Oxford Textbook of Medicine
Fifth Edition
Information and instructions for authors from the editors and publisher
Please read carefully
Contents
Introduction
Objective
Readership
Coverage
Substance
Style
Practical information
Keeping the text up to date
Appendix 1
Examples of correct style of References
Appendix 2
Sample letter asking permission to reproduce or adapt previously
published material
Appendix 3
Form for patient consent to medical recording
Appendix 4
Checklist for manuscript delivery
Editors
Professor David A Warrell, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of
Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU. Tel: 44 (0) 1865
221332/220968; fax: 44 (0) 1865 220984; e-mail: david.warrell@ndm.ox.ac.uk
Professor Timothy M Cox, University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine,
Department of Medicine, Box 157, Level 5, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road,
Cambridge CB2 2QQ. Tel: 44 (0) 1223 336864; fax: 44 (0) 1223 336846; e-mail:
jbg20@medschl.cam.ac.uk
Dr John D Firth, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist, Box 118, Addenbrooke’s NHS
Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ. Tel: 44 (0) 1223 274348; fax 44 (0) 1223 586506;
e-mail: john.firth@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
OUP people
Helen Liepman, Senior Commissioning Editor, Science and Medical Publications,
Academic Division, Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP,
UK. Tel: 44 (0) 1865 353415; fax 44 (0) 1865 353817; e-mail: helen.liepman@oup.com
Helen is responsible for overseeing the project, and for the financial aspects of
publication.
Oxford Textbook of Medicine
Introduction
We are grateful to you for joining us in this challenging task. These ‘instructions to
authors’ are intended to help first-time authors of this Textbook and to remind previous
contributors, who will be revising their chapters, about our aims and preferred style and
content. We realize how easy it is to ignore such instructions or to read them only after
the manuscript has been submitted! Please read these Instructions and come back to us if
they seem either inappropriate or unclear.
Objective
Our aim is to produce the definitive, authoritative and comprehensive international
textbook of the practice of medicine, designed for doctors working in any part of the world.
Readership
Primary: Hospital physicians, internists, general practitioners, clinicians, in all
specialities
Secondary: Other health care professionals, medical scientists and researchers
Supplementary: Patients, novelists, lawyers, journalists
Coverage
It is our aim to provide an up-to-date, stimulating and reasonably comprehensive account
of clinical medicine. It is most important that you keep to the number of words allocated
to your section in your letter of agreement with OUP. We wish to maintain an
international appeal; the book must deal with the practice of medicine in countries with
and without advanced medical resources and provide a more complete view of medicine
than do most American textbooks.
A strong advantage of all previous editions of the book (and something we wish to
maintain) is that they gave pragmatic advice on the recommended management of
diseases while at the same time providing, as far as possible, the scientific principles that
underlie medical practice.
Although the essence of your approach should be clinical, do not hesitate to provide a
short and relevant account of the underlying pathophysiology, cell biology, molecular
biology/genetics, and other scientific aspects of the condition or pathogen you are
describing. Those who read the book will expect the recommendations for management to
be set out with clarity and certainty as far as possible, but you should avoid being
dogmatic where there is genuine doubt and uncertainty. For each condition you describe,
emphasize the importance of prevention, especially by primary care and community care.
Please provide data from contemporary clinical trials, where they provide evidence of
benefit in management, for reference (see reference to the Cochrane Collaboration below).
This book is conceived principally for practising doctors who wish to read an account of a
disease that is not specifically in their area of expertise. The book should provide access to
the literature for most of the diseases that a given doctor is likely to encounter at home or
abroad. The book will also be read by professionals in related subjects, doctors who are
not active in clinical practice, journalists, members of the legal profession, and students of
medicine all over the world. Therefore please be certain that the information provided in
it is correct and easily verifiable.
Emergencies
Provide clear advice on how best to manage emergencies. Be confident that one of your
junior colleagues confronted by a very ill patient would be able to refer to your section
and quickly find the principles and details of treatment clearly set out. Consider whether
the information could be included in a Table. Note: The information about emergency
management of most common conditions is collated in a special section of the book; please
provide appropriate material, perhaps in the form of a Table, wherever you discuss
emergency management.
Substance
Does your clinical description of an illness provide a real account of the disease as it is seen
by the bedside? Is it memorable? Although we do not encourage hyperbole, if the patient
is likely to look as though they are about to die and be unable to do anything more than
groan, then you should say so.
Would one of your non-specialist colleagues fully understand your section and find out
exactly how the patient should be questioned, examined, investigated and treated?
Have you provided an up-to-date discussion of the scientific aspects? Indeed, would you
be embarrassed if one of your colleagues were to carry out a search of the literature and
present you with the up-to-date findings? Where possible, briefly state the evidence and
reasoning behind your recommendation for treatment and management. By all means
transmit the benefit of your own experience and wisdom but indicate where this is not
based on firm evidence. Contributors may wish to refer to the current disk issue of the
Cochrane Library (available in all good medical libraries) to find suitable reviews and a
large bibliographic database.
Recommended standard format for chapters – note that all headings will not be
required for all subjects
Where appropriate, please adopt the following format:

