Submissions

LA MEDICINA DEL LAVORO - WORK, ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH publishes Editorials, Commentaries, Reviews, Original Articles, Communications, and Case reports written in English. Italian is acceptable for Educational articles, News, Obituaries, and SIML Documents and Statements. Areas of interest include occupational and environmental epidemiology, hygiene and toxicology, psychosocial factors at work, work-related mental and musculoskeletal problems, aging, work ability and return to work, working hours and health, and history of occupational medicine. The manuscripts should not have been previously published. Nor should they be submitted to other journals. Submission should be made using the journal’s website http://www.lamedicinadellavoro.it. However, manuscripts that have previously appeared on a preprint repository are welcome, as the posting of articles not reviewed and not accepted by a scientific journal is not considered a prior publication. All submitting authors of such manuscripts must clarify this in the covering letter at the time of submission. They must also know that we make an exception to our usual double-blind peer-review process in this case: since such papers are indexed, blindness becomes impossible. 

Web Surveys Are Seldom Published in Our Journal

Papers based on web surveys are seldom accepted for publication in our journal due to concerns about their validity and data quality. Our journal strives to provide impartial scientific information on Occupational Medicine and leverages modern information technologies to achieve this goal. To ensure the credibility of papers that use web surveys, authors should avoid taking shortcuts that could affect the validity of findings. In particular, before submitting a manuscript based on the technique of “Snowball sampling”, the Authors must consider the following issues:

Selection bias: when using social media for recruitment, sample spontaneous selection is a significant concern as it may exclude individuals who do not use these platforms. Moreover, the snowball sampling technique often used in web surveys can be useful to recruit participants from a specific group that is otherwise difficult to reach. However, this technique can limit the sample variability, if participants only recommend people with whom they have an affinity. This issue can hinder the study's external validity, as the examined sample may not show the actual target population’s characteristics.

Control over response rates is challenging in online surveys, making it difficult to assess the representativeness of samples and evaluate nonresponse bias. Technical issues and other factors may also result in incomplete or skewed data or uncontrolled multiple responses from the same individuals.

Poor data quality: another issue with social media-based surveys is respondents’ poor motivation and involvement. Some participants may skip questions or provide inaccurate answers due to a lack of interest, misunderstanding, or social desirability bias.

Data privacy is also a concern when collecting personal information through social networks, as these platforms often share user data without consent. Some respondents may not even be who they say they are, leading to the contamination of specific study groups.

Construct validity on unvalidated questionnaires is another major problem in web-based surveys. Obtaining consistent responses can be challenging due to varying vocabulary, internet literacy levels, and engagement levels among respondents. Inconsistency can lead to invalid responses and reduce the usefulness of collected data.

Once received, manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process. The editors reserve the right to suggest alterations or reject any article; their decision is final. The editors cannot enter into correspondence about papers that are rejected as being unsuitable for publication. Responsibility for the information and views set out in the articles lies entirely with the authors. 

Open-access articles can be reused under the relevant Creative Commons license terms to facilitate content reuse. La Medicina del Lavoro will deposit all open-access articles, including expressions of concern, retractions, and other notices, with PubMed Central and its mirror sites promptly following publication online. Authors of open-access articles may deposit the final published version in the repositories of their choice in accordance with the journal’s self-archiving policies.

Limits depending on the manuscript type

Authors are encouraged to be concise, avoiding double presentation of data in the text and in tables. The latter should be simplified as far as possible and prepared using the journal’s template. Headings, subheadings, and plain text should be formatted according to the template’s styles.

Original research and discussion papers:

• Structured abstract: 250 words
• Text (from introduction to conclusion): 5000 words
• Tables/Figures: no more than 5 (sum of tables and figures). Tables should fit a vertical page (font>10 pt).
• References: no more than 40

Short communication or case report:

• Summary: 200 words
• Text (from introduction to conclusion): 1500 words
• Tables/Figures: no more than 2 (sum of tables and figures)
• References: no more than 20

Systematic reviews

• Summary: 200 words
• Text: 5000 words
• Tables/Figures: 5 are preferred, but additional tables/figures might be allowed depending on the circumstances.
• References: no more than 60 are preferred.

Authors are required to note the Word Count and numbers of tables/figures on the title page. Under some circumstances, the editors may allow authors to publish an article that exceeds the word count limits.

Types of manuscripts

Original research articles

Full paper

These articles should report original research studies relevant to occupational and environmental health in a way accessible to readers of the Journal. A concise writing style is encouraged.

Reviews, commentaries, perspectives

These articles should review or comment on occupational and environmental health issues either working on published papers or suggesting new insights and methodological approaches. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational and intervention studies should follow such guidelines as MOOSE and STROBE, respectively.

