About This Journal
Overview
Frontiers in PHSSR features peer-reviewed articles that offer brief descriptions of preliminary findings from an ongoing or recently completed empirical study or quality improvement project that answers a question of importance regarding the organization, financing, and/or delivery of public health services; the structure, operation, and/or management of public health delivery systems; the application of quality improvement methods in public health settings; and/or the impact of these endeavors on population health. Findings must have the potential to guide future public health practice, health policy, and research.
Frontiers in PHSSR features research reports from a wide range of sources, including studies conducted through the Public Health Practice–Based Research Networks Program, and studies sponsored through the National Coordinating Center for Public Health Services and Systems Research, the National Network of Public Health Institutes, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state and local health departments, and others.
Many research articles appearing in Frontiers in PHSSR are accompanied by an independently-developed commentary that highlights the implications of the research for public health practice and/or health policy.
Frontiers in PHSSR will be produced on a bi-monthly basis. The journal’s goal is to maintain a rapid-cycle dissemination vehicle that publishes successful peer-reviewed articles within 8-10 weeks of submission.
To enhance dissemination, the abstracts of Frontiers in PHSSR research articles will be published in the online version of the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) and will be linked to the article's full text. The titles and authors of Frontiers in PHSSR articles will also be prominently featured in both the printed and online versions of AJPH’s Table of Contents under the title “Online Frontiers in PHSSR Abstracts.” With AJPH’s total of over 50,000 readers, peer-reviewed articles published through Frontiers in PHSSR will now be disseminated much more broadly, bringing increased visibility to the important work that we conduct in PHSSR. Selected articles in Frontiers in PHSSR will be enhanced with audio and/or video links including Research-to-Action (RE•ACT) Podcasts produced by the Public Health Practice–Based Research Networks Program.
Ethical Standards
The editors and staff of Frontiers in PHSSR adhere to the ethical standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE; www.publicationethics.org) and are committed to providing authors with a transparent process in the handling of manuscripts. Any alleged breach of scientific integrity will be adjudicated by COPE. In addition, Frontiers supports the policies of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE; www.icmje.org). Conflict of interest statements are required of all authors: These should include any potential financial conflict or competing interest and any potential nonfinancial (professional or personal associations, political, institutional) conflict or competing interest.
Editorial guidelines are located under Author Instructions on the left navigation bar of the homepage. Authors should read these carefully, as well as the Policies.
