On the Other Hand
Guidelines for Contributors

The column On the Other Hand was designed to present a forum for critical debate about timely public health topics. Typically, 2 authors with different perspectives offer their views in a joint column. The positions need not be adversarial. Each author is allowed 1000 words of text and up to 10 references in which to state their positions. The editors encourage an exchange of text between authors prior to acceptance to ensure that the debate is useful to the broader public health community. While not often published, On the Other Hand provides an opportunity for authors other than editors to offer their opinions on crucial public health priorities in cases where authentic deliberation may help advance the field. Unlike the column Letters to the Editor, this column need not refer specifically to prior work published in the Journal. To inquire about a potential On the Other Hand column, please state your request via the FEEDBACK option on our website. For an apt example of an On the Other Hand exchange published in the Journal, please see the following:

ON THE OTHER HAND:
Joseph S. Coyne and Peter Hilsenrath
The World Health Report 2000: Can Health Care Systems Be Compared Using a Single Measure of Performance?
Am J Public Health, Jan 2002; 92: 30 - 33.

ON THE OTHER HAND:
Vicente Navarro
The World Health Report 2000: Can Health Care Systems Be Compared Using a Single Measure of Performance?
Am J Public Health, Jan 2002; 92: 31 - 34.

Revised 3/29/2005