Preparation of article

The general information about an article and its authors is found on the title page of a manuscript. For RIICS, this information includes the following elements: article title, abbreviated title, authors' names with their ORCID identifiers, affiliations, declarations of interest, statement of responsibility, funding information, acknowledgments, word count, and the number of figures and tables in the article. Below is a brief description of these elements.

Article Title

The title should be specific, descriptive, concise, and understandable to readers who are not familiar with the field, focusing on the topic being addressed. It is important to avoid jargon, local expressions, metaphors, poetic language, as well as colloquial or popular language, redundancies, abbreviations, and excessive prepositions. Likewise, it is recommended to refrain from using exclamation marks, semicolons, and slashes ("/ "), although commas, parentheses, question marks, and colons may be used as appropriate. The ideal length is 75 to 100 characters or 10 to 15 words. Additionally, the title must be present in both English and Spanish.

Abbreviated Title

The abbreviated title is a condensed version of the article title, designed to be concise and descriptive. It should capture the main theme of the study in fewer than 40 characters, providing a quick and clear overview of the content. It is crucial that the short title effectively conveys the essence of the work without sacrificing precision or understanding. Additionally, it should be distinctive enough to stand out among other articles, facilitating its identification and retrieval in databases and scientific publications.

Authors' Names

Authors when publishing must adopt a unique name for identification. This ensures the distinction of their work and avoids confusion with homonyms, ensuring correct citation and preserving recognition throughout their scientific career. To facilitate this process, RIICS recommends that authors follow the criteria of the International Registry of Authors-Links to Identify Scientists (IraLIS) and register in this system. If you are a corresponding author, please register the names of the authors as they are used in their publications, including first name (or initials if used), middle name (or initials if used), and surname (followed by any additional surname if applicable). The names of the authors will be published as they appear in the manuscript file. Please verify the information carefully to ensure its accuracy.

ORCID Identifier and CvLAC

The ORCID is a unique alphanumeric code that unequivocally identifies scientists and other academic authors. All authors submitting proposals to RIICS are required to have their ORCID. Additionally, authors are encouraged to complete their ORCID profile with accurate and up-to-date information about their academic background, institutional affiliations, and publications, which contributes to better identification and visibility within the scientific community. If you do not have an ORCID, you can create your profile here.

Every Colombian author or resident in Colombia must also provide the URL of their CvLAC (Curriculum Vitae Online). This platform is used by researchers, scientists, and academics to manage and present their curriculum vitae in a standardized and accessible manner online. If you do not have a CvLAC, you can create your profile here.

Affiliations

An author's affiliation refers to the institution or entity associated with the development of the research or the writing of the article. It is recommended to include the name of the institution in its original language; translation into English is only possible if it has a previously accepted standardized name. The structure for constructing the affiliation is: [department of/institution, city, and country]. Affiliations will be listed in the article in the same order as the authors appear.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Please disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to your research, including any financial, personal, or professional relationships that may influence your results or present bias in your work. If you have no conflicts of interest to declare, please state the following: "The author declares no conflicts of interest."

Statement of Responsibility

Authors should indicate whether the opinions expressed are personal or represent the official position of their institution or funder. If they are personal, they should include the following: "The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not reflect the official position of their institution or funder."

Funding

Authors should indicate the sources that supported the research. Please follow the structure below to report funding sources: [grant numbers, funders]. If funders did not participate in the research, include the following: "The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation." If there was no funding, indicate: "The author received no specific funding for this work."

Acknowledgments

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the authorship criteria of the journal should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section, accompanied by a brief description of their contribution. Authors must ensure that the individuals mentioned have agreed to be included. In this section, reviewers, editors, and funders should not be mentioned.

Word Count, Tables, and Figures

Please review and report the total number of words in the article (from introduction to conclusions), as well as the number of tables and figures comprising the manuscript. Remember that research articles should not exceed 5000 words, and review articles should not exceed 6000 words.