Short communications and case reports.

These articles report original data using a limited study question or a topic that can be reported concisely.

Reporting of original research articles. The Journal requires authors to follow a pertinent guideline from the current existing guidelines on reporting various study types (presented in the table below). If a randomized controlled trial is reported, authors should complete a CONSORT checklist and flowchart and be prepared to submit it if requested. The Equator network of reporting guidelines provides a more extensive list of links and topics at www.equator-network.org. The Journal instructions provide further advice on the format and layout of the manuscript.

MANUSCRIPTS - Manuscripts should be written using Microsoft Word, 12 pt font. All pages, including references, must be numbered consecutively. Articles need to be reviewed by English language professional editors specialized in scientific English. Letters to the editor will not undergo the double-blind review process. Nor will they receive a DOI (digital object identification number). If they comment on, complete or review works already published in La Medicina del Lavoro – Work, Environment & Health, it may be answered by the authors of the cited work. No further replies by the letter's author will be accepted for publication.

Although exceptions are possible, as a rule, a full paper should not exceed 5,000 words, 50 references, and 5 Tables/Figures.

Likewise, short communications and case reports should not exceed 1,500 words, 15 references, and 3 Tables/Figures.

Editorials and Commentaries are mainly commissioned; please contact the Editor in Chief about unsolicited submissions: they do not include Tables or Figures, and should not exceed 1,500 words, and 15 references.

FIRST PAGE -The first page of the manuscript should contain: the title of the article, first name and surname of the author or authors, affiliation of each author, indication of any financial support for the research, and complete address of the author responsible for correspondence. On the same page, a running title must be provided, along with at least three keywords. If the article has already been presented in a meeting, a footnote should be added, giving the date and place. 

TABLES - Tables should be included in the text and numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals. Each table must be preceded by a legend containing sufficient information to render the table self-explanatory. In the text, tables must be cited in full (e.g., table 1). Tables should be incorporated in the same file as the text, following their legends, and using the same fonts. Only short paragraphs are acceptable to fill table cells.

FIGURES – Figures should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals. A legend must accompany each figure. In the text, the figure must be cited in full (e.g., figure 1). The figures can be embedded in the manuscript. If figures are prepared in jpeg or tiff (or high-resolution pdf) format, they should be loaded separately as supplementary files. Photographs, drawings, graphs, and diagrams must have a minimum size of 10x15 cm. A minimum resolution of 300 dpi is required. Figures will be printed in black and white or on greyscale. If figures or graphs are taken from other journals or books, the contributor must obtain prior written authorization from the author and the publisher. A copy of this authorization should be sent to the editorial board of the Journal, and the source of the material should be quoted in the article.

ARRANGEMENT OF MANUSCRIPTS - Articles should be divided into Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References. Repetition in the text under Results of data already given in tables and figures should be avoided. Only standard symbols, acronyms, and abbreviations must be used. Results from observational studies should be reported following the guidelines in the STROBE statement, results of randomized trials should be reported following the CONSORT guidelines, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses should follow the PRISMA or MOOSE guidelines, whereas diagnostic tests should be reported according to STARD (see www.equator-network.org for further details). Authors should refer to the International System of Units for units of measure. When appropriate, authors should provide effect estimates (e.g., ratios or differences of means, rates, or risks) with their confidence intervals. Please avoid using terms like “statistically significant”, “P<0.05”, “P>0.05”, “NS” or “statistically not significant”. When P values are calculated, exact values should be provided (e.g., P=0.16, P=0.02). The use of “P<” is acceptable if P is very small (e.g. P<0.001). 

ACCOMPANYING LETTER – The author responsible for correspondence should declare that all the authors have read and agreed with the content and interpretation of the submitted article. The accompanying letter should also contain a declaration signed by the corresponding author on behalf of all the other authors concerning a potential conflict of interest (see below). 

TITLE - The title must be typed in the space on the website. 

ABSTRACT - The abstract should describe the study concisely but clearly, highlighting only significant details; it should be divided into background, objectives, methods, results, and conclusion, and should not exceed 250 words. For Case reports and Short communications, the abstract will be replaced by a summary without sub-headings not exceeding 150 words. It must be typed in the website in the space provided. 

KEYWORDS - In the space provided, at least three keywords should be inserted using capital letters only for each keyword's first letter and proper names. 

