Submissions

Authors must register with the journal before publishing or, if they are already registered, they can simply log in and begin the five-step process.

AUTHOR GUIDELINES

The Hispano-American Journal of Health Sciences (RHCS) is the official scientific health dissemination body of the Vice-Rectory for Research and Professional Development of the Hispano-American University of Costa Rica. Its publication is overseen by an Editorial Committee, following its internal regulations, headquartered in San José, Costa Rica.

RHCS is a peer-reviewed journal, published quarterly, with a global scope. It is available in both print (ISSN 2215-4248) and electronic (ISSN 2215-4256) formats, offering open and free full-text access. Its mission is to promote scientific advancement in health sciences, fostering the exchange of experiences at national and international levels.

I. General Requirements

Languages: Manuscripts must be in Spanish, with the title, abstract, and keywords translated into English.
Originality: Articles must be unpublished and not under consideration by other scientific journals.
Submission Platform: Manuscripts must be submitted exclusively via the RHCS web platform, based on the Open Journal Systems (OJS). The steps for registration and submission are outlined below:

Platform Registration
Access the platform: Visit the journal's official website via this link: http://uhsalud.com/index.php/revhispano/about/submissions.
Create an account:
Click the "Register" option at the top-right corner of the page.
Fill out the registration form, including your full name, email address, username, and password.
Accept the terms and conditions, then click "Register."
Registration confirmation: Check your email to confirm your registration on the platform.
Manuscript Submission
Login: Access the platform using your registered username and password.
Access the submission section:
Click on "Submit a Manuscript" from the main menu or go to the "Submissions" section from your user dashboard.
Start the submission process:
Carefully read the author guidelines available on the page.
Click “Start a New Submission.”
Proceed through submission steps:
Step 1: Fill in the submission details, including the manuscript title, abstract, and keywords. Also, select the journal section you wish to submit to.
Step 2: Upload your main manuscript in a compatible format (e.g., Word or PDF) and any additional required documents (such as tables, figures, and authorization letters).
Step 3: Complete the manuscript metadata, such as author names, ORCID identifier, institutional affiliations, and emails.
Step 4: Review the submission summary to ensure all information is correct.
Step 5: Confirm and finalize the submission.
Submission confirmation: You will receive a confirmation email indicating that your manuscript has been successfully submitted and is under review. The editorial team will evaluate your manuscript according to the journal's standards.
Mandatory Submission Documents

Letter to the Editorial Committee: Signed by the corresponding author, accepting the publication conditions.

Author Directory: Includes full names, affiliations, email addresses, ORCID identifier (mandatory), specific contributions, and conflict of interest declarations.

Manuscript: Must strictly adhere to the following guidelines:

File format: Editable formats such as Microsoft Word®, Microsoft Excel®, or similar.
Text style: Font: Arial, size 10; Line spacing: 1.5 lines.
Specific standards:
International System of Units (SI): All data must conform to this standard.
Scientific nomenclature: Use the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature for animal names and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Scientific names (family, genus, and species) must be italicized.
Chemical nomenclature: Follow the recommendations of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
Abbreviations and acronyms: Accompanied by the full name at first mention. Example: World Health Organization (WHO).
In-text citations: For two authors: List both surnames (e.g., Evans and Zamora). For three or more authors: Use the first author's surname followed by "et al." (e.g., Galán et al.).
Tables and figures: Footnotes should use lowercase Spanish alphabet superscripts in ascending order (e.g., a, b, c).
Statistics and numerical notation:
p-values: Reported with three decimal places (e.g., p = 0.045).
Statistical estimators and association measures: Two decimal places (e.g., OR = 1.25).
Percentages: One decimal place (e.g., 12.5%).
Decimal separators: Use a decimal point in English (e.g., 1.25).

References: Electronic publications must include the DOI code (e.g., doi: 10.56239/rhcs.2022.81.534).

II. Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts must follow the "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" by the ICMJE. For additional guidance on specific reporting, consult the EQUATOR Network guidelines (www.equator-network.org).

Title Page

The first page of the manuscript should include:

Article title: In both Spanish and English, with a maximum of 20 words.
Author information: Full names and surnames, institutional affiliations (up to two per author), academic degree, ORCID ID (e.g., https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4369-7421).
Funding sources: Specify if the research was self-funded or supported by an institution.
Conflict of interest statement: Clearly declare any circumstances that could influence the article's interpretation.
Correspondence: Full name, address, email, and phone number of the corresponding author.