Chapter Heading

Essentials
Required for all chapters – a summary of the key points in 5-10% of the word
allowance

Introduction

Historical perspective
Brief – no more than 5/% of the word allowance

Aetiology, genetics, pathogenesis and pathology

Epidemiology

Prevention

Clinical features

Differential diagnosis

Clinical investigation

Criteria for diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Other issues (e.g. consider health economic aspects)

Areas of uncertainty or controversy

Likely developments over the next 5-10 years

References
Five per thousand words (major reviews and landmark papers only)
Style
Writing should be vivid and concise; written by someone who has first-hand experience
caring for patients with the disease in question; and should offer a lucid and persuasive
account of medicine and clinical science. We each write in our own way but in a multiauthor textbook some stylistic uniformity is needed. To this end we offer the following
guidelines:

avoid jargon, local or otherwise; long-windedness; repetition and tautology;

be direct and simple – keep sentences short;

use paragraphs freely. Long passages of unbroken text discourage readers. Short
expositions are more likely to be remembered than long ones;

use sub-headings and for editing purposes, indicate the hierarchy of your headings
(up to six levels of font are available);

use bold or italic to emphasize key words but do not overdo this. So-called bullet
points (as in this list) may provide an appropriate level of emphasis;

start more paragraphs with a sentence setting out the topic and then marshal
arguments to discuss it. Discuss outmoded material briefly and use historical
references sparingly. Try to refer to one good, easily available, review;

avoid sentences or clauses starting as follows:
It has been reported that…
It has been suggested that…
It is possible that…
X has been shown to be…

never state that anything is high or low without qualification. Always give units.
The SI system should be used throughout, except where common usage dictates
otherwise, e.g. PaO2 would be in kPa but blood pressure in millimetres of mercury
(mmHg);

avoid abbreviations or acronyms. Although these may be familiar to you they
will alienate many readers. Spell them out unless doing so makes the text
impossibly unwieldy;

use the Oxford English Dictionary as the source of spelling whenever possible;

