Manuscript Types

The journal accepts the following article types for submission. Authors should carefully select the most appropriate article type for their work. Authors should also consult ‘4-4. Reporting guidelines’ to ensure compliance with the relevant reporting guideline for their study design.

The word limit specified for each manuscript type excludes tables/figures, references and figure captions.

Original Article

Original Articles report novel and completed research in medical informatics. We invite submissions of empirical studies that feature clear hypotheses, sound methodology, and sufficient data to support the conclusions. Manuscripts should critically interpret findings within the context of existing literature and demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the field.

Word Limit	up to 4,000 words
Abstract	Structured with the subheadings of Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion; max 300 words
Main Text	Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 8 figures/tables combined

Review Article

Review Articles provide a comprehensive and critical synthesis of literature on key topics in medical informatics. They aim to summarize current knowledge, identify research gaps, and suggest future directions. Both systematic reviews and narrative reviews are welcome.

Narrative reviews should provide balanced, authoritative overviews of evolving areas in the field, such as emerging technologies, implementation challenges, or policy implications. Purely descriptive or opinion-based summaries lacking a clear methodology will not be accepted.

Word Limit	up to 4,800 words
Abstract	Unstructured; max 300 words
Main Text	Abstract, Body texts (flexible structure appropriate to the contents), Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 10 figures/tables combined. For systematic reviews, submission of PRISMA checklist is encouraged as a supplementary file.

Short Communication

Short Communications report preliminary findings, novel technical developments, or focused studies that merit rapid publication but do not require the length of a full research article. Suitable topics include pilot studies, proof-of-concept implementations, initial validation of novel algorithms, negative results of importance, or replication studies. Manuscripts should represent complete work within a limited scope.

Word Limit	up to 2,400 words
Abstract	Unstructured; max 200 words
Main Text	Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 4 figures/tables combined.

Technical Note

Technical Notes describe novel devices, software tools, or analytical workflows that offer significant improvements in efficiency, accuracy, or usability over existing solutions. While Original Articles focus on theoretical novelty, this category emphasizes practical utility and implementation details. We invite authors to demonstrate the tool’s effectiveness through specific use cases or benchmarks. Open availability of the software or protocol (e.g., via a public repository) is strongly encouraged to foster community adoption.

Word Limit	up to 3,600 words
Abstract	Unstructured; max 200 words
Main Text	Abstract, Introduction, Technical Description, Discussion, Conclusion, Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 5 figures/tables combined.

Data Report

Data Reports describe the creation, characteristics, and potential utility of datasets relevant to medical informatics research and applications. Manuscripts should include data acquisition methods, validation processes, and possible reuse scenarios. We encourage submissions that provide detailed metadata to facilitate data sharing and transparency within the community.  While extensive analysis is not required, authors must ensure that the dataset is published as open data and registered in a public data repository, and must include a Data Availability Statement with a valid persistent identifier.

Word Limit	up to 3,600 words
Abstract	Unstructured; max 200 words
Main Text	Abstract, Introduction, Data Description, Usage Notes, Conclusion, Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 5 figures/tables combined.

Perspective

Perspectives present informed opinions, critical analyses, or forward-looking viewpoints on key issues in medical informatics from recognized experts in the field. Topics may include ethical considerations in AI-driven healthcare, policy recommendations, workforce development, emerging technology implications. Manuscripts should offer well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence, aiming to stimulate community discussion and offer fresh insights into current practices or future directions.

Word Limit	up to 2,400 words
Abstract	Unstructured; max 200 words
Main Text	Abstract, Body texts (flexible structure appropriate to the contents), Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 4 figures/tables combined.  Brief statement of author expertise relevant to the topic is encouraged.

Tutorial

Tutorials provide educational content designed to guide researchers, practitioners, or students through specific methodologies or technical topics such as machine learning fundamentals, clinical terminologies, or data privacy regulations. Manuscripts should be practically oriented, offering clear explanations and examples to help readers acquire new skills and deepen their understanding of the field.

Word Limit	up to 2,400 words
Abstract	Unstructured; max 200 words
Main Text	Abstract, Body texts (flexible structure appropriate to the contents), Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 4 figures/tables combined.

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor provide a forum for readers to comment on, or offer alternative interpretations of articles recently published in this journal. Authors of the original article will generally be given an opportunity to reply. Additionally, Letters may report very brief, novel observations that do not warrant a Short Communication, or concise scientific notes of general interest.

Word Limit	up to 1,200 words
Abstract	Not required
Main Text	Body texts(continuous text without section headings), Declarations, References, Figure Legends
Components	Maximum of 1 figures/tables combined.

Manuscript Submission

All manuscripts must be submitted via the journal’s online submission system, ScholarOne Manuscripts at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/bhi.

