Sri Lankan Family Physician Journal
Author Guidelines
About the Journal
The Sri Lankan Family Physician Journal (SLFPJ) publishes peer-reviewed scholarly work that advances family medicine, primary care, community health, medical education, and health systems research.
The journal particularly welcomes submissions relevant to:
- Sri Lanka
- South Asia
- Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
- Community-based and primary care settings
We encourage contributions from clinicians, educators, researchers, trainees, policymakers, and community health practitioners.
Aims and Scope
SLFPJ aims to promote evidence-based practice, education, research, and policy development in family medicine and primary care.
The journal provides a platform for:
- Research informing clinical decision-making in primary care
- Innovations in undergraduate and postgraduate education
- Health services and policy research
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Community and rural health research
- Patient-centred care and community engagement
- Context-specific solutions to improve health equity and access to care
All submissions should demonstrate clear relevance to primary care practice, education, health systems, or policy.
Article Types
1. Original Research Articles
Scope
- Quantitative studies
- Qualitative research
- Mixed-methods studies
- Clinical, epidemiological, educational, health services, and outcomes research
Requirements
- Word limit: 3,000-4,000 words
- Structured abstract (250 words)
- Background
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions
- Main text:
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Strengths and limitations
- Implications for primary care
- Ethics approval and informed consent required where applicable
Recommended Reporting Guidelines
- STROBE
- CONSORT
- COREQ
- MMAT
2. Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Scope
Evidence synthesis relevant to primary care practice, education, and policy.
Requirements
- Word limit: 4,000-5,000 words
- Structured abstract
- PRISMA 2020 reporting
- PROSPERO registration encouraged
- Search strategy, study selection, risk of bias assessment, and evidence synthesis required
3. Narrative Reviews and Scoping Reviews
Scope
Emerging topics, evidence summaries, and identification of research gaps.
Requirements
- Word limit: 3,000-4,000 words
- Abstract required
- Clearly describe:
- Search approach
- Inclusion criteria
- Relevance to primary care
- PRISMA-ScR recommended for scoping reviews
4. Short Reports / Brief Communications
Scope
- Pilot studies
- Preliminary findings
- Innovative interventions
- Early implementation experiences
Requirements
- Word limit: 1,500-2,000 words
- Abstract (≤150 words)
- Maximum 2 tables or figures
5. Clinical Practice Articles
Scope
- Evidence-based updates
- Practical management guides
- Primary care adaptations of clinical guidelines
- “How-to” articles
Requirements
- Word limit: 2,500-3,500 words
- Abstract required
- Include:
- Clinical context
- Evidence summary
- Practical recommendations
- Relevance to Sri Lankan primary care
- Algorithms and flowcharts encouraged
6. Case Reports and Case Series
Scope
Cases with significant educational value for primary care clinicians.
Requirements
- Word limit: 1,500-2,000 words
- Abstract required
- Patient consent mandatory
- CARE reporting guidelines recommended
- Include key learning points and primary care relevance
7. Methodology Papers
Scope
Development, adaptation, or validation of tools and research methods relevant to primary care.
Requirements
- Word limit: 3,000-4,000 words
- Describe:
- Tool development
- Validation methods
- Reliability and validity measures
- Applications in primary care
8. Education and Training Articles
Scope
- Undergraduate education
- Postgraduate training
- Curriculum development
- Assessment methods
- Faculty development
Requirements
- Word limit: 2,500-3,500 words
- Include:
- Educational problem or need
- Intervention or innovation
- Outcomes and lessons learned
9. Health Services and Policy Research
Scope
- Access to care
- Workforce issues
- Service delivery
- Health systems
- Policy evaluation
Requirements
- Word limit: 3,000-4,000 words
- Strong implications for policy or service delivery
- Relevance to Sri Lanka or comparable settings
10. Quality Improvement Reports
Scope
- Clinical audits
- PDSA cycles
- Quality improvement initiatives
Requirements
- Word limit: 2,000-3,000 words
- SQUIRE 2.0 reporting encouraged
- Include:
- Problem description
- Intervention
- Measures and outcomes
- Sustainability and lessons learned
11. Perspectives, Viewpoints and Commentaries
Scope
Evidence-informed discussion of clinical, educational, professional, or policy issues.
Requirements
- Word limit: 1,500-2,000 words
- Conflict of interest declaration required
12. Editorials
Usually invited by the Editorial Board.
- Word limit: ≤1,500 words
13. Letters to the Editor
Scope
Responses to published articles or brief scholarly observations.
Requirements
- Maximum 750 words
- Up to 5 references
- No abstract
14. Patient and Community Perspectives
Scope
Patient experiences, community engagement, and patient-centred care narratives.
Requirements
- Word limit: 1,000-1,500 words
- Written in accessible language
- Appropriate consent required
15. College Orations
Scope
Orations delivered at the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka or other recognized academic and professional bodies.
Requirements
- Word limit: 3,000-5,000 words
- Abstract (≤250 words)
- Include:
- Background and rationale
- Evidence-based discussion
- Relevance to family medicine or primary care
- Key messages and future directions
- Vancouver referencing required
16. Research Protocols
Scope
Protocols of planned or ongoing research relevant to family medicine and primary care.
Requirements
- Word limit: 2,500-3,500 words
- Ethics approval or evidence of ethics submission required
- Trial or study registration encouraged
- Clear methodological justification
17. Global, Rural and Community Health Articles
Scope
- Rural health
- Health equity
- Social determinants of health
- Primary care in LMIC settings
Requirements
- Word limit: 3,000-4,000 words
- Strong contextual and policy relevance
- Clear lessons applicable to primary care practice
General Submission Requirements
- All submissions should include:
- Article type designation
- Title page with author names and affiliations
- Corresponding author details
- Abstract (where applicable)
- 3-6 keywords (MeSH terms preferred)
- Ethics approval and consent statements (where applicable)
- Funding declaration
- Conflict of interest declaration
- Acknowledgements (if applicable)
- References in Vancouver style
- English language manuscript
Reporting Guidelines
Authors are encouraged to follow appropriate international reporting standards:
| Study Type | Reporting Guideline |
| Observational Studies | STROBE |
| Randomized Trials | CONSORT |
| Qualitative Research | COREQ |
| Mixed Methods | MMAT |
| Systematic Reviews | PRISMA 2020 |
| Scoping Reviews | PRISMA-ScR |
| Case Reports | CARE |
| Quality Improvement | SQUIRE 2.0 |
Authorship and Ethics
SLFPJ follows:
- ICMJE authorship criteria
- International standards for research ethics
- Policies on conflicts of interest and transparency
Authors are responsible for securing all necessary ethical approvals and participant consent prior to submission.
Indexing and Discoverability
To support discoverability through Google Scholar and other academic databases, manuscripts should include:
- Descriptive title
- Author information
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Complete references
- Stable PDF formatting
Contact
Sri Lankan Family Physician Journal (SLFPJ)
College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka
PO Box: 6, Wijerama House, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo – 7
For submission inquiries and editorial correspondence, please contact the Editorial Office through the College website.