Instructions to authors

Three copies of manuscripts should be submitted, including the top copy. Three copies of each submission are required so that two can be sent out to referees while the third is retained by the Editor for reference. In order to keep handling costs to a minimum, only one copy of a rejected typescript will be returned to the author; the other two copies will be shredded after an interval of three months. Exceptions will be made in the case of original art work or typescripts originating in Third World countries. One copy of illustrations is acceptable but an additional set would be preferred.

All text, including references, tables and captions should be typed with double or triple spacing, preferably on A4 paper, allowing generous margins. A word count should be given. Only one side of the paper should be used. Words intended to appear in italics in the text should be underlined. Spelling must be consistent with current editions of either Webster's Dictionary or the Oxford English Dictionary. Use of capital letters should be kept to a minimum.

Text

A separate title page is required. The title should be brief and descriptive of the paper. Additional details, if absolutely necessary, are better given in a short sub-title. This page should also indicate the names of the authors and their places of work, with full postal addresses, and up to eight key words which best describe the fields(s) of study addressed for inclusion in medical databases.

Papers should start with a short abstract, summarising the objective, design and the most important results of the study. The text should then follow the standard pattern: introduction, method, results, discussion and acknowledgements. The latter should have the approval of those acknowledged and include all grant support.

References

In the text the author's name and date should be used as follows: ' .... low rates of continuous long term abstinence have been reported (Lichtenstein and Rodrigues, 1977)' or 'Blinkhorn (1978) studied toothbrushing behaviour'. No more than two authors should be cited per reference; if there are more than two authors use 'et al'. Several references to an author in one year are shown as 1991a, 1991b etc. Where a number of references appear together in the text, they should be in order of publication. Authors of unpublished work or work which is not in press should be included within the text only and not listed in the references.

The list of references at the end of the paper should be arranged alphabetically by name of the first author. The following information is required:

Journal Example:

Orlandi, M.A. (1986): The diffusion and adoption of worksite health promotion innovations: an analysis of barriers. Preventive Medicine. 15, 522-536.

Book Examples:

Tones, K., Tilford, S. and Robinson, Y.E. (1990): Health education: effectiveness and efficiency. p.32. London, UK: Chapman Hall. James.

P M C and Beal, J F (1981). Dental epidemiology and survey procedures. Dental Public Health, 2nd edn, ed G L Slack. pp 86-118. Bristol, UK: John Wright.

Tables and illustrations

An indication of the position of tables and figures in the text should be given in the margin. The consistency of nomenclature throughout should be checked and in particular that between the text and tables or figures. The sources of data must always be quoted. Footnotes, where necessary, should be kept simple. Arabic numbers should be used throughout.

Tables:

Each table should be set out in a separate page at the end of the manuscript. Space should be used without dividing rules. Each table must have an explanatory caption and sufficient headings to columns and parts to be comprehensible without reference to the text. Data should not be duplicated. Reference to tables in the text should be as follows: 'Table 1 shows the difference ...' or 'A difference of 23 per cent was observed ... (Table 2)'.

Illustrations:

These should be submitted at the end of the manuscript rather than within the text, with a separate typed sheet, or sheets, for captions and footnotes. They should be numbered in a single sequence (Figure 1, 2, etc).

Photographs:

Glossy prints should be supplied without heavy marking on the back. They should be numbered lightly in pencil; any portion to be omitted can be indicated by pencil or by an overlay. Line drawings, including graphs, histograms and formulae, whether originals or glossy prints, must be of good quality for direct reproduction. Any lettering included must be clearly presented by an accepted method, such as Letraset, and it is important that lettering, symbols (e.g. data points), curves and axes are prepared so that they are legible after any reduction that the dimensions of the journal may necessitate in the course of publication; in particular, size of lettering in different parts of the same figure should be sufficiently compatible to reduce legibly. Photocopies are not acceptable.

Units and abbreviations

Units must conform to the Système International d'Unités (SI). Capital letters denoting persons or organisations (GMP, HEO, DHSS, WHO, etc) should not be used but the titles spelt out. Relatively unfamiliar indices should usually be cited in full in discussion matter but may be abbreviated when frequently occurring in the presentation of results. Numerals should be used with units but elsewhere words for one to ten. Per cent should always be spelt out in the main text but per cent signs may be used in tables and figures.

Proofs and reprints

Page proofs, which will normally reproduce any illustrations, will be sent to authors for correction of printer's errors. Alterations of subject matter at proof stage are inadmissable because the Journal raises no page charges. A free offprint will be sent to the corresponding author of each paper. Extra reprints can be ordered from the Publisher.

Typescripts should be sent to the Editor:

Prof Fiona Blinkhorn PhD
Oral Health Executive
Macquarie Hospital
Ryde
Australia

The communications and reviews published in this Journal are the work of the individuals under whose names the material appears. Any views expressed are those of the authors only and are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Institute of Health Promotion and Education.