Submissions

Author Guidelines

General Guidelines  
     Phetchabun Medical Journal is an academic journal established to disseminate academic articles in the fields of medicine and public health. The journal is published every four months, with three issues per year, as follows:
- Issue 1: January–April
- Issue 2: May–August 
- Issue 3: September–December
     Each issue publishes no more than five articles. The journal has established the following general guidelines for authors submitting manuscripts for publication:
1. Submitted manuscripts must be original and must not have been previously published or be under consideration for publication in any other journals, either nationally or internationally.
2. All content of the manuscript, including text, figures, and images, must be the authors’ own work. Any use of other sources must comply with research ethics and proper copyright regulations.
3. All manuscripts are subject to peer review by two to three reviewers. The editorial board will compile reviewers’ comments and recommendations and inform authors of the review results for revision in accordance with academic standards prior to publication.

Types of Articles
     Phetchabun Medical Journal accepts academic manuscripts related to medicine and public health from scholars and health professionals in relevant disciplines. The journal publishes the following five types of articles:
1. Review Articles; Review articles provide a comprehensive review or synthesis of knowledge on a specific topic, including recent advances or issues of interest derived from national and international journals or textbooks. Manuscripts should include a title, authors’ names and affiliations, Thai and English abstracts, 3–5 keywords, an introduction, methods of literature search, reviewed and critical discussion of the content, and up-to-date references. The length of the manuscript should not exceed 15 pages.
2. Original Articles; Original articles report the results of research studies or academic investigations. Manuscripts should include a title, authors’ names and affiliations, Thai and English abstracts, 3–5 keywords, an introduction, objectives, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements (if any), and up-to-date references. The length of the manuscript should not exceed 15 pages.
3. Case Reports; Case reports describe interesting or unusual cases, rare conditions, or new diseases or syndromes that have not been previously reported or are infrequently encountered, highlighting their clinical significance, diagnosis, and management. Manuscripts should include a title, authors’ names and affiliations, Thai and English abstracts, 3–5 keywords, an introduction, detailed case description, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements (if any), and up-to-date references. Images should be included only when necessary and must have appropriate patient consent. The length of the manuscript should not exceed 15 pages.
4. Outbreak Investigations; Outbreak investigation articles report epidemiological investigations and present findings, knowledge, and approaches to disease investigation and control for administrators and relevant stakeholders. Manuscripts should include a title, authors’ names and affiliations, Thai and English abstracts, 3–5 keywords, an introduction, objectives, materials and methods, investigation results, disease prevention and control activities, problems and limitations of the investigation, discussion, recommendations, conclusion, and up-to-date references. The length of the manuscript should not exceed 15 pages.
5. Results of Operations; Results of operations articles report outcomes of assigned missions or completed operational activities intended for dissemination to supervisors or relevant stakeholders. Manuscripts should include a title, authors’ names and affiliations, Thai and English abstracts, 3–5 keywords, an introduction, objectives, methods of operation, results of operation, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements, and up-to-date references. The length of the manuscript should not exceed 15 pages.

Manuscript Preparation
     Manuscripts should be prepared using a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word, and formatted in a single-column layout. The preparation guidelines are as follows:
1. Use the Thai Sarabun PSK font, size 16 points. The title should be in 24-point bold font in both Thai and English. Headings within the manuscript should be in 16-point bold font.
2. Set the top, bottom, left, and right margins to 1 inch, and place page numbers at the bottom right corner of each page.
3. Manuscripts must include all required components according to the specified article type.
4. To ensure manuscript quality and standard reporting, authors should follow appropriate Health Research Reporting Guidelines from the Checklists and Guidelines for Authors website, according to the study design, as follows:
1) Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): follow the CONSORT checklist, flowchart, and extensions
2) Qualitative research: follow the COREQ guidelines for interviews and focus group studies
3) Diagnostic accuracy studies: follow the STARD checklist and flowchart
4) Epidemiological observational studies: follow the STROBE checklists
5) Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: follow the PRISMA checklist
5. Numerical data should be presented consistently throughout the manuscript. Percentages should be reported to one decimal place (e.g., 78.3). Statistical values such as means and standard deviations should be reported to two decimal places. Test statistics should be reported to two decimal places (e.g., Chi-square = 8.72), and p-values should be reported to three decimal places (e.g., p-value = 0.004).
6. The manuscript length must not exceed 15 A4 pages, and files must be submitted in both Word and PDF formats.