III. Types of Publications

The RHCS encourages the publication of various article formats to ensure the comprehensive dissemination of scientific knowledge in health sciences. Details for each publication type are as follows:

Editorial
Characteristics: Written by invitation from the RHCS editor, addressing relevant topics featured in the current journal issue, such as original research, public health trends, or significant scientific debates.
Length: Maximum 1,000 words.
Authorship: Typically by invited experts, Editorial Committee members, or contributors with relevant expertise.
Original Article
Characteristics: Presents unpublished research with solid methodology, relevance, and novelty. These articles must address a significant health sciences topic with reproducible or independently evaluable results.
Structure:
Structured abstract (250 words) with sections for objectives, materials and methods, results, and conclusions.
Keywords (3-7), using Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) for Spanish and MeSH for English.
Main sections: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, and References.
Length: Maximum 3,500 words of main content, up to six tables/figures, and 30 references.
Ethical considerations: Details on institutional ethics committee approval and informed consent are mandatory.
Brief Original or Short Communication
Characteristics: Publishes preliminary results from ongoing research or reports on relevant public health outbreaks.
Structure:
Unstructured abstract (150 words), keywords, introduction, study (including findings and results), discussion, and references.
Length: Maximum 2,000 words, four tables/figures, and 20 references.
Review
Characteristics: Conducted by field experts, reviews address a relevant health sciences topic systematically and comprehensively. Using PRISMA or RAMESES guidelines is recommended for quality assurance.
Structure:
Unstructured abstract (250 words), keywords, introduction, main article body, conclusions, and references.
Length: Maximum 4,000 words, five tables/figures, and 50 references.
Special Section
Characteristics: Includes essays, systematizations, opinions, and innovative experiences related to public health. Articles with conflicts of interest or promotional content are not accepted.
Structure:
Unstructured abstract (150 words), keywords, main article body, and references.
Length: Maximum 2,500 words, three tables/figures, and 30 references.
Public Health Histories
Characteristics: Explores the historical evolution of public health in Costa Rica and Latin America, including biographical notes on relevant figures.
Structure:
Unstructured abstract (100 words), keywords, main article body, and references.
Length: Maximum 2,500 words, three tables/figures (including one photograph for biographies), and 20 references.
Case Reports
Characteristics: Describes unique or rare cases that contribute to existing literature.
Structure:
Unstructured abstract (150 words), keywords, introduction, case report, discussion (with case contributions), and references.
Length: Maximum 1,500 words, five tables/figures, and 15 references.
Letters to the Editor
Characteristics: Open section for discussing recent publications or emerging topics in public health, ethics, or innovation. Includes the right of reply.
Structure: Free text (without sections) presenting the issue, discussing it, and concluding with recommendations.
Length: Maximum 500 words, one table/figure, and five references.
IV. Use of Artificial Intelligence in Manuscript Preparation

The RHCS allows the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in manuscript preparation and review under the following conditions:

Mandatory Declaration: Authors must clearly state whether AI tools were used for drafting, translating, summarizing, or proofreading the manuscript. This declaration must appear in the "Acknowledgments" section or as a footnote on the first page.
Human Responsibility: The use of AI does not exempt authors from ethical and academic responsibility for the manuscript's content, including data accuracy, result interpretation, and adherence to ethical standards.
AI Limitations: AI tools must not generate research data or results, as this could compromise study validity and academic integrity.
Avoiding Plagiarism and Bias: Authors must ensure that AI use does not lead to plagiarism or introduce bias in the manuscript. Reviewing AI-generated content for originality and neutrality is highly recommended.

These guidelines align with principles of publishing ethics and promote transparency in the use of emerging technologies.

V. Publishing Ethics

RHCS upholds high standards of publishing and research ethics, adhering to the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the ICMJE. Key principles include:

Ethical Research Conduct
All studies must comply with international ethical principles, such as the Declaration of Helsinki.
Manuscripts must explicitly state:
Ethical approval: Reference to approval by an institutional ethics committee, including the approval number if applicable.
Informed consent: Description of how informed consent was obtained, particularly for studies involving human participants.
Transparency and Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any relationships that may influence result interpretation, such as funding, consultancies, or sponsorships.
Using the updated ICMJE Conflict of Interest Reporting Form to declare potential conflicts is recommended.
Plagiarism and Redundancy Prevention
RHCS employs plagiarism detection tools to ensure manuscript originality.
Redundant publication (simultaneous submission or prior publication of similar content) is strictly prohibited.
Handling Ethical Violations

If an ethical violation (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate articles) is detected, RHCS will follow COPE's recommendations, which may include:

Rejection or retraction of the article.
Ban on future publications in RHCS for the involved authors.
Institutional notification to affiliations, funders, or ethics committees.
Copyright
Authors retain copyright but must grant RHCS a license for article distribution and reproduction under open access.
Retractions and Corrections
Articles with significant errors or misconduct will be retracted, while minor errors will be corrected in subsequent issues, following COPE's correction policies.

VI. Editorial Process

Initial Evaluation:

The Editorial Committee reviews the manuscript's alignment with RHCS policies. Manuscripts outside the scope are rejected.

Peer Review:

Conducted by expert reviewers selected based on their expertise and publications.
The process is double-blind, and reviewers participate ad honorem.
Reviewers classify manuscripts as:
Publishable without modifications.
Publishable with minor revisions.
Publishable after major revisions.
Not publishable.

Response to Observations:

Authors have 30 days to address reviewers' comments, providing a detailed response document and the revised manuscript.

Proofs:

Authors review final proofs in PDF format. Only formal adjustments are permitted, not content changes.

VII. General Communication

Corresponding authors can check the manuscript's status at any time. All communications must include acknowledgment of receipt.