avoid footnotes.
Drug names and dosages
Use generic or chemical, Recommended International Non-proprietary Names (rINNs)
not commercial (proprietary), names for drugs. Where two names coexist (e.g. frusemide
and furosemide) give the European usage first and the American usage in parentheses.
Give precise instructions wherever possible, but check the dosages and the units on your
typescript and proofs carefully. On the galley proofs please initial each drug dose to
confirm that you have checked it. The primary responsibility for this aspect is yours.
Practical information
Submission of chapters
We will edit the text of your contribution and typeset electronically. Please submit your
chapter by e-mail as a word document to the editorial coordinator stated in your letter of
agreement.
Limits
Whether you are revising and/or updating a chapter or section from the third edition, or
writing a new chapter or section, you must keep within the word and page limit allocated
in your letter of agreement. Make allowances for Figures, Tables, and References when
calculating the length of your text. Deduct at least 300 words for a small Table or Figure.
Approximately 1200 words make one page of printed text. If you feel unduly restricted
by the limit of words, please discuss the problem at an early stage with your editor.
Deadline
Please submit your disk and manuscript by the agreed deadline. Late submission of
manuscripts delays publication of large textbooks more than any other factor. The
editors and publishers, therefore, have agreed that any author whose manuscript has not
been delivered by an agreed date will be asked to stand down, and contingency
arrangements for the chapter will be used.
Proofs
Oxford University Press will send editors and authors electronic proofs (as pdf files) of the
text and illustrations. Please print out, check carefully and return hard copy within
the period stated in their covering letter. Failure to do so will result in your
corrections being omitted from the final product. It is in your own interests to check the
proofs exactly. Please initial each drug dose on the galley proofs of your contribution(s) to
confirm that you have checked it.
Illustrations, Tables, and Algorithms; permissions
Pages without any illustration or Table look boring. Use Figures, Boxes, and Tables
freely (at least one per 1000 words) to present information concisely, to summarize points,
and to break up the text. They will be redrawn to ensure a uniform presentation. Please
submit clear drawings for the artist to work from. This edition of the Textbook will be in
full colour throughout. Please submit digital versions of all illustrations. All the
illustrations, Tables, and Figures are available from the fourth edition, although we would
like to include many new illustrations. Don’t forget that where a patient can be identified
their permission must be obtained.
Please submit all Figures as separate items, not embedded in the text of the manuscript.
Alternatively, submit graphs and charts on disks. The legend (caption) accompanying
every Figure and Table should explain it without reference to the body of the text.
Supply Tables and Figure legends on separate pages at the end of the manuscript.
If you include material, whether Table or Figures, from other published sources (even
your own work), you must seek permission to reproduce such material from the copyright
owner even if they were used in the previous edition and submit these documents with your
manuscript; no chapter will be accepted without them. It is your responsibility to obtain
(and pay for) these permissions. Please see Appendix 2 for a sample permissions letter.
Note that it is important that the ‘electronic’ rights are obtained in every case; If not,
then when your contribution is reproduced in any electronic version of the text (including
on-line), there will be ‘gaps’ instead of the material for which we do not have rights.
Patient consent
If there is any chance that a patient may be identified from a case report or illustration,
please obtain the written consent of the patient for its publication (see Appendix 3 for
suitable form; guidelines on its use are appended to your letter of agreement from OUP).
Patients are usually willing to give consent. Black bands across the eyes in illustrations
are ineffective in disguising the patient, and changing details of patients (in case reports)
to try to disguise them is a bad scientific practice. It is also important that ‘electronic’
rights are obtained from patients (see previous paragraph).
References
No References should be given in the text. Please supply a list of further reading at
the end of your contribution including key references in the field and references to
relevant trials and meta-analyses. References to primary literature that will ‘date’ should
be avoided. Aim to limit the number of References given to fewer than five per 1000 words
(except for controversial areas, trial results, and evidence-based sections giving
therapeutic recommendations, where you may need to give more).
Each reference should, where appropriate, have a one-sentence commentary attached to it
describing why you have included it, e.g. ‘Important trial showing that x is better than y’,
‘Comprehensive review of the condition’.
Use the name-and-date method of references; Appendix 1 gives examples. Please note
that journal titles should be spelt out in full in the reference list.
Appendix 1: Examples of correct style of References
Note: There will be no References in the text. A Further Reading list should be given at
the end of your chapter. Examples of correct forms of references are given below. Note
the journal titles are given in full.
Journal
1.
Standard journal article (list all the authors when three or less; when four or more,
list only the first and add et al.)
Soter NA, Wasserman SI, Austen KF (1999), Cold urticaria: release into the
circulation of histamine and eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis during
cold challenge. New England Journal of Medicine 294, 687-90.
