Proposal for Publication in Peer-Reviewed Clinical Journal

This proposal illustrates how the core aims of and conclusions demonstrated by the manuscript in preparation (Manuscript), Evidence for Utilization of AAPD Dental Screening Tool by Primary Care Providers in the Promotion of Better Dental Health in Children, are properly aligned with the publishing parameters of Pediatric Clinics of North America (Journal), an early promoter of significant public health information assisting pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) who focus on serving populations most at risk for developing early childhood dental caries (ECC). This proposal will further show that the Journal’s schedule for submission and review are anticipated to be a rigorous yet manageable process, which should result in the Manuscript’s publication in a highly regarded clinical source.

The Manuscript delineates how implementing the Caries-Risk Assessment Tool (CAT) into each PCP office visit leads to proper referrals to dental professionals and ultimately, better health outcomes for children most at risk for suffering ECC. As a clinically focused, peer-reviewed publication with the purpose of providing “the practitioner with medical information useable for point-of-care as well as for further comprehension and analysis” (Manuscript Guidelines, n.d.), the Journal is especially attuned to meet both the health needs of patients and practical challenges faced by PCPs. Published and distributed by Elsevier, which provides both traditional print and open access platforms for scientific topics advancing public health, the Journal bills itself as actively seeking manuscripts that “function as a clinical guide to pediatricians [sic] on a given topic.” (Manuscript Guidelines, n.d.). These facts are important because they identify a public health resource that conspicuously looks to find and share new clinical information with its wide PCP subscriber base.

In the year 2000, the Journal addressed concerns squarely on point with the Manuscript’s core aim of helping children with the highest risk of ECC when it identified significant dental care consequences to the country’s underserved pediatric population. In one issue, the Journal focused in-depth articles on evolving approaches designed to mitigate these concerns. (Caufield, 2000; Nowak, 2000). This is crucial because the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry first formally adopted its CAT in 2002, (AAPD, 2002), almost two years after the Journal took significant steps in advancing the dialogue in this area. Since the Manuscript provides PCPs with critical data, insights, and tools beyond those found in 2000, the Journal should take a serious look again at providing PCPs with the updated knowledge their high-risk patients need most. The goals of both the Journal and the Manuscript are thus highly aligned.

The Journal’s publication requirements are largely consistent with what the Manuscript currently provides. This is an especially important factor since, unlike other academic journals that merited initial consideration, the Journal does not indicate a specific, limited word count for initial article submission. In fact, the complete itemization in the online checklist form is as follows: Title Page; Disclosure Statement; Key Words; Synopsis; Content; Template and Features, as requested at project outset; Tags corresponding to each major header; References; Figure legends; Figures; Tables/Boxes/Lists; Video, if applicable; and Permissions, if necessary. (Manuscript Checklist, n.d.). These distinct benefits would allow for the Manuscript’s submission to the Journal within mere days of final approval by Committee Members.

Finally, it is anticipated that the Manuscript as approved by Committee Members would be ready for digital uploading on the Elsevier provided platform within two weeks of an initial email inquiry. The Journal’s schedule overview for print publishing process is straightforward, and listed online in seven steps: 1) accept invitation to author manuscript; 2) prepare manuscript, and contacting guest editor or publishing editor with questions; 3) revise manuscript, as requested; 4) manuscript in production for copyediting; 5) author reviews proofs and submits revisions or corrections within two days; 6) production revisions, then issue goes to press; and 7) manuscript published online and in print. The three identified “critical periods for authors” (Manuscript Checklist, n.d.) supra, are: 2) author receives deadline to prepare manuscript, as directed by guest editor and publishing editor; 3) author’s content or format revisions originate from guest editor or the publisher, or both, and 5) author receives proofs via email for thorough revisions and response to final production queries. Based on all these criteria, therefore, it seems apparent that not only are the Journal’s history and mission well aligned with the Manuscript’s core aims, but the specific steps necessary for submission and publication are feasible.

References

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2002). Guideline on Caries-risk assessment and management for infants, children, and adolescents. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 35(6), 123-130. Retrieved March 3, 2014, from http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_CariesRiskAssessment.pdf

Caufield, P., & Griffen, A. (2000). Dental Caries: An infectious and transmissible disease. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 47(5), 1001-1018.

Manuscript Checklist. (n.d.). Pediatric Clinics of North America. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from http://www.elsevier.com/__data/promis_misc/clinics_checklist.pdf

Manuscript Guidelines. (n.d.). Pediatric Clinics of North America. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from http://www.elsevier.com/__data/promis_misc/ClinicsGuidelines-Base-Pediatrics-2011.pdf

Nowak, A. J., & Warren, J. J. (2000). Infant oral health and oral habits. [Abstract]. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 47(5), 1043-1066. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11059349.

Olusanya, S. (2014). Evidence for utilization of AAPD dental screening tool by primary care providers in the promotion of better dental health in children. (Manuscript in preparation). MU Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.