Abstract

The abstract, crucial in any article, serves as the initial point of contact for editors, reviewers, and readers, and is widely disseminated across databases. Therefore, it must accurately reflect the article's content, standing out for its clarity, fluency, and the omission of unnecessary technicalities to ensure global accessibility. Additionally, it is imperative to maintain exceptional linguistic quality and be available in both Spanish and English, given its international significance. With a limit of between 150 and 250 words, authors must be concise, carefully selecting relevant information and maintaining smooth writing. The abstract should follow a standard structure including sections for introduction/objective, method, results, and conclusion, facilitating a coherent and clear presentation of the information (authors must ensure to incorporate these sections). It is crucial to note that citations or abbreviations should not be included in the abstract to ensure universal understanding and accessibility for all readers.

Keywords

Keywords are the main terms or central concepts that summarize the content of an article, reflecting the most relevant aspects of the study to facilitate its identification and classification. Their role is vital in the search and retrieval of the article in databases and search engines. It is recommended to include 10 keywords, divided into five primary and five secondary, which enhances the likelihood of retrieval through search engines. It is essential that the selected words are standardized, meaning recognized by health science databases. To achieve this, RIICS recommends using the thesaurus of the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) from the United States National Library of Medicine or the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) from the Virtual Health Library for Latin America and the Caribbean (AL&C). Additionally, keywords must be present in both English and Spanish.

This section aims to provide an overview of the study topic by establishing context, reviewing relevant background, presenting the research problem, justifying its significance, and outlining the study objectives. Cite only pertinent references and do not include data or conclusions from the work you are reporting. Below is a brief description of the expected elements in the introduction:

Context

The context serves as a solid foundation for understanding the significance of the study topic within the academic or professional field. Emphasis should be placed on how the topic relates to current trends, challenges, or needs in the specific field.

Background

When reviewing background information, it is crucial to identify and cite relevant previous studies that have addressed similar aspects to the research problem. Special attention should be paid to controversies or discrepancies in the field to contextualize the current work within the academic discourse.

Problem

The clear presentation of the research problem or central question that motivates the study is fundamental. The problem to be addressed in the work should be defined precisely and concisely, highlighting its importance and implications.

Justification

The justification for the study should explain why the research problem is relevant and worthy of investigation. Potential benefits, practical applications, or theoretical contributions expected from the study may be mentioned.

Objective

The study objective should be specific and directly related to the research problem. It should clearly indicate what is to be achieved through the research and provide guidance for the development of the work.

This section should provide sufficient details for other researchers to replicate the study accurately. The method must clearly explain how and why a study was conducted in a particular manner. A comprehensive detail of specific information and/or protocols for new methods should be provided. If the materials, methods, and protocols are known, cite the respective articles; however, the submitted manuscript must include enough information to be self-explanatory.

In this section, it should be stated that the research was approved by an independent review board (e.g., ethics committee), and if there are doubts about whether the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, the authors must explain their approach and demonstrate explicit approval by the corresponding review board.

Authors who utilized artificial intelligence (AI) technology in their study should describe its usage in sufficient detail to enable replication of the approach. This includes providing information about the tool used, its version, and any provided instructions (PROMs).

Please consider the following when drafting your manuscript:

Participant Selection and Description

Describe the population and participant selection (including inclusion and exclusion criteria). It is essential to provide a detailed description (age, sex, ethnic origin, etc.). Researchers should aim to include representative samples and provide relevant descriptive data and demographic variables. Additionally, they should use neutral, precise, and respectful language when describing participants.

Technical Information

Please specify the primary and secondary objectives of the study, report the methods, equipment used, and procedures in sufficient detail for others to reproduce the results. Reference the methods, describe the equipment (name, manufacturer, etc.). Provide reasons for the selection of instruments, their reliability, and limitations. If chemicals or medications were used, identify them accurately (including generic names), the doses used, and routes of administration.

