About International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
Aims and scope
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance (IJHCQA) explores quality within the context of health care, examines managerial and planning models and methods and discusses the implications of introducing and maintaining quality initiatives. The journal publishes research on topics including but not limited to:
- Qualitative and quantitative research grounded in established theories, empirical and analytical methodologies, including statistical and mathematical modeling on all aspects of quality in health care which demonstrates relevance to practice
- Evidence-based, robustly designed, and validated data-driven Case Studies detailing real-life examples of quality assurance techniques and management within health and social care settings.
Themes addressed are clinical, managerial, and educational in scope and cover, including:
- Successful quality/continuous improvement health care projects
- The use of quality tools and models in health care leadership management development, such as the EFQM Excellence Model, Balanced Scorecard, Quality Standards, Managed Care, and Patient and Family Centered Care
- Issues relating to process control, such as Lean Six Sigma, Managing Change and Process Mapping in health care activities related to Medical Error Management, Patient Safety, Value in Health Care, Healthy Aging, and Best Nursing Practices
- Improving patient care and health care delivery through quality related programs and/or research
Call for New Authors
IJHCQA encourages new and developing authors to consider the Journal, given its international reach and broad scope. Please email the editor for further information, guidance and support: ian.callanan@gmail.com
Call for Reviewers
Do you wish to develop your reviewing experience and expertise? Please consider applying to the editor to become a reviewer for the journal by emailing the editor: ian.callanan@gmail.com
Checklist for Manuscripts
The Editorial Team is committed to helping authors improve the quality of their submissions to this journal. A checklist that the Editorial Team follows at the time of the initial desk-review can be found below. Authors are strongly urged to use this checklist as a guide while preparing the manuscript.
| Manuscript Requirements by Section | Key Consideration and Content |
| Structured Abstract | Abbreviated and written for a layperson, without any technical jargon, numbers, or equations Include in abbreviated form - Purpose, Design/Methodology/Approach, Findings, Research limitations/implications, Practical implications, Social implications, and Originality/value |
| Title | Brief and relevant to topic covered in the manuscript |
| Keywords | Specific to topic and meaningful with concatenation of two or more words for a Boolean search |
| Article Classification | Choose appropriate classification In the case of Case Study / Survey Study, provide Institutional Review Board clearance at the time of submission of the manuscript. Such clearance must include (1) name and location of study’s sponsor institution, (2) title and purpose of the study, (3) date(s) when the study was conducted and (4) permission to publish results of the study. |
| Introduction | Include the following: Research question(s) Statement of research hypothesis(es) to support research question(s) Motivation and aims of study Relevance to quality in health care Overview of research and manuscript Road map of rest of the manuscript |
| Literature Review | Selective literature review of research published in peer-reviewed archival journals (including IJHCQA), strictly related to the research topic under study and current for at least last five years Assessment of gaps in prior research Delineate contributions of the manuscript in light of gaps |
| Study Design, selection of sample, and Study Data | Describe how study is designed, population size and sample selection process, justify sample validity, describe, and discuss source and type of study data used |
| Methodology | Offer technical presentation in detail of the new idea, methodology used, models used or developed and appropriate theoretical basis Include full explanation of models used in the appendix Include explanatory figures and tables Offer an overview of any application developed |
| Quantitative Analysis | Provide quantitative analysis that gleans insights into the research problem and supports/rejects research hypothesis(es) |
| Comparative Analysis | Offer comparative analysis of study’s research outcomes to similar studies published in the open literature |
| Generalization and replication | Make a case (with specific example) of generalization and replication of the proposed methodology/technique applied to the localized case to another health care entity in other parts of the world to enhance its broader impact |
| Implications for Research | Describe implications of the proposed research on general direction of the research topic described in the manuscript |
| Limitations (if any) | Discuss any limitations with regard to any study component, such as study design, study sample, study data etc. |
| Conclusions | Offer summary of accomplishments and contributions of the study Emphasize generalizable outcomes and lessons learned from the study |
| Future Direction | Discuss future direction of the proposed research |
| References | Formatted per Harvard style with complete citations |
| Figures and Tables | Include appropriately formatted small number of explanatory figures and tables |
| Appendix | Include study Questionnaire Offer detailed discussion of models and methods utilized in the study |
The manuscript should also be formatted according to author guidelines: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/ijhcqa#author-guidelines