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines  
     The manuscript preparation guidelines are established in accordance with standard journal standards to ensure that published academic articles contain complete components. The objectives are to engage readers, communicate knowledge clearly and effectively, and enable practical application for professional development, academic advancement, and further research that will generate broad benefits.
1. Title
• The title should be concise, clear, and free from unnecessary wording. It must be easy to understand and provided in both Thai and English.
• Author names should be left-aligned and include full name, institutional affiliation, and address in both Thai and English. In cases of multiple authors, superscript numerals 1, 2, 3, … should be placed after each author’s name to indicate their respective affiliations and addresses.
2. Abstract
• The abstract of a research article must be written in a single paragraph. It should comprehensively summarize the essential elements, including the research rationale or background, research problem, objectives, study design, study setting, sample or participants, research instruments, methodology, statistical analysis, major findings, clear and concise conclusions, and recommendations for practical application of the findings. The abstract should be concise yet sufficiently informative, not exceeding one page. Provide 3–5 keywords at the final line of the abstract page.
• The English abstract must also be written in a single paragraph and contain the same essential elements as the Thai abstract. It must be grammatically correct and convey the same meaning as the Thai version. The length must not exceed one page. Provide 3–5 keywords at the final line of the abstract page.
3. Keywords
• Keywords should be words or phrases that reflect the research content to facilitate indexing and retrieval. Provide 3–5 keywords separated by commas (,), for example: Research and development, Pain, Older adults.
4. Introduction
• The introduction should explain the background and significance of the problem, relevant theories and conceptual framework, and the rationale for conducting the study. It should include necessary data, statistics, and relevant information to reflect the magnitude or severity of the problem, demonstrate the need for development, and explain the necessity of identifying solutions and potential consequences if the problem remains unresolved. The problem should be presented concisely and directly. Information must be supported by credible references. The study objectives must be clearly stated at the end of the introduction.
5. Materials and Methods
• This section should describe the procedures and methodology of the study or research, including the sources of data, data collection methods, sampling procedures, research instruments, standards or techniques applied, and methods of analysis, including statistical applications where appropriate.
1) Study Design
     Clearly specify the study design or type of research, such as case study, survey research, experimental research, qualitative research, comparative research, etc.
2) Population and Sample
Population refers to the units under study, which may include patients, medical records, or other relevant entities. The method used to calculate the sample size must be clearly described, including appropriate references. Clearly state the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, as well as the sampling method.
3) Research Instruments
Provide a detailed description of the instruments used in the study. Specify the types of instruments employed and clearly explain the development process in accordance with established principles and methodology. Describe the structure of the instrument, including measurement constructs, domains assessed, subsections, number of items, response format, scoring criteria, and interpretation guidelines. Provide details regarding the assessment of instrument quality, including validity and reliability testing, and the pilot sample used for testing.
4) Data Collection
Describe the data collection procedures in detail, including the steps and methods employed. Specify the tools used and the mode of data collection (e.g., postal survey, self-administered collection, data collected by trained assistants). In the case of experimental research, clearly describe the intervention procedures and the data collection process for each experimental condition.
5) Data Analysis
Clearly specify the methods used for data analysis and the software employed. 
• For quantitative data, describe the analytical methods and statistical techniques applied.
• For qualitative data, describe the content analysis procedures, particularly the identification of patterns, themes, and the integration of findings into coherent interpretations.
• Data analysis must be consistent with the research objectives, research hypotheses, and levels of measurement.
6. Results