Statistics

Describe the statistical methods used sufficiently and accurately so that other researchers can apply them to the data and obtain the same results (a peer reviewer may request them to confirm findings). Whenever possible, present confidence intervals and avoid relying solely on statistical hypothesis tests, such as P values, as they do not convey important information about effect size. Include a description of effect size estimates. Define statistical terms, abbreviations, and symbols used. Also, provide information on the statistical software and version used.

Present the research findings sequentially and logically, using tables and figures to support your findings. Begin by outlining the most relevant results and avoid redundancies when presenting data in different formats. Limit the use of tables and figures only to those necessary and refrain from duplicating them. Consider using graphs as an alternative to explain tables with a large number of records. Use technical statistical terms to prevent confusion or misinterpretation.

Commence with an introductory paragraph summarizing the main findings. Subsequently, provide explanations for each result and establish its relationship with the study's objectives or purpose. Highlight new and significant findings and compare them with relevant literature, avoiding extensive citations. Analyze potential influences or associations with study variables. Refrain from repeating detailed information from other sections, such as the introduction, methodology, or results.

Limitations and Recommendations

Conclude the discussion with a section dedicated to honestly and objectively informing about the limitations. This aids in contextualizing the results and provides a more comprehensive understanding of their scope and applicability. Additionally, provide recommendations to other researchers and suggest potential areas of study that may stem from the findings obtained.

Conclusions should be clear and concise, avoiding the repetition of information discussed in other sections of the article. It is essential to highlight the importance of the findings, establishing a clear and logical connection with the study's objectives. Strong points, key limitations, and practical and theoretical implications of the results should be emphasized, along with their central contribution to the field of study.

The authors base their research on previous works, both from other authors and their own, through citations within the text, which should correspond to complete references at the end of the article. RIICS follows the Vancouver style, officially known as "Recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical Journals," developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). This set of standards, formerly known as the Vancouver Group, was named as such because its first meeting took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

When citing in the text, authors should use consecutive Arabic numbers within brackets. Examples for different cases are provided: a single citation is represented as [1]; two consecutive citations as [1,2]; for more than two consecutive citations, use [1-7]; in the case of non-consecutive citations, write [1,3,5,7]; and for a combination of consecutive and non-consecutive citations, employ [1-3,5,7]. The bibliography at the end of the article should be listed in the order of appearance in the text. For proper citation and referencing, authors are encouraged to consult sample references and, in more detail, the second edition of "Citing Medicine".

Please consider the following when citing and referencing in your research: Use only sources that you have accessed during your work; consult primary sources and reputable editorial sources that have undergone peer review. It is important that the sources used cover a wide range, both nationally and internationally. We recommend including 30% of sources from Latin America and the remaining 70% from outside this region. Additionally, 70% of the references should be from the last five years. Avoid using references to promote personal or other interests, and be sure to avoid predatory journals. Although review articles are relevant in research, prioritize original sources for more accurate information. Avoid excessive self-citation, and if you need to cite accepted but unpublished works, indicate "in press." Do not cite retracted articles unless relevant to the context of your research. Carefully review that all citations are correctly referenced and that all references are properly cited, ensuring that the numbering matches in both cases. To avoid errors, we recommend using a bibliographic manager such as Mendeley, EndNote, or Zotero. Finally, always be sure to include the article's DOI; you can check if the consulted source has a DOI by clicking here (use the document title for searching).

Below, we'll provide examples of how to prepare references for scientific articles, books, book chapters, thesis papers, laws, and published conferences.

 

Scientific Journal Articles

Articles with DOIs

Last name(s) author(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of the article. Abbreviated name of the journal [Internet]. Year;Volume(number):page range. doi: the complete link is included, not the numbers.

