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file and not uploaded separately. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text, and primary outcome data must not be presented only in figures.

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Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and note whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance, and clinical trial abstracts must include the trial registry name, registration number, and URL.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include a title page, Key Points, abstract, text, references, and as appropriate figure legends and tables, and the subtitle must be "A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial." Manuscript must include Key Points, trial registration and ID, a trial protocol, and clear disclosure in the manuscript if any content was created, reviewed, revised, or edited using AI tools.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance using superscript Arabic numerals, journal names abbreviated per PubMed, all authors or editors listed up to 6, and if more than 6 the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than 5 total tables and/or figures, including a trial flow diagram. Figures may be appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission, whereas tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file and not uploaded separately. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and primary outcome data must not be presented in figures alone.

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Case Series

Cover Letter Cover letter is recommended rather than required. Cover letter should include complete contact information for the corresponding author and disclose whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention(s) or Exposure(s), Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s), Results, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must clearly state an objective or hypothesis, the design and methods, the essential features of any interventions or exposures, the main outcome measures, the main results, a discussion placing the results in context with the published literature and addressing study limitations, and the conclusions and relevant implications for clinical practice or health policy. Manuscript must include 3 Key Points before the abstract and include a Data Sharing Statement.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, use PubMed journal title abbreviations, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al." for more than 6.

Figures & Tables Manuscript must include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Figures may be uploaded as separate files or appended to the end of the manuscript for initial submission, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file and not uploaded separately. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and not duplicate data presented elsewhere.

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JAMA Network Open

Submission Instructions

Original Investigation

Randomized Clinical Trial

Meta-Analysis

Cohort Study

Case-Control Study

Cross-Sectional Study

Systematic Review (Without Meta-Analysis)

Research Letter

Consensus Statement

Parallel-Design Double-Blind Trial

Crossover Trial

Equivalence And Noninferiority Trial

Cluster Trial

Nonrandomized Clinical Trial

Case Series

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Frequently asked questions

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