Submission guidelines

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Please read the guidelines in full before submitting your manuscript.
Manuscripts not conforming to these guidelines may be returned.

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Message from the Editor:

Welcome to this submission guide for potential authors. On behalf of the journal’s editorial leadership, I am delighted that you are considering Health Promotion Practice (HPP) for publication of your work.

HPP welcomes submissions in several formats:

  • Articles (3,500 word limit)
  • Research Briefs (2,000 words)
  • Implementation Science articles (4,000 words)
  • Review/Evidence Synthesis articles (4,000 words)
  • Short articles or commentary in our three departments: Career Development, Practice Notes, and Resources, Frameworks and Perspectives.
  • Poetry for the Public's Health

All submissions undergo rigorous peer review. Our average time from submission to first decision is 50 days. Accepted material is published and available OnlineFirst and then assigned to a formal issue.

Material in HPP is discoverable through a wide range of indices and databases, including PubMed, Index Medicus, CINAHL, and Clarivate’s Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). Social media posts and HPP Podcast support getting our content in front of as many potential users as possible. Our primary focus is material of relevance to health promotion policy makers and advocates, practitioners, researchers, and funders.

The Journal is published by the Society for Public Health Education. We welcome submissions from all disciplines relevant to health promotion practice.

There are no fees payable to submit or publish in this Journal. Open Access options are available - see section below.

HPP offers optional open access publishing via the Sage Choice program and Open Access agreements, where authors can publish open access either discounted or free of charge depending on the agreement with Sage. Find out if your institution is participating by visiting Open Access Agreements at Sage. For more information on Open Access publishing options at Sage please visit Sage Open Access. For information on funding body compliance, and depositing your article in repositories, please visit Sage’s Author Archiving and Re-Use Guidelines and Publishing Policies.

Getting Oriented

  • Join the conversation! Experience the energy of HPP; A substantive section labeled "beyond the page" for yourself:
  • Check your settings!  Please make sure that Health Promotion Practice emails are not filtering into your "Bulk" or "Spam" folders by indicating that Health Promotion Practice (onbehalfof@manuscriptcentral.com) is a safe email sender in your email account settings.

This is an exciting time for Health Promotion Practice. Since our first issue in January 2000, the Journal has proudly published a wide range of content bringing forward both new and established authors, addressing leading edge issues with the discipline of science, nuanced insight from practice, and practical tools. We look forward to your submission!

LaNita S. Wright, PhD, MPH, MCHES
Editor, Health Promotion Practice

Submitting Your Manuscript to HPP

The editorial process is managed online through ScholarOne https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/hppractice.

Please note that submitting a manuscript does not guarantee full peer review. Each manuscript undergoes careful screening by a member of the editorial leadership, who then decides if it should go forward for peer review. 

Manuscript Categories

HPP invites manuscripts aligned with the following categories:

Full-length Articles: These manuscripts may be up to 3,500 text words (not including 250- word abstract, keywords, tables/figures/images, or references).  Manuscripts must include a conceptual framework, and clearly and specifically advance knowledge relevant to the field of health promotion. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section.  Manuscripts may include up to 30 references and up to 5 tables/figures/images. Data must have been collected within the past five years.

Research Briefs: These shorter manuscripts should succinctly present research results of interest to health promotion scholars and practitioners. Research Briefs are intended to share important, late-breaking findings. Research Brief submissions may be up to 2,000 text words, with no more than three tables/figures/images. The submission must include a 250-word abstract and no more than 15 references. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section. Data must have been collected within the past five years.

Evidence Synthesis/Review Articles: HPP seeks to publish useful and timely reviews of current literature, particularly mapping, scoping, narrative, and/or state of the art reviews and evidence syntheses.  Reviews are expected to adhere to the PRISMA guidelines  for review and meta-analysis articles. Manuscripts in this category may include up to 4,000 text words and up to 4 tables/figures/images. Review articles must address a new question and make specific linkages to health promotion policy and practice in the concluding section in order to move to peer review. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section. Authors are encouraged to use the Supplemental Material option for extended tables in order to conserve page space.

Implementation Science Articles: These manuscripts may be up to 4,000 words but must be very clearly structured, with emphasis on implementation science and utilizing a specific implementation science framework. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section. Submissions must include a 250-word abstract (not included in the word count) and relevant keywords. Authors are asked to be judicious in the number of references and tables/figures/images. Additional material can be submitted as Supplemental Content and permanently linked to the published article. Data must have been collected within the past five years.