2.
Corporate author
The Committee on Enzymes of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry
and Clinical Physiology (1998). Recommended method for the determination of
gamma-glutamyltransferase in blood. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and
Laboratory Investigations 36, 19-25.
Books and other monographs
3.
Personal author(s)
Oxler AG. (1998). Complement: mechanisms and functions. Prentice-Hall, New
Jersey.
4.
Corporate author
American Medical Association Department of Drugs (1997). AMA Drug
Evaluations, 3rd edn. Publishing Sciences Group, Littleton.
5.
Editor, compiler, chairman as author
Rhodes AJ and Van Rooyen CE, eds (1998). Textbook of Virology: for Students and
Practitioners of Medicine and other Health Sciences, 5th edn. Williams & Wilkins,
Baltimore.
6.
Chapter in book
Winstein L and Swartz MN (2000). Pathogenic properties of invading microorganisms. In: Sodeman WA Jr, Sodeman WA, eds. Pathologic physiology:
mechanisms of disease, pp 457-72. WB Saunders, Philadelphia.
7.
Agency publication
IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) 1998. Cancer in rodents, pp
7-10. IARC, Lyon.
Please check all your references carefully
Appendix 2: Sample letter requesting permission to reproduce or adapt
previously published material
To the Publisher
(address to Permissions Department)
And the Author
Date
Please reply to:
(Author)
(Address)
Dear Sir/Madam
I wish to request permission to use some of the material from the following book:
Author/Editor:
Title:
Year of publication:
Material: (Include figure and page numbers, and title, and state whether the illustrations
are to be reproduced exactly or redrawn.)
The material is to be included in the following academic textbook to which I am a
contributor.
Editors: Professor David Warrell et al.
Title: The Oxford Textbook of Medicine, fifth edition. To be published by Oxford
University Press in 2009.
Rights required: non-exclusive world rights in all languages; non-exclusive rights to
reproduce this material in electronic and paper versions of the Oxford Textbook of
Medicine (or any subsidiary rights in such an electronic version). Full
acknowledgement to the source will be made. If it is necessary to apply to the author
also, I should be grateful if you could give me his or her present address.
A duplicate copy of this letter is enclosed for your convenience. If you are agreeable,
please sign one copy and return it.
Yours faithfully
Appendix 3: Patient consent form for medical recording
Sample patient consent form for general use - Oxford University Press
CONSENT TO MEDICAL RECORDING
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS
Patient name...................................................................................................
PATIENT CONSENT
I hereby confirm that I give consent for the photographs and/or videotape images and/or
sound recordings (the material) set out on the attached request form listing images/recordings
to be made of me.
It has been explained to me that the material has educational value. I therefore consent to the
material being shown to appropriate professional staff (i.e. health care professionals,
including students) and published in educational publications, journals, textbooks in any form
or medium (including all forms of electronic publication or distribution) anywhere in the
world without time limit. I also understand that it is possible that the material may be seen by
the general public. All or any part of the material may be used in conjunction with other
photographs, drawings, videotape images, sound recordings or other forms of illustration. I
understand that efforts will be made to conceal my identity, but that full anonymity cannot be
guaranteed.
I understand that I may view the material by arrangement with [insert institution name].
However, once the material is made available for research or teaching purposes, I realise that
recovery of the material may not be possible. I understand that no fee is payable by the
[insert institution name] or any other person for use of the material either now, or at any time
in the future.
I confirm that the purpose for which the material may be used has been explained to me in
terms which I have understood. It has been made clear to me that refusal to consent will in no
way affect my medical care. I confirm that I am over 16 years old, of sound mind and that I
am not signing under any form of duress.
To be completed by the patient or parent/guardian, or next of kin if the patient is under
16 years of age, or deemed unfit to give legal consent.
Full name:.......................................................................................................................
Address:.....................................................................................................................
Signature ..............................................................................Date:..............................
(Patient, parent/guardian or next of kin)
LIMITED USE:
I consent for the material to be used only for confidential medical records and not for it to be
used for any other purpose including publication.
Signature……………………………………………. Date………………………………..
Hospital details
.................................................................................………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….
Date:.........................................
This form is largely based on the consent form of Oxford Medical Illustration, John Radcliffe Hospital,
Oxford and their kind permission in making their consent form available is gratefully acknowledged.
Appendix 4: Checklist for manuscript delivery
Delivery deadline: ………………………………………………………
Hard Disk
copy
Complete text
Complete illustrations
Complete references
Copies of letters giving permission to reproduce Figures/tables/text
Copies of signed patient consent for identifiable clinical illustrations
Notification of any recent/imminent change of address
Please send your contribution to
Keep a copy of all the material you send