Last updated: January 2026 · 5 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Introduction to publishing in the medical field
Publishing a research paper in the medical field requires more than producing results. It involves matching the work to a venue whose scope, audience, and editorial standards are appropriate, and following the disciplinary conventions that reviewers expect. This page outlines how publishing operates in the medical field, the most common challenges authors face, a step-by-step process, where to publish, and how to choose between journal types based on the author's situation.
The recommendations here are presented neutrally. EP Journals is one publisher among many, and the goal of this page is to help researchers in the medical field make informed decisions, not to direct them to any single venue.
How publishing works in the medical field
In the medical field, the dominant editorial conventions include Vancouver or AMA citation styles, ICMJE authorship criteria, mandatory ethics clearance and trial registration, CONSORT or PRISMA reporting guidelines, and strict conflict-of-interest disclosure. The typical first-decision time across reputable venues is 8 to 24 weeks. Authors are expected to engage with current literature, follow ethical and methodological standards specific to the discipline, and respond constructively to peer review.
Key points
- Standard formatting: Vancouver / AMA
- Typical first-decision time: 8 to 24 weeks
- Peer review is generally double-blind or single-blind, depending on the venue.
- Indexing in recognised databases improves citation visibility and institutional recognition.
Common challenges in the medical field publishing
- Ethics clearance and clinical trial registration must be in place before patient recruitment, not retrospectively.
- ICMJE authorship criteria are strictly enforced; gift authorship is grounds for rejection.
- Reporting guidelines (CONSORT for trials, PRISMA for reviews, STROBE for observational studies) are mandatory.
- APCs in major medical open-access journals are among the highest in academic publishing.
- Predatory journals are particularly active in medical publishing and must be carefully avoided.
Step-by-step publishing process for the medical field
- Obtain institutional ethics committee approval and, if applicable, register the trial in a recognised registry.
- Conduct the study following the relevant reporting guideline (CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE, CARE).
- Collect and analyse data with appropriate statistical methods, reporting effect sizes and confidence intervals.
- Draft the manuscript using Vancouver or AMA style with a structured abstract.
- Disclose all conflicts of interest, funding sources, and contributor roles per ICMJE.
- Verify the target journal against directories such as DOAJ, PubMed indexing lists, and known predatory-journal warnings.
- Submit through the journal portal, complete authorship and disclosure forms, and respond systematically to peer review.
Tips to improve acceptance chances
- Use the appropriate reporting checklist as a writing scaffold from the start.
- Report adverse events transparently in clinical work.
- Avoid p-value-only reporting; provide effect sizes and confidence intervals.
- Verify journal indexing in PubMed, MEDLINE, or Scopus before submission.
- Include a graphical abstract where the journal accepts one.
Where to publish research in the medical field
Several types of venues serve the medical field research. The right choice depends on the contribution's maturity, the author's career stage, the available budget, and the indexing requirements imposed by the institution or funder. The table below summarises the main options.
| Journal type | Typical APC | Review time | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-impact medical journals | USD 2,000 – 11,000 | 12 – 36 weeks | Major clinical and translational research |
| Society and specialty journals | USD 0 – 2,500 | 10 – 24 weeks | Subspecialty work, case series |
| Indexed open-access journals | USD 1,000 – 3,000 | 10 – 20 weeks | Empirical and review work |
| Structured low-cost journals | USD 30 – 150 | 3 – 6 weeks | Trainees, applied work, case reports |
Decision guidance: which type of journal to choose
Choose a traditional indexed journal when the work is novel, theoretically substantial, and the author can wait several months for the review process. This route maximises citation visibility and is often required for tenure, promotion, or doctoral defence committees that emphasise indexing.
Choose a structured low-cost peer-reviewed journal when the timeline is constrained, the budget is limited, and a transparent, documented review process is preferred over journal prestige. This option suits students, early-career researchers, and authors publishing applied or course-derived work. Platforms such as EP Journals operate within this category alongside several other publishers.
Choose an open-access journal with a moderate APC when wide and immediate readership matters, the author has institutional or grant-funded APC support, and the journal has clear indexing in DOAJ, Scopus, or a discipline-specific database.
Example scenarios
Student in the medical field
A medical student or postgraduate trainee publishing a case report or short observational study benefits from a structured low-cost peer-reviewed journal with a defined review timeline, provided ethics requirements are met and the journal is verifiable.
PhD researcher in the medical field
A doctoral or clinical researcher should target PubMed-indexed society or specialty journals appropriate to the work, accepting longer review cycles for indexing and citation impact required for grants and appointments.
Budget-limited author
A clinician or researcher without departmental APC support can choose a no-fee society journal with a slow cycle or a transparent low-cost open-access journal such as those in the EP Journals group, after carefully verifying the journal against predatory-journal warnings.
For researchers in the medical field who prioritise a structured, transparent, and affordable peer-review process, platforms such as EP Journals are one of several options worth evaluating alongside indexed traditional and open-access venues.
Frequently asked questions
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Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org