The manuscript text should be submitted in Microsoft Word, and include Title page, Abstract, Main text, Declarations, References, Figure legends, and Tables with each title.

Figures must NOT be embedded within the manuscript file.

If included in the submission, each set of materials listed below must be cited appropriately in the manuscript text. A title for each Table, Figure or Video must be included.

1) Text (Title page, Abstract - Legends): MS Word

2) Tables: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint (saving as an image is not a valid format)

3) Figures: JPEG, TIF, PNG, PowerPoint (image files should have a minimum of 300 dpi)

4) Video: MP4 (each file must not exceed 50MB)

If you encounter any problems with online submission, please contact the Editorial Office as per the details in the Contact section.

Manuscript Preparation

Style

The manuscripts should be typed double-spaced throughout with 12-point type face, formatted for A4 paper leaving margins of at least 2.5 cm (1 inch).

Line and page numbers must be indicated.

English standards

Manuscripts should be written in clear, grammatically correct English with American or British spelling used consistently throughout. Authors whose native language is not English are required to have their manuscript checked by a native English speaker or by an editing service prior to submission. If a manuscript is not clear due to poor English, it may be rejected without undergoing peer review. A concise style avoiding unnecessary jargon is preferred.

Cover Letter

A cover letter that includes the following information is encouraged.

An explanation of why your manuscript should be published in BHI

An explanation of any issues relating to journal policies.

A declaration of any potential competing interests.

Confirmation that the content of the manuscript has not been published, or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Title page

The title page should comprise the following.

A concise but informative title. Only the first letter of each word should be capitalized, except for conjunctions, articles, or prepositions unless the first word of the title.

Authors’ full names and ORCID ID (if they have), without academic qualifications.

Full names of the department(s) and institution(s) in which the research was undertaken, together with the location (city, state, and nation). Use superscript numbers to indicate authors from different institutions.

Corresponding author’s name, full address, telephone and e-mail address. Only one corresponding author is permitted.

Title

The title should be concise and informative, not exceeding 30 words; it should describe the content of the article briefly but clearly and is important for search purposes by third-party services. Do not use abbreviations in the title, except those used generally in related fields, and avoid formulae and trade names where possible.

Authors and affiliations

Provide the full names of the author(s). In addition, provide the full names of institutions where the work was done (including laboratory, department, institute and/or university). When authors belong to different institutions, their respective addresses should be indicated by superscript numbers.

Keywords

Three to five keywords representing the main content of the article. Keywords should refer to MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), the MEDLINE thesaurus.

Units

SI or SI-derived units should be used. More information on SI units is available at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) website. Units in common clinical use (e.g., mmHg for blood pressure) are also acceptable where appropriate.

1) Length: m

2) Mass: kg

3) Time: s

4) Temperature: ℃ (Use a combination of the degree symbol "°" and a capital "C", rather than a single special character.)

Method of stating the names of devices

For all equipment and products mentioned in the text, include the model name/number, the manufacturer and its location (city, state, country) in parentheses in the text. For statistical software, specify the version, manufacturer, and manufacturer's location.

Abstract

The abstract should briefly summarize the aim, findings or purpose of the article. It should not exceed the word limits for each article type. Minimize the use of abbreviations and do not cite references in the abstract.

Abbreviations

A list of abbreviations should be provided between Abstract and 'Introduction' section of the manuscript.

Once defined in the list of abbreviations, abbreviations may be used throughout the main text. However, abbreviations should be defined in Figure and Table legends.

Declarations

Funding

All sources of funding for the research reported should be declared. The role of the funding body in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript should be declared.

The individual contributions of authors should be specified using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework, which consists of 14 contributor roles. Authors  should also state that all authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript, and agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Data availability statement

An article’s data availability statement lets a reader know where and how to access data that support the results and analysis. It may include links to publicly accessible datasets that were analysed or generated during the study, descriptions of what data are available and/or information on how to access data that is not publicly available.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Manuscripts reporting studies involving human participants, human data, or human tissue must:

• Include a statement on ethics approval and informed consent, even if the need for approval or consent was waived (for example, in studies using anonymized or de-identified data).
• Include the name of the ethics committee that approved the study and the committee’s reference number if appropriate.
• If your study involves animals, a statement on ethics approval must also be included.

If your manuscript does not report on or involve the use of any human or animal data or tissue, please state "Not applicable" in this section.

Consent for publication

If your manuscript contains any identifiable individual person’s data in any form (including individual details, images, or videos), consent to publish must be obtained from that person, or in the case of children, their parent or legal guardian.

If your manuscript uses entirely anonymized data or does not contain data from which an individual could be identified, please state "Not applicable" in this section.