HPP publishes poetry in our Poetry for the Public’s Health section. 

Poems: Poems can be written individually or collaboratively and in any format. The section specifically seeks “poems that analyze, reflect on, examine, interrogate, celebrate, critique, question, contest, counter, challenge, reframe, remix, reimagine, or otherwise speak to health (in)equity and well-being through poetry.” Authors should keep in mind that poems may need to conform to the journal’s traditional style guide when published. However, a copy of the poem exactly as formatted by the author(s) will be available to all as Supplemental Material. Information specific to poetry submissions can be found here.

The Journal also publishes shorter articles and reflective commentary in three departments:  

Career Development Articles: These manuscripts should provide practical resources for health promotion and health education specialists and other professionals working in diverse health promotion settings. Articles address issues across the lifespan and career path, and may focus on academic preparation, workforce development, credentialing and accreditation, internship and fellowship experiences, professional development opportunities, mentoring, and retirement. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section. Submissions may be up to 2,000 words, not including the 250-word abstract and keywords, and with no more than 10 references and 2 tables/figures/images.

Resources, Frameworks, & Perspectives Articles: This department provides a forum for shorter articles and commentaries grounded in the spirit and science of health promotion practice and policy. Submissions may focus on resources (e.g., data visualization or mapping tools, law and policy databases, advocacy toolkits), innovative applications of theoretical frameworks, or policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to promote health equity. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section. Submissions may be up to 2,000 text words, include no more than 10 references and 2 tables/figures/images, and must include a 250-word abstract and keywords.

Practice Notes Articles: These manuscripts elevate practitioner voices and provide readers with reflections on emerging and innovative practice-related strategies, initiatives, and programs important to health promotion and health education. Submissions highlight lessons learned, challenges and successes, and practical recommendations for working collaboratively in community or instructional settings. Practice Notes may include up to 1,000 text words, with no more than 5 references and 1 table/figure/image and must include a 250-word abstract and keywords. Headings may include (but are not limited to): assessment of need, description of the strategy or innovation, intended impact/outcomes, evaluation approach, challenges and successes, next steps, lessons learned, and implications for practice. A substantive section labeled “Implications for Practice” must be included at or near the end of the text; authors are highly encouraged also to include either a section labeled “Implications for Policy” or “Implications for Research” immediately following the “Implications for Practice” section.

For all of our Departments  – and especially for Practice Notes – we encourage practitioner and community member authors, and welcome pre-submission inquiries. Authors interested in contributing to HPP’s departments are invited to contact Managing Editor at HPP@publishingsolutions.net or Editorial Director Holly Mata at mata.holly@gmail.com.

Submission Requirements for all Manuscripts

Online submission: Manuscripts must be submitted online at the Health Promotion Practice ScholarOne portal at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/hppractice. The site contains detailed instructions on how to submit and track the manuscript through the review process.

Alignment with HPP’s mission and scope: All submissions to Health Promotion Practice should address some aspect of the journal’s mission to publish authoritative research, commentary, practical tools, and promising practices that strategically advance the art and science of health promotion and disease prevention. HPP’s scope includes policy, programs, professional preparation and career development in diverse settings, including communities, health care, worksites, and schools.  Its international editorial board reflects its commitment to global perspectives relevant across geography or organizational borders. Unique in its practitioner focus, HPP is committed to contributing to eliminating health disparities, achieving health equity, addressing social determinants of health, and advancing evidence-based health promotion practice. Authors should also describe any collaborative partnerships with local stakeholders or public involvement where relevant. HPP encourages inclusivity in authorship teams and reflexivity in research reporting to enhance the relevance and integrity of published work.

Collaborative Authorship and Local Engagement: HPP values research that reflects diverse perspectives and encourages collaboration with in-country stakeholders, community members, and local practitioners. We believe that co-authorship with stakeholders who are closely connected to the research context enhances the relevance and impact of the work. Authors are encouraged to include local collaborators as part of their research teams and to describe how these partnerships have informed the design, implementation, and dissemination of their work. Submission Tip: Authors should describe collaborations with local or regional stakeholders in the Methods section, where applicable.

