Integrative and Systematic Review

Manuscripts of systematic reviews must present the registration code of the protocol carried out, before the start of the review, on an international platform for the prospective registration of systematic reviews such as PROSPERO and INPLASY.

To prepare the manuscript of the integrative review, check the indications in the following articles:

• Integrative review: concepts and methods used in nursing. RevEscEnferm USP. 2014 Apr;48(2):335-45. doi: 10.1590/s0080-6234201400002000020.
• Dhollande S, Taylor A, Meyer S, Scott M. Conducting integrative reviews: a guide for novice nursing researchers. J Res Nurs. 2021 Aug;26(5):427-438. doi: 10.1177/1744987121997907.
• Hopia H, Latvala E, Liimatainen L. Reviewing the methodology of an integrative review. Scand J Caring Sci. 2016 Dec;30(4):662-669. doi: 10.1111/scs.12327.

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines should be used to prepare the manuscript of systematic reviews, and the checklist of review elements should be filled and attached to the submission (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, PRISMA).

Preparing the manuscript

1. Style

Manuscripts must be written and submitted in English according to the following rules:

• Ideas should be presented directly, concisely, clearly, logically and precisely;

• It is recommended that the data used for the review be stored and made available in open-access repositories.

• Manuscripts previously stored in a preprint repository (SciELO Preprints, BioRXiv, Fighshare, Zenodo, arXiv e PeerJ Preprints) are accepted;

• The measurements of the International System of Units (SI) must be used;

• The universal anatomical terms approved by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists must be used;

• The Recommended International Non-Proprietary Name ( https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-and-policy-standards/inn/) to name medicines, substances or active products must be used;

• Word software (Microsoft Office; doc - docx) must be used to write and edit the text as a document;

• The text must be written in British or American English. If the author(s) are not proficient in English to ensure compliance with correct wording and grammar, it is recommended that they provide a document stating that the manuscript has been proofread by a certified translator: Here are some companies and individuals who offer editing and proofreading services.

•  Tabulation of 0.75cm in the first sentence of each paragraph;

• Bottom, top and side margins of 2.5 cm;

• 12-point Times New Roman font;

• Single space in the Title and Abstract;

• 1.5 spaces between lines;

• Single space in Tables and Figures;

• Single-spaced references

2.Title

The title of the manuscript should be concise and informative, with a maximum of 15 (fifteen) words, without the use of abbreviations.

3. Abstract

The abstract should present the most important aspects of the study, with a maximum of 250 (two hundred and fifty) words. Quotations should not be used in the abstract and abbreviations should be avoided. The text should be clear, concise, direct, and structured in the following sections: Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion and Conclusion.

4. Keywords

Keywords or expressions should be carefully selected so that they identify the content of the article and can be found easily. They should not be included in the article's title, as indexers automatically search for them. The maximum number of keywords is six, separated by semicolons, with the first letter of each word capitalized. The keywords in English must be in Medical Subject Headings (MeSH).     

5. Abbreviations and acronyms

A complete list of all the abbreviations and acronyms used in the text should be inserted in a section after the Keywords. In the text, the abbreviation or acronym should be defined the first time it is used, putting the full meaning followed by the abbreviation/acronym in brackets. After that, the abbreviation/acronym should be used throughout the text.

6. Introduction

The text should clearly present the issue being studied, indicating its importance and the associated deficiencies in knowledge. The introduction should be based on current references that justify the review and, at the end, the objective and guiding question should be presented.

7. Methods

The Methodology should include:

• The databases, the search strategy, the dates on which the information was collected in these databases, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the articles;
• The method for assessing the quality and risk of bias of the evidence presented in the included articles;
• The method of extracting, analyzing, and synthesizing the data; and,
• The repository or form in which the data will be made available for verification and open use.

It should be specified as clearly as possible in which population, which interventions, and which beneficial and harmful clinical outcomes were investigated. Specifying the types of studies included, the search strategies and the actual methods of the review, who reviewed them, the criteria used, and indicate whether there was a sponsor.

8. Results

Presentation of the results found with a description of the number of articles found and the selection process (insert the flowchart recommended in the PRISMA guidelines), characterization of the studies (origin, types of methodologies used, risk of bias and quality of evidence).

Data should be summarized. To facilitate visualization, the results can be presented in Tables and Figures. However, the text should avoid repeating the information presented in the Figures and Tables. When the details are numerous and relevant to the guiding question, the data can be presented in the form of a supplementary Table.

9.Discussion

Interpretation of the results with emphasis on new and important aspects of the study. The strengths and weaknesses of the study should be indicated. The text can be organized into subsections according to the authors' criteria and the theme developed.

10. Conclusion

A response to the objective proposed in the review. The text should be direct and concrete, without citing bibliographical references.

11. Tables and Figures

The maximum total number of tables and figures is 5 (five). These elements must be numbered with Arabic numerals independently and sequentially and inserted into the body of the text exactly at their final location. Before inserting the table into the manuscript, it must be mentioned in the text. The title must be complete and self-explanatory. The meaning of the abbreviations, acronyms and symbols used should be written in the legend. When drawing up tables and figures, the following sequence of symbols should be used: *, †, ‡, §, ||, *,, ††, ‡‡.

Tables must be developed using the Table tool and included in the manuscript in an editable format.

The layout of the Tables must respect a maximum width of 15 cm and a maximum height of 22 cm. To send to the magazine, the Table must have a minimum resolution of 600dpi, Tif format and RGB color standard.

12. Citation

In the text, sources of information (bibliographical references) must be identified and cited with Arabic numerals, in ascending consecutive order, in superscript format, at the end of the corresponding sentence and before the full stop. After a source has been cited for the first time, it may be cited out of sequence. Example: The disease can be considered easily preventable2,3,7-10.

13. References

References follow the “Vancouver” format recommended by the ICMJE. In the list, they should be numbered according to the order in which they appear in the text. An manuscript should contain up to sixty references; a maximum of 30% of them being more than five years old. Click here to access the reference templates.

14. Authors' contribution

The author of a scientific article is the person who has participated effectively, transparently and fully in carrying out the study and in the intellectual production of the manuscript. AHS adopts the recommendations of the  International Committee of Medical Journal Editors – ICMJE.

All authors must declare their names and affiliations when submitting the manuscript. To qualify as an author of a scientific study; a researcher must have all the following six characteristics or activities:

1. Substantial participation in the elaboration and design of the study; or in the acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data for the study; and,
2. Elaboration of the manuscript or critical review with important intellectual contribution to its content; and,
3. Final approval of the content to be published; and,
4. Agreement to take responsibility for all components of the study, ensuring that the accuracy or integrity of all aspects of it are adequately investigated and resolved; and,
5. Ability to identify co-authors responsible for other specific parts of the study; and,
6. To have a duty to rely on the integrity of their co-authors' contributions.

15. Acknowledgements

In this section, the author has the opportunity to describe the collaboration of individuals who deserve recognition but do not qualify for authorship. Also, when artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used, the type of use made should be specifically stated in the acknowledgements (name of the tool, stage or part of the study that used it).