REFERENCES - Responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of references lies with the author. References should STRICTLY follow the AMA format available from PubMed of the National Library of Medicine (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). They should be numbered consecutively in the order they are first mentioned and identified in the text, tables, and legends by Arabic numerals in squared parentheses (no superscripts!). For example: “Thus, for example, Lewis analyzed the COVID-19 pandemic [1], whereas the respiratory effects of welding were discussed by Antonini et al. [2]. Principles and methods of epidemiology can be found in a classical textbook [3], and a survey exemplifying the prevalence of arterial hypertension in a working population was summarized by Fogari and Orlandi [4]. The carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) is reviewed in a specific monograph [5]. Articles appearing in electronic journals can also be cited as references mentioning the last accession date [6], whereas unpublished observations and personal communications should not be cited, but they should be mentioned in the text (Foà, 1990: personal communication). Some examples of compilation and citation formats (PubMed AMA format) are given below. 

Journal papers:

1. Lewis D. Coronavirus outbreak: what’s next?. Nature.2020;578(7793):15-16. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-00236-9
2. Antonini JM, Taylor MD, Zimmer AT, Roberts JR. Pulmonary responses to welding fumes: role of metal constituents. J Toxicol Environ Health A.2004;67(3):233-249. doi: 10.1080/15287390490266909

Book, book chapters and monographs:

3. McMahon B, Pugh TF: Epidemiology. Principles and methods. Boston (MA): Little Brown and Co, 1970
4. Fogari R, Orlandi C: Essential hypertension among workers of a metallurgical factory. In Rosenfeld JB, Silverber DS, Viskoper R (eds): Hypertension control in the community. London: Libbey J, 1985: 270-273
5. International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Some Non-heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Some Related Exposures. Lyon, France: IARC, 2010: 92

Documents available on the web:

6. NIOSH, National Institute Occupational Safety and Health. (2003). Hydrocarbons, Aromatic. Method 1501. Available on line at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ docs/2003-154/pdfs/1501.pdf (last accessed 31-12-2010)

Names of journals should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus as they appear in PubMed. Personal communications and unpublished communications at congresses should not be included in the References but quoted in full in the text.  

PROTECTION OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS - All submitted research articles must include a statement (either in the Method section or the Acknowledgement) that the study obtained ethics approval (or a statement that it was not required and why), including the name of the ethics committee(s) or institutional review board(s), the number/ID of the approval(s), and a statement that participants gave informed consent before taking part. If no formal ethics committee is available, authors should indicate that the procedures followed were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration as revised in 2008.  

INFORMED CONSENT – Any article containing personal medical information about an identifiable living individual requires the patient’s explicit consent before publication. If consent cannot be obtained because the patient cannot be traced, then publication will be possible only if the information can be anonymized. Identifying information, including names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, or 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 an identifiable patient be shown the manuscript to be published. Authors should disclose to these patients whether any potentially identifiable material might be available online.  

DECLARATION OF INTEREST – A conflict of interest might exist when professional judgment on a primary interest, such as the interpretation of one’s results or obtained by others, might be influenced, even unknowingly, by a secondary interest, such as an economic advantage or personal rivalry. A conflict of interest is not in itself anti-ethical. Nevertheless, it must be publicly and openly acknowledged. Such acknowledgment shall have no bearing on the decision to publish. In conformity with the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) of October 2008, when sending an article for publication in La Medicina del Lavoro - Work, Environment & Health, enclosed with the manuscript, the corresponding author, also on behalf of all the other authors, should declare the existence or otherwise of financial connections (consultancies, ownership of shares, patents, etc.) or of other relationships that might constitute a potential conflict of interest in relation to the subject matter of the article. The authors concerned must declare any such financial connections in a brief but complete definition. On the website, the possible presence of a conflict of interest must be declared in the space provided. Authors must declare all sources of funding and describe the role of the study sponsor(s), if any, in the (i) study design, (ii) collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, (iii) writing of the report, and (iv) decision to submit the paper for publication. This should be stated if the funder(s) had no such involvement. Membership of Committees or Panels of either Governmental or NGOs Agencies publishing scientific opinions and assessments relevant to the article's subject matter must also be declared. If no conflict of interest exists, type: NONE. 

PROOFS - The corresponding author of an accepted manuscript will receive one set of proofs for the correction of printing errors. No substantial alterations may be made to the proof. Correction of proofs by authors relieves the editorial board of all responsibility for any errors in the printed text. 

REVIEWS - Books and other publications on occupational health and industrial hygiene that authors or publishers wish to be reviewed in the Journal should be sent to the journal’s address. 

ADVERTISEMENTS, BACK ISSUES AND REPRINTS - Advertisers and persons interested in back issues and reprints should contact: MATTIOLI 1885 - Casa Editrice, Strada di Lodesana 649/sx, Loc. Vaio 43036 Fidenza (Parma), Tel. 0524/530383, Fax 0524/82537, e-mail: redazione@mattioli1885.com 

As part of the submission process, authors must verify their submission’s compliance with a detailed checklist on the Journal's website. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned to the authors.