Public and Patient Involvement: HPP supports research that integrates public and patient involvement (PPI) to ensure studies address the needs and perspectives of those most affected by the research. Authors are encouraged to include a brief PPI statement in their manuscripts, outlining how public or patient stakeholders were involved in the design, implementation, or interpretation of the research. Submission Tip: In the Methods section, include a description of any PPI activities conducted, such as consultations or co-creation sessions, and their impact on the research.

Reflexivity and Inclusivity: HPP emphasizes the importance of reflexivity in research and writing. Authors are encouraged to include reflexivity statements that describe their positionality, potential biases, and how these have shaped the research process and findings. Reflexivity contributes to greater transparency and trustworthiness in scholarly work. In addition, all manuscripts must adhere to HPP’s commitment to respectful, inclusive, and non-stigmatizing language, as outlined in our “Power of Words” philosophy. This includes avoiding assumptions about populations and clearly identifying systemic factors such as racism or social inequities when describing health disparities. Submission Tip: Reflexivity statements can be included in the Methods or Discussion sections to provide context for the study’s design and interpretation.

Fostering Inclusive Research Teams: HPP encourages authors to assemble research teams that reflect diversity in disciplines, backgrounds, and lived experiences. Inclusivity in research teams not only enriches perspectives but also enhances the quality and impact of the work. Authors are encouraged to describe efforts to foster inclusivity in their teams, including strategies for engaging collaborators from underrepresented groups or communities affected by the research. Submission Tip: Consider including a brief description in the cover letter or Methods section outlining the composition of the research team and any steps taken to ensure inclusivity.

Clear and substantive implications for practice, policy, and/or research. For most submission formats, Implications for Practice is a required section; Implications for Policy and/or Implications for Research are also highly suggested. It is expected that the Implications will be fully developed (not just an “add-on”) drawing from the approach, methods, results, and/or lessons learned. Readers should be able to walk away from this section with clear, actionable ideas or insights. Please note that manuscripts without clearly articulated implications for health promotion practice will be declined without peer review. 

Respectful, inclusive, and non-stigmatizing language: Please use respectful and inclusive language in all areas of your submission.  In particular, we ask authors to consider the following word choices:

Instead of….

Please consider….

Subjects

Participants, respondents

Target population

Priority population, focus population, community

Hard to reach populations

Under-served populations, marginalized communities

At-risk (to describe a population)

specifying risk factors, or marginalized or risked

“Race” as a risk factor

naming racism as the risk factor

Substance abuse

Substance use/unhealthy substance use/problematic substance use/ non-medical substance use, etc.

Substance abuser

Person with a substance use disorder/person with problems related to substance use, etc.

The disabled

People with a disability

The elderly

Older people

Historically underrepresented

Historically excluded, marginalized

he/she

they

Lifestyle/lifestyle change

Health behavior/ behavior change

Blinded/double blinded

Anonymized/double anonymized

For more information on the HPP philosophy on language and word choices, please see:

Roe, K. M., & Mata, H. J. (2019). The Power of Words. Health Promotion Practice, 20(2), 153–156. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839919827900

Mata, H. J., & Roe, K. M. (2021). The Power of Words 2.0. Health Promotion Practice, 22(3), 293–294. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211001068

Additional Resources

The American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Bias-Free Language is a helpful resource, available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language.

On Racism: A New Standard For Publishing On Racial Health Inequities provides important guidance and proposed standards for researchers, journals, and peer reviewers: https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200630.939347/full/.

We also recommend the Linguistic Society of America’s Guidelines for Inclusive Language https://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/guidelines-inclusive-language.

The Manuscript

Style and Format: All manuscripts must be prepared in English according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). In particular, authors are requested to pay attention to the following: 

  • 1” margins, Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced
  • Number every line of the manuscript in the left margin
  • Carefully review the manuscript for English language or grammar errors – manuscripts with more than 10 grammar errors will be returned to the authors without review
  • Include all of the “Items Required for Submission” below

Please note that Health Promotion Practice adheres to a rigorous double-anonymized review policy in which the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from each other.  All information that identifies authors, institutions, or funding should be redacted or omitted from the submitted manuscript.  If accepted for publication, appropriate identifying information will be restored.

