Publishing Policies

Systematic and narrative reviews, grant-funded (APF applies).

APF waived

Unstructured, narrative abstract. Paper can have any headings (not necessarily IMRD).

APF is waived.

Biographic pieces and life tributes of patients, caregivers and professionals who exemplify what participatory medicine is all about. Papers in this Section are essays celebrating and commemorating advocates and pioneers the world has lost, yet who have left a lasting impact on participatory medicine.

For corrigenda that are discretionary and a result of author-oversight (e.g., corrections in the affiliation etc.) we charge a $190 processing fee to make changes in the original paper and publish an erratum. Please submit a correction statement (text similar to http://www.jmir.org/2015/3/e76/) at http://www.jmir.org/author/submit/1 under the section "Discretionary Corrigenda".

This section lists all substantive corrections, additions or changes made to articles and reviews subsequent to their first publication in the journal. Corrigenda are usually submitted by the corresponding author of the original article, or the section editor. Published papers are considered "final", thus JMIR makes corrections to published papers only in exceptional circumstances. Note that while we do not charge to correct errata that are the responsibility of the publisher, we charge a $190 fee for discretionary corrigenda and addenda (please submit a correction under that section, if it is the authors' responsibility/decision to correct or add information to a already published article).

Citizen science is a scientific discipline in which the general public is the central focus, and is distinct from participatory epidemiology and surveillance. Citizen science generally engages the general public to understand their perception and experience in civic arenas. Most often, citizen science is led by a group of volunteers with the aim to benefit the entire society. This is an emerging area of research in participatory medicine.

Patient and public involvement in research focuses on a specific sample and sub-group of research participants, and is distinct from participatory medicine and e-patients. By placing the patient and public at the forefront of research, new perspectives are generated to assist with improving healthcare quality, clinical practice, and research.

Co-design and participatory design places an emphasis on the methods of doing research and knowledge generation, and is distinct from participatory design and participatory research. Specifically, by engaging participants early in the design or program planning stages to draft the research or program aims and research objectives. However, co-design ensures equality in the program or research design process, whereas participatory design approaches ensures active involvement of stakeholders in determining research or program outcomes. This is a new methodological approach in participatory medicine.

Patient engagement and empowerment focuses on enhancing the patients', consumers', or clients' knowledge, skills, and confidence so they can attain and maintain their autonomy. Patient engagement and empowerment maintains the independence and free-will of individuals to make well-informed decisions for themselves and within their wider communities, with regards to regional policies, for example.

A unique stakeholder in participatory medicine are Caregivers. Caregivers help patients with activities of daily living in an assistive capacity. By giving a voice to Caregivers a greater understanding of informal caregiving roles and responsibilities is acquired in order to offer greater support.

Shared decision making is the practice of having healthcare providers and patients contribute to the decision making process together, and is distinct from consumer and patient education and shared decision making. Shared decision making is a favourable process because healthcare providers and patients each share the best quality of information and evidence available with one-another to make a decision.

Shared health records is the overall process of health record sharing with two or more entities, and is distinct from electronic health records, personal health records, and patient-accessible electronic health records. Sharing of health records is completed with the intention of delivering the best quality of care to patients, all-the-while leveraging vital and finite resources.

Digital therapeutics is an emergent field in participatory medicine, which uses digital health information and digital software to manage health and wellness. Digital therapeutics include prescribable digital interventions/treatments, which is a distinguishing feature. Digital therapeutics uses digital health information to create high-quality medical interventions and devices in order to assist patients in making healthy behavioural changes.  This is an emerging area of research in participatory medicine.

Patient-centred outcomes research focuses on building the infrastructure and architecture to apply methods of assessment and analysis to enhance health research. Priorities of patient-centred outcomes research includes assessment of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; knowledge translation; healthcare system improvement; and addressing patient disparities.

Patient generated health data means any healthcare data that is collected, created, or shared by patients for the purposes of enhancing health and well-being. Patient generated health data may include medical and familial history, as well as treatment plans, and is distinct from quantified self and wellness. The distinction between patient generated health data and quantified self and wellness is that the former encompasses a greater breadth, depth, and range of data to drive health-based interventions and programs.

The social determinants of health are those modifiable personal, social, economic, and political factors which affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities. This includes factors such as access to maternal and child care, housing, food and nutrition, education, socioeconomic status/employment/income, and culture, amongst others.

Research on the patient-clinician relationship focuses on the association of patients and healthcare providers in a variety of sectors such as the private, public, and non-profit sectors. The patient-clinician relationship exists at any point in which patients encounter the healthcare system, whether in acute care, primary care, ambulatory care, community care, or within specialized primary care networks and beyond.

Patient reported measures and outcomes in participatory medicine focuses on the patient’s role in identifying the direct and indirect effects of a clinical or healthcare intervention, or program. Patient reported measures and outcomes in participatory medicine are those data points and measures which are collected and analyzed by the patient to determine program or intervention success, for example. Patient reported outcomes are reports directly of health status by a patient, without a medical suggestion by the healthcare provider. Patient reported measures and outcomes in participatory medicine are distinct from Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) because of the role of the patient in the scientific discipline of participatory medicine.

A "how-to" paper on an important practical or research issue. We recommend contacting the editor to discuss the suitability of a topic before submitting it. Submission of slides or audio/video files as supplementary files is strongly recommended.

A commentary is published alongside other articles published in JMIR Publications journals. Commentaries are typically invited. Unsolicited commentaries may be considered at the discretion of the editor. They may or may not be peer-reviewed. Articles submitted as a commentary should offer thoughtful criticism of published work, drawing from evidence, expertise, and/or additional perspectives.

The Journal of Participatory Medicine invites submissions for a new theme issue that will explore the use of AI for health (AIH) from the perspectives of patients and the public. We are seeking papers that examine (a) the experience and impact of patients and health consumers using AI applications, and (b) the involvement of patients, caregivers, and the public in the co-design and development of AIH.

View the Call for Papers

Guest Editors

Laura Adams, RN, Senior Advisor, National Academy of Medicine

Grace Cordovano, PhD, Board-certified Patient Advocate; Founder, Enlightening Results; Co-Founder, Unblock Health

Sarah Greene, MPH, Chair, MedStar Research Institute Board; former Executive Director, Health Care Systems Research Network