title: Common errors in manuscripts submitted to medical science journals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals are rejected for reasons that include low-quality of the manuscripts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to identify and characterize the common errors in manuscripts submitted to medical journals based in Africa and Asia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reviewers' reports on 42 manuscripts were analyzed qualitatively using deductive coding, and quantitatively to determine the errors by sections of the manuscripts. The study included only reviews on full length original research articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that 66.7% (28/42) of the manuscripts had flaws in the introduction, 85.7% (36/42) in materials and methods, 66.7% (28/42) in the results, 71.4% (30/42) in discussion, 69.0% (29/42) in references, and 81.1% (34/42) in the general sections. Qualitative analysis of the reviews revealed 22 themes. Most common flaws identified were improper review of literature, provision of insufficient detailed methodology, unsystematic or illogical presentation of results, and unsupported conclusions. Others were inconsistent or nonconforming citations, and lack of good grammatical writing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that many of the manuscripts had remarkable errors and demonstrate the need for attention to detail in study design and manuscript preparation and for further training of medical scientists in the techniques of manuscript writing for journal publication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
authors.forename: Cc
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ezeala
authors.forename: In
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nweke
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ezeala
keywords: Academic writing; Africa; Asia; Manuscript preparation; Peer review