Items Required for Submission

  • Cover Letter: All submissions must include a cover letter specifying:
  • the manuscript category
  • specific contribution to advancing knowledge for practice
  • Institutional Review Board/Human Subjects approval or stated exemption
  • respective roles of each author
  • manuscript submission history (has it been submitted and declined publication elsewhere) and affirmation that it is not currently under consideration by another journal 
  • Contact information for the corresponding author

Please note: Manuscripts without a complete cover letter may be returned without review.

  • Title Page and Acknowledgements: The title page should include the title of the manuscript; author names, degrees, and affiliations; and any acknowledgements, funding information, or conflict of interest statements that the authors wish to include with the manuscript. The title page must also include one line bios for all authors:
    • Example: Jordan A. Public, MPH, is Director of Health Education at Mountain County Health Department,  Anytown, State, Country.
  • Abstract: (250 words or less): The narrative abstract should read as a stand-alone document and reflect the full text of the manuscript. A summary of the key results that indicate implications for practice and/or policy and research must be included.  Please note that the abstract is available for all to read, even if the publication itself is behind the paywall.
  • Keywords: Authors should identify 6 – 10 keywords that will help the publication be discovered in online searches  (this may be in addition to the keywords selected from the drop-down menus ScholarOne provides). The best keywords are closely aligned with the text and selected to attract readers and other authors searching for articles about a specific population, health issue, approach, method, theory or conceptual framework, or setting. During production, the keywords included on the title page are added to the final product.If keywords are not provided, ScholarOne automatically uses a set of keywords used internally to match reviewers to manuscripts.  This internal list is more general than the keywords that will help potential users discover the paper in their own online searches. Authors are encouraged to pay careful attention to the selection of current and relevant keywords.
  • Text: Headings should be used to delineate the key sections of the manuscript. For research-based articles, this may include Background, Purpose or Aims, Methods, Results, Discussion (including Limitations) and the required Implications for Practice and/or Policy and Research. Department and poetry submissions may be structured differently (see their respective guidelines). 
  • References: All references should be formatted and cited in accordance with the APA Publication Manual (7th Edition).  Footnotes should be avoided.  For detailed information on how to format citations and references, please consult the APA Tutorial.
  • Tables, Figures, and Images: All tables, figures, and images should be labeled with explanatory captions in accordance with the style and format requirements of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). This material must be editable and provided in PowerPoint, Excel, or Word formats. Tables, figures, and images should be placed at the end of the document immediately following the reference list or uploaded in separate document files. Placement notations should be made throughout the text (e.g., “Insert Figure 1 here”).  Please submit images exactly as you wish to see them when published. These files should be submitted in their original file format for best quality.
  • Tables, figures, and images should be well constructed, easy to comprehend, and avoid duplication of results presented in the text. Excessively long tables should be considered for access in Supplemental Material, linked to the paper but leaving space for a shorter summary or key points table in the paper itself.
    All tables, figures, and images should be able to be understood independently without requiring explanation from the text. Titles should be descriptive and follow APA format.
  • Illustrations, photographs, and grayscale imagesshould be supplied in the highest quality original electronic format and in the size they will appear in the journal, or larger. Photos are best sent as originals or scanned in at the correct size and resolution (300 dpi). All files should follow the Sage artwork guidelines accessed at the Sage Manuscript Submission Guidelines.  All original photographs require signed releases from anyone appearing in the image.

Please note the respective limits on figures/tables/images/photographs for each article type. 

  • Supplemental Material:Supplemental material (e.g., questionnaires, codebooks, campaign material) that the authors wish to share may be included as a separate file clearly identified with “online sup” in the file name.  If the manuscript is accepted for publication and the Editor approves, a link to the supplemental material will be embedded in the article during production. Please note that supplemental material is open to all, even if the publication is not.  We recommend that the source of each item placed in Supplemental Material be clearly labeled with author, affiliation, and link to the HPP Questions about this can be directed to our Managing Editor, HPP@publishingsolutions.net.