1) The results should be presented in a logical sequence according to the actual order of findings. Report only findings that are important and meaningful in addressing the research objectives. The presentation must be clear, concise, and complete. Begin with overall findings, then provide detailed results according to the methodological sequence. Report data in terms of number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, etc., as appropriate.
2) If the findings are not complex and contain limited numerical data, they may be presented descriptively. If there are numerous numerical values or multiple variables, refer to tables or figures using the format (Table 1) or (Figure 1). Do not repeat the data description in the text. Do not provide commentary, interpretation, or references in this section.
3) Tables, figures, and charts should be presented immediately after being mentioned in the text and numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1).
• Table titles should appear above the table.
• Figure or chart captions should appear below the figure.
• Percentages should generally be reported to one decimal place.
• Means and standard deviations should be reported to two decimal places.
• p-values should be reported to three decimal places.
7. Discussion
1) Present the major findings of the study and explain their relationship to established principles or theories based on credible, previously published academic literature. Appropriate references must be included. The discussion should lead logically to conclusions and typically consist of approximately 3–5 paragraphs.
2) Interpret the meaning of the findings based on scientific principles and logical reasoning. Discuss whether the study design, materials, and research methods were appropriate. The discussion should follow the sequence of the results and should not repeat explanations already provided in earlier sections. Compare the findings with relevant theories and previous studies, indicating whether they are consistent or inconsistent, with appropriate references.
3) Explain possible reasons why the findings differ from other studies, using expressions such as “consistent with,” “in contrast to,” “limitations include,” or “potential sources of error include.” Discuss the significance and implications of the findings for the field of medicine and/or public health. Clearly state the strengths and limitations of the study, interpret the findings appropriately, and provide reasoned commentary consistent with the results.
8. Conclusion and Recommendations
• Provide a concise and focused summary of the study findings. Clearly state the key points and essential outcomes of the research. Offer practical recommendations that enable readers to apply the findings for further research development and professional or organizational improvement.
9. Acknowledgements (if any)
• The author(s) may briefly express gratitude to individuals who made significant contributions to the research beyond their routine responsibilities. Acknowledgements should also include institutions or individuals who provided academic support and/or research funding. The source of financial support must be clearly stated, specifying that the research was supported by the identified funding agency or organization.
10. References
• Phetchabun Medical Journal uses the Vancouver numerical referencing style. The numerical citation system should be applied as follows:
1) In-text citation format
o Reference numbers must be inserted in square brackets [ ] at the end of the cited statement or after the name of the cited person. The numbers should appear on the same line as the text, for example: [1] [2] [3].
o References must be numbered consecutively starting from 1. In cases of repeated citations, use the same reference number that was previously assigned.
o All cited sources must appear in the reference list at the end of the article. References should be arranged in numerical order according to their citation sequence and listed as 1, 2, 3, ….
o When citing multiple references simultaneously:
     ▪ If citing no more than two references, list the reference numbers separated by a comma (,), for example: [1,2] or [1,5].
     ▪ If citing more than two references and the numbers are consecutive, use a hyphen (-) to indicate a range, for example: [1-3] or [1-5].
     ▪ If citing more than two references that include both consecutive and non-consecutive numbers, use commas to separate non-consecutive numbers and hyphens for consecutive sequences, for example: [1,4-5].
Examples of Reference Formatting
1. Journal Article
Format
Author(s). Title of the article. Title of the Journal. Year; Volume: First page–Last page.
Example
Smith AB, Johnson CD. Prevalence of hypertension among older adults in rural communities. J Public Health Res. 2022;11:123–130.
2. References from Websites
Format
Author(s). Title of the article [Internet]. Year [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL
Example
Boonsri C. Study of hearing performance and noise hazard prevention behaviors among employees of S.S. Liquor Co., Ltd. [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2019 Oct 12]. Available from: http://journalrdi.ubru.ac.th/article_files/1499919947.pdf.