Examples:

1. Van Stan JH, Whyte J, Duffy JR, Barkmeier-Kraemer J, Doyle P, Gherson S, et al. Voice Therapy According to the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System: Expert Consensus Ingredients and Targets. Am J Speech Lang Pathol [Internet]. 2021;30(5):2169-201. doi: https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00076

2. Malki KH, Mesallam TA, Farahat M, Bukhari M, Murry T. Validation and cultural modification of Arabic Voice Handicap Index. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol [Internet]. 2010 Jun 9;267(11):1743-51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-010-1296-x

Articles without DOIs

Last name(s) author(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of the article. Abbreviated name of the journal [Internet]. Year;Volume(number):page range. Available from: the available link from which the source was accessed is included.

Example:

Jaruchinda P, Suwanwarangkool T. Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Voice Handicap Index into Thai. J Med Assoc Thai [Internet]. 2015;98(12):1199-208. Available from: https://tinyurl.com/2gve3tp2

Articles in Press

Last name(s) author(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of the article. Abbreviated name of the journal [Internet]. Forthcoming year Month and day (dates on which the text available in press was first published). doi: the complete link is included, not the numbers.

Example:

Cantor-Cutiva LC. Relationship Between Room Acoustics With Voice Symptoms and Voice-Related Quality of Life Among Colombian School and College Teachers During Online Classes in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic. J Voice [Internet]. Forthcoming 2022 Mar 13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.03.008

Aspects to Consider

1. If the reference has numerous authors, only the first six are included and, after the last one, the locution et al. is included, followed by the title of the document consulted.

2. Several of the abbreviated names of journals can be consulted on the International Standard Serial Number website (https://portal.issn.org/). Some of the journals also usually state them. Likewise, the National Library of Medicine offers this possibility, as long as the journal consulted is indexed there (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals).

3. The page range, for the articles that declare it, should also be abbreviated as far as the final page is concerned. For example, if this were 20-25, the correct form would be: 20-5. Other examples: 150-165= 150-65 (see example 1 of the article references).

4. Some articles present the exact date of publication. If possible, include it following example 2. In other cases, only the month is included; it could also be included in the reference.

5. It is relevant to include the doi of each article cited, but if it is not available, the reference can be elaborated following the case of articles without doi.

 

Books

Physical Books

Last name(s) Author(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of the book. Number of the edition ed. City: Publisher; year. number of pages p.

Example:

Thayer Sataloff R. Professional Voice: The Science and Art of Clinical Care. 2nd ed. San Diego: Singular Publishing Group; 1997. 1094 p.

E-books

Last name(s) Author(s) Initial(s) of each author's name(s). Title of the book [Internet]. City: Publisher; year and month (in case of having the month) [cited year Month day]. number of pages p. Available from: the web link to the resource is included.

Examples:

1. Jelliffe DB, Jelliffe EFP. Growth Monitoring and Promotion in Young Children: Guidelines for the Selection of Methods and Training Techniques [Internet]. New York: Oxford University Press; 1990 [cited 2020 Aug 15]. 144 p. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/book/52579?searchresult=1

2. Mokken RJ. A theory and procedure of scale análisis [Internet]. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter Mouton; 1971 [cited 2022 Oct 4]. 353 p. doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110813203

Aspects to Consider

1. In the case of digital books, the section [cited year Month day] refers to the date on which the cited reference was accessed.

2. Some books come with doi, in which case the same method applies as with journal articles containing doi (change "Available from" to "doi" and then enter the link).

3. It is not always easy to find the edition number of the work, so it is not obligatory to include it, although it is pertinent to do so.

 

Book Chapters

Physical Chapters

Last name(s) Author(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of chapter. In: Last name(s) Editor(s) Initial(s) of the name(s) of each editor, publisher (or editors, if several editors). Title of the book. City: Publisher; year. p. page range.

Example:

Jöreskog KG, Olsson UH, Wallentin FY. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In: Jöreskog KG, Olsson UH, Wallentin FY, editors. Multivariate analysis with LISREL. New York: Springer; 2016. p. 283-339.