Organization of the Submission

  • Cover letter
  • Title Page, including Acknowledgements
  • Abstract (250 words)
  • Keywords
  • Manuscript (double spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, word count aligned with manuscript category)
  • References (APA format, 7th ed.)
  • Tables/figures/images (following the references or in a separate file, editable format, highest possible quality, releases if needed)
  • Any supplemental material (uploaded in a separate file and clearly labeled “online sup” in the file name)

Presentation and Style of the Submission – Author Checklist

  • Do your cover letter and introduction make clear how your manuscript aligns with the mission of HPP?
  • Does your cover letter address all of the required points?
  • Have you selected keywords that will make your paper easily discoverable through online searches?
  • Does your manuscript follow the HPPlanguage and word choice guidelines?
  • Does your manuscript clearly identify implications for practice and either policy or further research?
  • Do your references comply with the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) format?
  • Have you noted where any tables or figures should be inserted within the text? i.e. “—insert Table 1 here—”
  • Do all tables/figures/images have clear, explanatory titles?
  • Have you redacted all identifying information for review purposes, such as identity of authors and funding source? 

Manuscript Revisions

If invited to revise and resubmit your manuscript, please submit a clean copy with no editing marks and any track changes notations accepted. The clean copy will be used for the next round of peer review, guided by your detailed “Response to Reviewers.” In addition to the revised manuscript, an organized and specific “Response to Reviewers” is critical to a focused and timely next review. You may choose to enter your responses in the space provided with the online submission or attach your response in a separate document. Many authors and reviewers find that a table or chart showing each comment and the specific response to that comment (quoting new language and specifying line and page numbers) is the best way to organize this important part of the review process. Please make sure not to include any information that identifies the authors or participants in your response.

Please note that authors are not required to make all of the changes recommended by reviewers, but they are required to address each point in their response.

Copyright

A signed copy of the agreement transferring copyright from author to publisher is required upon manuscript acceptance. The corresponding author will be required to electronically sign a transfer of copyright form on behalf of the authors – except in the case of Work Made for Hire. In this case, an employer’s signature is required. Authors will be directed to the appropriate form when the manuscript is accepted for publication, including instructions for obtaining signatures and submitting the completed form.

Pre-Publication Proofs 

Proofs of manuscripts accepted for publication will be supplied to the corresponding author directly from Sage Productions. That author has the responsibility to check the accuracy of typesetting and copyediting, including references, and to return corrected proofs within the specified time allowed (usually 5 business days).

OnlineFirst/Publish Ahead of Print

Health Promotion Practice uses OnlineFirst, a Sage Journals Online feature through which accepted articles are published online prior to their inclusion in a formal issue (also referred to as “publishing ahead of print”). This feature offers you the advantage of making your research accessible to our readers and discoverable by the public in a timely manner.

During the production process each manuscript is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), a unique identification number similar to the ISBN assigned to book publications. (You can find this number on the bottom left-hand corner of the first page of your proofs.) While available through OnlineFirst, your manuscript should be cited using the DOI as follows:

Mata, H. & Valerio-Shewmaker, M. Article title. Health Promotion Practice. Prepublished December 17, 2018, DOI: 10.1177/0123456789123456

After the article is assigned to a specific issue, new citations can be made using volume and page number information, while still using the DOI:

Mata, H. & Valerio, M.  Article title. Health Promotion Practice. 2019, 6: 211–217, DOI: 10.1177/0123456789123456

Post-Publication Article Access

The corresponding author will receive a link to a PDF of the article as it appears in the issue in which it will be published.  Corresponding authors are responsible for distributing the link to all co-authors. The link is to be used in accordance with the specified instructions. We ask that authors invite others to directly access their article through the HPP website. When authors share pdfs rather than the article link, critical evaluative statistics will not accurately reflect the degree to which your article has been used.

Promoting Your Article

Once your article is in production, there are several things that we can do to make sure that your work is discovered, read, and used.

HPP on social media: Authors are invited to provide information to support the paper or poem, should it be published in HPP, when they submit the original manuscript. The information authors provide is crucial for our social media and special collection promotion.

The HPP Podcast: Prospective authors are invited to subscribe to The HPP Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google or other podcast platforms. Engaging with the journal helps authors understand what’s new and trending at HPP, and shows you what we can do for your published paper! Authors may be invited to join us for an episode to air when their paper publishes or as part of a themed collection.

Final Note:

We recognize and appreciate the work and hope that goes into manuscript preparation, particularly for first-time authors. We are not able to review and/or publish all of the good work that comes our way, but we promise feedback that will help you understand what happened in the the review process and suggestions for next steps.

If HPP seems like the right place for what you want to publish, we look forward to receiving your submission!

Questions?

Please direct inquiries to:

Cheska Shahra, HPP Managing Editor
J&J Editorial
Email: HPP@publishingsolutions.net