Competing interests

All financial and non-financial competing interests must be declared in this section.

A competing interests form is available here. All authors of the manuscript should complete this form and return it to the corresponding author, who should upload these to the submission system along with the manuscript files.

If you are unsure whether you or any of your co-authors have a competing interest, please contact the Editorial Office.

References

BHI uses the Vancouver referencing style. Number references consecutively in the order cited in the text, not alphabetically. Identify references in text, tables, and legends by superscript Arabic numerals in closing parenthesis on the line.

The list of references should only include works that are cited in the text and that have been published or accepted for publication. Accuracy of reference data is the author’s responsibility.

Provide inclusive page numbers for all references. In citation of articles list the first three authors only, and add “et al” if there are four or more authors. Journal titles should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus. For papers written in Japanese, follow the style of example 2. For papers cited only by DOI, see example 3. For books, see example 4. For online materials, write the details in this order: name of webmaster, page title, URL, last access date, see example 6.

Examples:

1. Mulford DK, Dawson AE. Atypia in fine-needle aspiration cytology of nonpalpable and palpable mammographically detected breast lesions. Acta Cytol 1994; 38:9–17.
2. Nakajima T. Tabular analysis of 10 000 cases of gastric cancer in the Cancer Institute Hospital. Jpn J Cancer Chemother 1994; 21:1813–97. (in Japanese)
3. Mitchell AJ, Vaze A, Rao S. Clinical diagnosis of depression in primary care: a meta-analysis. Lancet 2009; doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60879-5.
4. Watanabe H, Jass JR, Sobin LH. Histopathological typing of oesophageal and gastric tumours, 2nd ed. Berlin Heidelberg New York: Springer; 1990. p. 23.
5. Doe J. Title of subordinate document. In: The dictionary of substances and their effects. Royal Society of Chemistry. 1999. http://www.rsc.org/dose/title of subordinate document. Accessed 15 Jan 1999.

Tables

Tables should be numbered and cited in the text in sequence using Arabic numerals (i.e. Table 1, Table 2 etc.).

All tables should be placed at the end of the main manuscript file or can be submitted as a separate file.

Table titles (max 15 words) should be included above the table, and legends (max 300 words) should be included underneath the table.

Tables should not be embedded as figures or spreadsheet files, but should be formatted using ‘Table object’ function in Word/Excel/PowerPoint.

Color and shading may not be used. Parts of the table can be highlighted using superscript, numbering, lettering, symbols or bold text, the meaning of which should be explained in a table legend.

Commas should not be used to indicate numerical values.

Figures

Figure titles (max 15 words) and legends (max 300 words) should be typed together on a new page after the References section of the main manuscript file, not in the graphic file.

Tables should NOT be submitted as figures but should be included at the end of the main manuscript file.

Multi-panel figures (those with parts a, b, c, d etc.) should be submitted as a single composite file that contains all parts of the figure.

Figures should be numbered in the order they are first mentioned in the text, and uploaded in this order.

Figures should be uploaded in the correct orientation.

Figure keys should be incorporated into the graphic, not into the legend of the figure.

Each figure should be closely cropped to minimize the amount of white space surrounding the illustration.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the author(s) to obtain permission from the copyright holder to reproduce figures (or tables) that have previously been published elsewhere. In order for all figures to be open access, authors must have permission from the rights holder if they wish to include images that have been published elsewhere in non open access journals. Permission should be indicated in the figure legend, and the original source included in the reference list.

Supplementary material

Supplementary material adds, but is not essential, to a reader’s understanding of a manuscript. It may comprise data, text, audio or movie files, and is published online alongside the accepted manuscript.

If supplying any supplementary material, the text must make specific mention of the material as a citation, similar to that of figures and tables.

As supplementary material is peer-reviewed, authors must submit it in its final form as part of their manuscript submission.

Supplementary material will be published as received from the author without any conversion, editing, or reformatting. After a manuscript has been accepted for publication, authors may not make any changes to the supplementary material.

LTP/COI Forms

COI Disclosure Form

License to Publish

Accepted Manuscripts

Manuscripts that are accepted for publication are copyedited and typeset by the journal’s production company before publication.

All communication regarding accepted manuscripts is with the corresponding author.

Proofs

Page proofs are sent to the corresponding author, who should check and return them within 48 hours. Only essential corrections to typesetting errors or omissions are accepted; substantial changes in content, e.g., new results, corrected values, title and authorship, are not allowed without the approval of the editor responsible. After online publication, further changes can only be made in the form of an Erratum, which will be hyperlinked to the article.

Reprints

Order forms for reprints are sent with the proofs to the corresponding author and should be returned with the proofs.