Digital Chapters

Last name(s) Author(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of chapter. In: Last name(s) Editor(s) Initial(s) of the name(s) of each editor, publisher (or editors, if several editors). Title of the book [Internet]. City: Publisher; year [updated year Month day; cited year Month day]. [Approximately number or location of the contribution, content consulted, page, paragraph or similar]. Available from: the web link to the resource is included.

Example:

Stuebe AM. How Academic Centers Can Accelerate Partnerships and Progress in Maternal Health. In: Cienti D, Jackson A, Hernandez ND, Yates L, Verbiest S, Michener JL, et al. editors. The Practical Playbook III: Working Together to Improve Maternal Health [Internet]: New York: Oxford University Press; 2024 [updated 2024 Mar 10; cited 2024 Feb 20]. p. 19-36. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197662984.003.0003

Aspects to Consider

Many books, even though they are currently published in digital format, still include pagination, as in the case of the previous example. Likewise, they are marked with doi, so it will be more common to find them that way. However, the initial structure is taken according to the book consulted on the web; if it does not have doi, the "Available from" will be used. Likewise, if it does not have pagination, the pertinent indication will be made regarding the location of the consulted text within the main work, as considered.

 

Thesis Papers

Last name(s) First initial(s). Title of thesis-degree work [type of thesis-degree work]. [City]: Institution for which it was taken; year. number of pages p.

Example:

Bassich-Zeren CJ. Vocal dysfunction in young-onset Parkinson’s disease [doctoral dissertation]. [College Park (MD)]: University of Maryland; 2004. 305 p. Available from: https://drum.lib.umd.edu/items/19bb72f4-918d-4665-9268-b4b23cea7ebf

 

Laws

Name of the standard year. Organ of publication No. xxxxxx (Month day, year). Available at: https://xxxxxxxx

Examples:

1. Ley 1850 de 2017. Diario Oficial No. 50.299 (Jul 19, 2017). Available from: https://tinyurl.com/2fx6byrs

2. Ley 26.743. Establécese el derecho a la identidad de género de las personas. Boletín Oficial No. 32.404 (May 24, 2012). Available from: https://tinyurl.com/2fv5fxpt

 

Published Conference Papers in Compiled Works Chapters

Last name(s) Initial(s) of the first name(s) of each author. Title of the conference-chapter. In: surname A, editor (or editors, if several). Name of the event-competition [Internet]; Year Month-Day-Month; City, Country: Publisher; Year. p. xxx-xxx.

Examples:

1. Pinkevich V, Oppacher F. Platunov A. Model-driven functional testing of cyber-physical systems using deterministic replay techniques. In: 2018 IEEE Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (ICPS) [Internet]. 2018 May 15-18; Saint Petersburg, Russia: IEEE; 2018. p. 141-6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/icphys.2018.8387650

2. Jiang H, Olleta B, Chen D, Geiger R. Parameter optimization of deterministic dynamic element matching DACs for accurate and cost-effective ADC testing. In: Proceedings of 2004 International Symposium on Circuits and Systems [Internet]. 2004 May 23-26; Vancouver, Canada: CAS; 2004. p. 924-927. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/iscas.2004.1328347

The main purpose of tables is to synthesize information clearly and concisely to facilitate understanding. Therefore, it is suggested that the number of rows range between 5 and 15; in any case, the size of the table should not exceed one page. Additionally, tables should be editable, and the data presented in them should not be duplicated in other sections of the article. It is not recommended to shade cells or include graphic content in them. Please place the tables at the end of the article, and if you use data from another source, whether published or unpublished, obtain the necessary permissions and provide the corresponding credits. Please strictly follow these additional recommendations:

• — Cite each table in the article (e.g. Table 1).
• — Number the tables consecutively (e.g. Table 1, Table 2, Table 3…).
• — Provide a brief and self-explanatory title that allows readers to understand the content of the table.
• — Assign a brief or abbreviated title to each column.
• — Place the notes at the end and outside of the table. Use the notes to explain the table, abbreviations, or symbols.

