Field Action Reports
Guidelines for Contributors

Field Action Reports is a peer-reviewed department of the American Journal of Public Health highlighting the fieldwork of public health practitioners. This department seeks descriptions of innovative, successful and cost-effective programs conducted by national, state and local public health agencies and community-based organizations and groups. The purpose of the department is to share experiences that others may learn from and replicate. The program should preferably be in operation long enough to permit a rigorous assessment of its impact, factoring in the cost of startup and operation. A Field Action Report must include practical experiences and applications for others.

The manuscript should not exceed 1,000 words, excluding the Abstract, Key Findings, and other sidebars, references, boxes, and tables/figures. Text headings are recommended. Sidebar boxes highlighting specific aspects of a program are acceptable. Evaluation data may be presented in one table or figure, but graphics that depict the content of the program are preferred. Images, especially photographs showing examples of project participants in context, logos, examples of informational flyers or other educational materials are encouraged. Send either camera-ready prints or TIFF files of at least 300 dpi resolution, preferably in black and white. Specify if prints must be returned. For further information visit our graphics requirements page.

References: Limit references to those essential for scholarship or further follow-up by readers. Follow the format for books and articles found in the AMA Manual of Style or see published AJPH articles for examples. If the reference is not a book or an article, provide all the information that you can: page numbers, web site, e-mail address, radio show, manual, personal correspondence, videotape, and so on.

Resources: Provide a separate list, or refer in the text to the location of available educational materials or community tools that you found especially helpful.

In writing the report, please follow these prompts:

Title: Write short, catchy titles that capture the reader's attention and highlight the uniqueness of the program.

Abstract (unstructured): In the first few paragraphs, give a brief overview of 1) the problem addressed by the program; 2) the policy issues involved; 3) the geographic location of the program and the population it attempts to reach; 4) the approach used to resolve the problem; and 5) the results obtained.

Program Description: Provide enough detailed information about the program to enable the reader to decide whether this effort could be replicated and what resources it would take to do so. Mention the history of the program and, if relevant, describe the key stages in program development, from acquisition of resources to current operational status. Interesting or unusual aspects of the program that merit a more detailed description, such as participant perspectives, staffing needs, volunteer training, special problems and solutions, or compelling situations may merit a more detailed description under a separate heading or as a sidebar box to the article.

Discussion and Evaluation: Summarize the evidence for the program's effectiveness. What has been most successful and most disappointing in your appraisal? What could have been done differently? What additional resources would have helped? Be explicit about funding sources and program costs.

Next Steps: Assess the viability/sustainability of the program and future challenges and opportunities. Comment on practical experiences and implications for other programs.

Key Findings: Use 3 or 4 bullets to highlight key outcomes and public health implications of the program. Write in lay terms easily understood by policymakers, the media, and readers outside of the field of public health. (Key Findings will be formatted as a sidebar.)

For specific information on how to prepare and submit the manuscript for peer review, refer to the AJPH author guidelines, "What AJPH Authors Should Know". The peer review process can take up to 3 months. Revisions may be required. For questions about content, contact the AJPH Editor-in-Chief, Mary E. Northridge, PhD, MPH, by e-mail (men11{at}columbia.edu). For questions about images, contact the Feature Editor, Gabriel Stover, by phone (323-930-2832) or e-mail (gabriel_stover{at}sbcglobal.net). For questions about the status of your manuscript, e-mail the editorial office at ajph.submissions{at}apha.org or call 202-777-APHA(2742).

If your article does not fit well within the preceding format but is timely and important to the field of public health practice, it may be suitable for submission as a research brief or policy article to appear elsewhere in the Journal. Consult the AJPH author guidelines for descriptions of other types of articles and more details about submission.

Revised 5/13/2003