INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

The Journal of Registry Management (JRM), the official journal of the National Cancer Registrars Association, invites submission of original manuscripts on topics related to management of disease registries and the collection, management, and use of cancer, trauma, AIDS, and other disease registry data. JRM is a peer-reviewed open access, online-only journal and is published quarterly.

Reprinting of previously published material will be considered for publication only when it is of special and immediate interest to the readership. JRM encourages authorship by registrars who are ODS-certified; special value is placed on manuscripts with ODS-certified registrar collaboration and publication of articles or texts related to the registry profession. Three (3) NCRA continuing education (CE) credits are awarded for published articles or documents, and additional information can be found here: https://www.ncra-usa.org/CTR/Current-CTRs/Submit-CEs/CE-Eligible-Activities. Authors who are unfamiliar with preparation and submission of manuscripts for publication are encouraged to contact the Editor for clarification or additional assistance. All correspondence and questions about manuscripts should be sent to JRMEditor@ncra-usa.org or (703) 299-6640 ext. 327.

Manuscripts may be submitted for publication in the following categories: Articles addressing topics of broad interest and appeal to the readership, including Methodology papers about registry organization and operation; Research papers reporting findings of original, reviewed, data-based research; Primers providing tutorials on relevant subjects; and “How I Do It” papers are also solicited. Opinion papers/editorials including position papers, commentaries, and essays that analyze current or controversial issues and provide creative, reflective treatments of topics related to registry management; Letters to the Editor; and specifically targeted Bibliographies of significant interest are invited. Please submit manuscripts here: https://srvy.pro/2CXB3FV.

The following guidelines are provided to assist prospective authors in preparing manuscripts for the Journal, and to facilitate technical processing of submissions. Failure to follow the guidelines may delay consideration of your manuscript. The authors’ signature page can be a scanned copy containing all the corresponding author signatures, or an email acknowledgement from each author can be sent to JRMEditor@ncra-usa.org.

Submission Requirements

Manuscripts. The terms manuscripts, articles, and papers are used synonymously herein. Number the manuscript pages consecutively with the (first) title page as page one, followed by the abstract, text, references, and visuals. The accompanying cover letter should include the name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the corresponding author(s).   

Manuscripts (Research Articles). Articles should follow the standard format for research reporting (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References). The introduction will normally include background information, and a rationale/justification as to why the subject matter is of interest. The discussion often includes a conclusion subsection. Comprehensive references are encouraged, as are an appropriate combination of tables and figures (graphs).

Manuscripts (Methodology/Process Papers). Methodology papers should follow the standard format for research reporting (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion), or for explanatory papers not reporting results (Introduction, Methods, Discussion).

Manuscripts (“How I Do It” articles).

The “How I Do It” feature in the Journal provides registrars with a forum for sharing strategies with colleagues in all types of registries. These articles describe tips, techniques, or procedures for an aspect of registry operations that the author does particularly well. When shared, these innovations can help registry professionals improve their skills, enhance registry operations, or increase efficiency.

“How I Do It” articles should be 1,500 words or less (excluding references) and can contain up to 2 tables or figures. To the extent possible, the standard headings (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) should be used. If results are not presented, that section may be omitted. Authors should describe the problem or issue, their solution, advantages (and disadvantages) to the suggested approach, and their conclusion. All submitted “How I Do It” articles will have the benefit of peer/editorial review.

Authors. Each author ’s name, degrees, certifications, title, professional affiliation, and email address must be noted on the title page exactly as it is to appear in publication. The corresponding author should be noted, with mailing address included. Joint authors should be listed in the order of their contribution to the work. Generally, a maximum of 6 authors for each article will be listed.

Title. Authors are urged to choose a title that accurately and concisely describes the content of the manuscript. Every effort will be made to use the title as submitted; however, Journal of Registry Management reserves the right to select a title that is consistent with editorial and production requirements.

Abstract. A brief abstract must accompany each article or research paper. The abstract should summarize the main point(s) and quickly give the reader an understanding of the manuscript’s content. It should be placed on a page by itself, immediately following the title page.

Key words. Authors are requested to provide up to 5, alphabetized key words or phrases which will be used in compiling the Annual Subject Index. Key words should be included directly under the abstract on the abstract stand-alone page.

Length. Authors are invited to contact the Editor regarding submission of markedly longer manuscripts.

Style. Prepare manuscripts using the American Medical Association Manual of Style, 11th ed. (2020). All sections of the paper should be single-spaced. Double-space between paragraphs and sections.