The purpose of a figure is to provide a visual representation of the data, concepts, or results presented in the article to effectively communicate information to readers. In RIICS, the term 'Figure' encompasses a variety of visual representations, including images, photographs, diagrams, charts, illustrations, schematics, drawings, microphotographs, screenshots, spectrograms, photomicrographs, maps, flowcharts, blueprints, aerial photographs, flow diagrams, visual representations, infographics, etc. Please strictly adhere to the following recommendations:

• — Do not insert figures into the article.
• — Submit figures as separate files (JPG, PNG, TIFF, or EPS) and ensure that the file name matches the label of the title and citation (e.g., Figure 1).
• — Figures should be clear and high-resolution (300 – 600 dpi).
• — We recommend the following dimensions: width: 789 – 2250 pixels (at 300 dpi). Maximum height: 2625 pixels (at 300 dpi).
• — If figures include text, use the following fonts: Arial, Courier, Times New Roman, or Symbol in 8-12 points.
• — Cite each figure in the article (e.g., Figure 1).
• — Number figure labels consecutively (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3…).
• — Insert figure titles and legends at the end of the article (this information should not appear within the figures).
• — Provide a brief and self-explanatory title that allows readers to understand the content of the figure (15 words or less).
• — In the figure legend, provide a clear and concise description that allows readers to understand it without referring to the text. If the figure is divided into multiple parts, describe them using letters, for example, (A) or (a). Additionally, define any non-standard symbols or abbreviations used in the figure.
• — If you plan to include a previously published figure, ensure to provide proper credits and obtain written permission from the copyright holder. Permission is not required if the figure is in the public domain.

Additional or supplementary materials, as well as technical details, may be included in an appendix to be available without interrupting the flow of the main text. Please cite or name the appendix in the article so that readers can refer to it. Backup files (appendices) are published as received, without edits.

RIICS recommends using MathType to create or edit equations. If this is not possible, you can use an equation editor or the "Insert → Equation" function in Microsoft.

We recommend avoiding the use of MathType, Equation Editor, or the "Insert → Equation" function to add individual variables (e.g., "a² + b² = c²"), Greek symbols (e.g., β, Δ), or mathematical operators (e.g., x, ≥, ±) in continuous text. If possible, it is preferable to insert these symbols as normal text using the corresponding Unicode values (in hexadecimal format).

Avoid using tools such as MathType, Equation Editor, or the "Insert → Equation" function solely to insert parts of an equation. It is preferable to ensure that the entire equation is consistently included. Furthermore, avoid combining different equation tools within the same equation. It is advisable not to create "hybrid" equations, where one part is written as text and another part is in MathType, or where MathType is mixed with Equation Editor.

It is crucial that equations are clear and legible, and they should be consecutively numbered throughout the text, for example, as Eq. 1; Eq. 2. When referring to an equation in the text, it is essential to provide its corresponding number, making it easier for readers to find the referenced equation. Additionally, if new or uncommon symbols are introduced in the equations, it is useful to provide an adequate explanation of their meaning or context, either in the text or in a legend. It is important to note that no equation should be included as an image.

Finally, the journal requests authors to thoroughly review the equations included in their manuscript to detect possible errors or inconsistencies. Additionally, it recommends seeking the assistance of a colleague or expert in the field to review the equations before the final submission of the article.

It is recommended to exclusively use the International System of Units (SI). If not feasible, include the corresponding value in SI within parentheses after each unit of measurement used. Read more about SI units.

Use only standard abbreviations; the use of non-standard abbreviations may be confusing for readers. When introducing an abbreviation for the first time in the text, provide the full term followed by the abbreviation in parentheses (unless the abbreviation is a standard unit of measurement, e.g., etc., vol.), then use only the abbreviation thereafter. While abbreviations can enhance readability, it is important not to overuse them. Too many abbreviations can hinder readers' understanding of the text. It is important to maintain consistency in the use of abbreviations throughout the text.

Footnotes are not allowed. If your manuscript contains footnotes, please move the information to the main text or the reference list, as appropriate.