Instructions Intervention Trial

Instructions for the submission of a Manuscript to the Canadian Journal of Naturopathic Medicine (CJNM)

CJNM is seeking high quality review articles and intervention trials relevant to the practice of naturopathic medicine. This online publication seeks to elevate the quality of practice of Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s) by delivering standard-of-care style review articles as well as intervention trials of strategies of relevance to this discipline of healthcare provider.

For submission of a Manuscript describing an intervention in humans, the following must be included:

1. Title page
2. Abstract
3. Manuscript
4. Acknowledgements and statement to the effect of conflict of interests
5. References

Please submit all materials using Times New Roman font, with text size 12.

1. Title page

• A title for the Manuscript that clearly states the purpose of the study, the study type (RCT, open, case series), and that the study was in humans.
• The names of all Authors, with academic designations (ie: MSc, PhD, ND, MD). Please do not list undergraduate degrees.
• Institutional affiliations for Author(s).
• Name and preferred contact information for the corresponding Author.

2. Abstract

The Abstract should be no more than 300 words.

Background: A brief statement explaining the basis for undertaking of the experiment.

Objective: A statement of the hypothesis. Example, “intervention with a sufficient dose of coconut oil should increase basal metabolic rate in humans relative to an isocaloric olive oil control”.

Methods: Explain how the study was conducted, including subject number, if a placebo or control group was used, duration of the trial, dose of the intervention (if appropriate), and main outcome measures employed.

Results: Present the Results of the main outcome measures, with statistical analysis, showcasing which were or were not of statistical significance.

Conclusions: A concise statement or two summarizing the outcomes observed and the Author(s) impression of their significance.

3. Manuscript

Introduction:

A brief summary of literature explaining the basis for the experiment that has been undertaken. It is not required to be systematic or comprehensive. Epidemiological data highlighting disease burden and/ or healthcare cost associated with the topic at hand is welcome. A statement of objective and or hypothesis should be provided.

Methods:

• Mention of the process of ethics review for experimenting with humans.
• The Methods section should allow for replication of the undertaken experiment.
• Clearly state number of participants, selection criteria, baseline anthropometric data, and criteria for excluding a participant.
• Clearly identify and describe the intervention used. If a natural health product was supplemented, provide the route of administration, dose, frequency of administration, all information relating to standardization of the substance, and the manufacturer. When possible, information on methods of extraction are appropriate inclusions. For interventions that are dietary in nature, a detailed description of the intervention diet and control diet is required. Describe methods used to achieve and/ or monitor for compliance. Describe methods undertaken to control for caloric variance within and between groups. If a functional or medical food is used in the intervention, description of the intervention should parallel that of a natural health product, described above.
• Statistical methodologies should be clearly defined. P values denoting significance should be stated. Standard means should be presented with P values. Computer programs used in calculations of statistical significance should be listed.

Results:

Present Results without repeating information from previous sections, or repeating information that will be presented within the Discussion section.

Discussion:

In the Discussion section, summarize the Author(s) impression of the importance of the findings. State any appropriate conclusions. A comment on the implications of the findings for clinical practice is welcome.    

4. Acknowledgements and Statement of Conflict of Interests

• Acknowledgments are an opportunity to mention individuals who participated in the production of the Manuscript not acknowledged within the list of Authors.
• Statement of Conflict of Interest requires a discussion of any sources of funding for the work. It also requires the Author(s) to discuss any industry affiliations they may have.

5. References

• Within the Manuscript, References will be presented as Authors last name and year of publication.

Example: Fish oil at a dose of 2000mg combined EPA and DHA per day has been shown to significantly lower triglyceride levels (Rouchotas 2020).

If multiple papers are being referenced for one point, the presentation is in alphabetical order of the first Authors last name for each paper.

Example: Fish oil at a dose of 2000mg combined EPA and DHA per day has been shown to significantly lower triglyceride levels (Jones 2018, Rouchotas 2020, Vance 2011).

If the same primary Author is used for two different references published in the same year, the Reference list at the end of the work (see below) must list them alphabetically, ordered by the last name of the second author. Within the Manuscript, the two references will be differentiated by designating one reference “A”, and the other “B”

Example: Fish oil at a dose of 2000mg combined EPA and DHA per day has been shown to significantly lower triglyceride levels (Ito 2018A). At this dose, fish oil has also been shown to reduce pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis (Ito 2018B).

• At the end of the manuscript, References are to appear as PubMed cites papers. This style does not have a formal name, yet is familiar to most and easy to work with.

Example:

Huang T, Chen Y, Yang B, Yang J, Wahlqvist ML, Li D. Meta-analysis of B vitamin supplementation on plasma homocysteine, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Clin Nutr. 2012 Aug;31(4):448-54.

If the same primary Author is used for two different references published in the same year, the Reference list at the end of the work (see below) must list them alphabetically, ordered by the last name of the second author.

Example:

Ito N, Saito H, Seki S, Ueda F, Asada T. Effects of Composite Supplement Containing Astaxanthin and Sesamin on Cognitive Functions in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;62(4):1767-1775A.

Ito N, Seki S, Ueda F. The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2018 Jun 25;10(7):817B.

These two references must be listed in the above order at the end of the manuscript, because alphabetically “Saito”, comes before “Seki”. If within the Manuscript the Ito, Seki et al paper is referenced first, it must appear as (Ito 2018B), even though the “Ito 2018A” paper has not yet been referenced within the paper.

Your Manuscript, upon receipt, will be initially reviewed for fit within the framework of the CJNM by myself, the Editor-in-Chief. If the Manuscript is deemed appropriate in scope for CJNM, it will then be peer reviewed by two external Referees through a single- blind process (the Referees will know who the Author is, yet the Author will not know who the Referees were). Referees may reject the Manuscript, accept with suggested revisions, or accept as- is. The Author will address any deficiencies highlighted by the peer review process. A subsequent review by the Editor-in-Chief which takes into account the Reviewers’ remarks and Authors’ rebuttals will culminate in a final decision regarding acceptability.

The CJNM team thanks you for your consideration of a Manuscript submission.

Best regards,

Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND

International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine

Editor-in-Chief