Visuals. Use visuals selectively to supplement the text. Visual elements—charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and figures—will be reproduced exactly as received. Copies must be clear and properly identified, and preferably emailed. Each visual must have a brief, self-explanatory title. Submit each visual on a separately numbered page at the end of the manuscript, following the references.

Attribution. Authors are to provide appropriate acknowledgment of products, activities, and support especially for those articles based on, or utilizing, registry data (including acknowledgment of hospital and central registrars). Appropriate attribution is also to be provided to acknowledge federal funding sources of registries from which the data are obtained.

References. References should be carefully selected, and relevant. References must be numbered in order of their appearance in the text. At the end of the manuscript, list the references as they are cited; do not list references alphabetically. Journal citations should include author, title, journal, year, volume, issue, and pages. Book citations should include author, title, city, publisher, year, and pages. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all references. Examples:

1. LeMaster PL, Connell CM. Health education interventions among Native Americans: a review and analysis. Health Education Quarterly. 1995;21(4):521-538.

2. Hanks GE, Myers CE, Scardino PT. Cancer of the prostate. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Co.; 1993:1073–1113.

Affirmations

Copyright.

Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that if it is accepted for publication, copyright in the article, including the right to reproduce the article in all forms and media, shall be assigned exclusively to NCRA. NCRA will not refuse any reasonable requests by the author(s) for permission to reproduce any of his or her contributions to the Journal. Further, the manuscript’s accompanying cover letter, signed by all authors, must include the following statement: “We, the undersigned, transfer to the National Cancer Registrars Association, the copyright for this manuscript in the event that it is published in Journal of Registry Management.” Failure to provide the statement will delay consideration of the manuscript. The authors’ signature page can be a scanned copy containing all of the corresponding author signatures, or an email acknowledgement from each author can be sent to JRMEditor@ncra-usa.org

It is the author’s responsibility to obtain necessary permission when using material (including graphs, charts, pictures, etc.) that has appeared in other published works.

Originality. Articles are reviewed for publication assuming that they have not been accepted or published previously and are not under simultaneous consideration for publication elsewhere. If the article has been previously published or significantly distributed, this should be noted in the submission for consideration.

Editing

Journal of Registry Management reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length. Minor changes (punctuation, spelling, grammar, syntax) will be made at the discretion of the editorial staff. Substantive changes will be verified with the author(s) prior to publication.

Peer Review

JRM follows a double-blind peer review process. Contributed manuscripts are reviewed prior to publication, generally by 2 reviewers. The Journal Editor makes the final decision regarding acceptance of manuscripts. Receipt of manuscripts will be acknowledged promptly, and corresponding authors will be advised of the status of their submission as soon as possible.

Conflict of Interest

As part of the online submission process, corresponding authors are required to confirm whether they or their co-authors have any conflicts of interest to declare, and to provide details of these. These include all financial and non-financial interests and relationships, direct or indirect, or other situations that might raise questions of bias in the work reported or the conclusions, implications, or opinions stated. Authors should also disclose any conflict of interest that may have influenced either the conduct or the presentation of the research to the editors, including but not limited to, close relationships with those who might be helped or hurt by the publication, academic interests and rivalries, and any personal, religious or political convictions relevant to the topic at hand.

If any of the reviewers feel that there is likely to be a perception of a conflict of interest in relation to their handling of a submission for review, for example if the author is at the same institution as the reviewer, they will notify the Editor-in-Chief, and the submission or review will be handled by one of the other EAB members.

If the manuscript is published, Conflict of Interest information will be communicated in a statement in the published paper.

Informed Consent

Individuals have a right to privacy that should not be infringed without informed consent. Identifying information, including patients' names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, and pedigrees unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian) gives written informed consent for publication. Informed consent for this purpose requires that a patient who is identifiable be shown the manuscript to be published. Authors should identify individuals who provide writing assistance and disclose the funding source for this assistance. Identifying details should be omitted if they are not essential. Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve, however, an informed consent should be obtained if there is any doubt. For example, masking the eye region in photographs of patients is inadequate protection of anonymity. If identifying characteristics are altered to protect anonymity, such as in genetic pedigrees, authors should provide assurance that alterations do not distort scientific meaning and editors should so note.

Human and Animal Rights

Research involving human subjects, including identifiable human material or data, must have been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and must have been approved by an appropriate ethics committee. A statement detailing this, including the name of the ethics committee and the reference number where appropriate, must appear in all manuscripts reporting such research. Although JRM does not publish animal research, it may accept it in specific situations (eg, such as in when an animal experiment is also part of a human trial). Authors interested in submitting animal research should contact the Editor-in-Chief. Any study using animals needs to state the Institutional Animal Care approval and number. Any other ethics approvals should also be listed. If no ethical approvals were required, please state this.