Guidelines for Authors

Guidelines for Authors

Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice (AICO Journal) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing scientific dialogue across the perioperative continuum of care. Rooted in the vision of AICO – the Italian Association of Operating Room Nurses – the Journal embraces an interdisciplinary mission grounded in the recognition that contemporary surgical and perioperative challenges require integrated, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary scientific approaches.

AICO Journal welcomes contributions from nursing, surgery, anesthesiology, infection prevention and control, risk management, biomedical sciences, health technology, healthcare management, rehabilitation sciences, health policy, bioethics, and all disciplines involved in perioperative care. Our aim is to promote research that not only describes clinical and organizational realities, but actively contributes to improving safety, quality, and patient outcomes. The Journal values methodological diversity, contextual awareness, and a strong commitment to impactful, practice-oriented, and globally relevant science capable of strengthening perioperative systems and professional development worldwide.

For detailed information on copyright, licensing, and reuse conditions, please refer to the Open Access Policy page.


Aims and Scope

Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice (AICO Journal) is an international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing excellence, safety, and innovation in perioperative care. The Journal provides a scientific platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, fostering research and knowledge translation across the entire surgical care continuum. AICO Journal aims to advance interdisciplinary perioperative science and practice by promoting research that:

  • Bridges perioperative disciplines and fosters interprofessional collaboration, integrating nursing, surgery, anesthesia, infection prevention, risk management, biomedical technology, and healthcare management

  • Advances evidence-based perioperative care, across pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative phases, with strong implications for patient safety and quality improvement

  • Integrates diverse research methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, implementation research, and translational approaches

  • Engages with real-world clinical practice, addressing patient experience, human factors, workflow optimization, and team performance in surgical settings

  • Explores technological innovation and digital transformation, including surgical technologies, robotics, data systems, simulation, and artificial intelligence in perioperative environments

  • Examines ethical, organizational, educational, and policy dimensions shaping perioperative practice at local, national, and global levels

  • Demonstrates measurable impact on outcomes, including patient safety, clinical effectiveness, professional development, sustainability, and healthcare system resilience


Article Types
AICO Journal publishes the following article categories:

  • Original Research Articles
  • Editorials
  • Review Articles (systematic, scoping, narrative)
  • Case Report and Case Series
  • Research Protocols
  • Guidelines and Consensus Statement
  • Commentaries
  • Letters to the Editor


Ethics and Policies
Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice adheres to the ethical standards recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the Council of Science Editors (CSE). All submitted manuscripts must meet the highest standards of scientific integrity, transparency, and responsible research conduct.
Scientific misconduct—including plagiarism, redundant or duplicate publication, data fabrication or falsification, image manipulation, inappropriate AI usage, misappropriation of intellectual property, and undisclosed conflicts of interest—will result in immediate rejection. If warranted, AICO Journal may notify the authors’ institutions or funders, consistent with COPE guidelines.

Submission Declaration 
By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

  • The work is original, ethically conducted, and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • All authors have approved the submission, authorship order, and final manuscript.
  • All data, materials, and methods comply with relevant legal, ethical, and institutional requirements.
  • The manuscript adheres to international reporting guidelines (see EQUATOR section).


Authorship
Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice (AICO Journal) follows ICMJE criteria for authorship, requiring substantial contributions, active drafting or revision, approval of the final manuscript, and accountability for the integrity of the work. To enhance transparency, authors are strongly encouraged to provide a CRediT contributor statement, specifying each author’s role (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, data curation, writing, supervision).
Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors must be justified in writing and signed by all authors. The journal will follow COPE flowcharts to evaluate disputes. Changes after acceptance are allowed only in exceptional circumstances.

Declaration of Competing Interests
All authors must disclose financial or non‑financial conflicts of interest. If none exist, include:
“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

Funding Sources
Authors must list all funding sources, including grant numbers. If no funding was received:
“This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not‑for‑profit sectors.”


Declaration of Generative AI Use
Authors must disclose any use of generative AI in writing, analysis, or image production. AI tools cannot replace authors’ intellectual contributions or data interpretation. Example statement:
“During the preparation of this work, the authors used [TOOL] for [PURPOSE]. The authors reviewed and validated all content.”

Preprints
AICO Journal welcomes submissions previously posted to reputable preprint servers. Authors must disclose this in the cover letter and include the preprint DOI.

Use of Inclusive Language
Manuscripts must avoid discriminatory or stigmatizing language. AICO Journal encourages gender-inclusive terminology, respectful disability language, and compliance with international standards for reporting sex and gender.

Reporting Sex- and Gender-Based Analyses
When applicable, authors should detail how sex and gender were considered in study design, recruitment, analysis, and interpretation. This aligns with SAGER guidelines for sex- and gender-equitable research.

Jurisdictional Claims
Maps, institutional affiliations, or geographic references must avoid implying political positions or territorial claims.

Studies in Humans
Studies involving human participants require explicit ethics approval, including the name of the ethics committee and the protocol number. Research must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant national legislation.

Informed Consent and Patient Details
Where identifiable information is included, written informed consent must be obtained. Authors must anonymize patient data as thoroughly as possible and state that consent has been secured. Consent forms must not be submitted unless requested.

Clinical Trials Registration
Clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN) prior to participant enrollment. The registration number must appear in the manuscript.

Writing and Formatting
Manuscripts must be written in clear academic English, using Times New Roman 12-point font, double spacing, and 2.5 cm margins. Submit in .docx format.

Double-Anonymized Peer Review
Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice (AICO Journal) uses a double-anonymized peer-review process. Authors must remove all identifying information from the manuscript and metadata. Reviewers are selected for expertise and must declare any conflicts of interest.

Manuscript sections

Title Page
The title page must include: 

  • Full manuscript title
  • Authors’ names, affiliations (Department, Institution, City, Country), and ORCID iDs
  • Corresponding author’s email
  • Funding and conflict-of-interest statements
  • Preprint DOI, if applicable

Abstract and Structured Abstract
Abstracts must be structured according to the type of study, following the indications provided below. Provide 4–6 keywords, possibly from MeSH terms.

Key Findings
Authors are required to provide a “Key Findings” section consisting of 3 concise bullet points that highlight the essential contributions of the manuscript. The Key Findings must reflect the manuscript’s original contributions rather than restating the abstract. The first Key Finding must explicitly identify the disciplines, professional groups, or fields of study that may benefit from the paper. This helps contextualize the potential impact and clarifies how the work contributes to cross

Units and Nomenclature
Use SI units consistently and define all abbreviations upon first use.

Research Data
When possible, datasets should be deposited in FAIR-compliant repositories. Manuscripts must include:

  • A Data Availability Statement
  • Links to datasets, software, or supplementary materials (DOIs, accession numbers).

Submitting Your Manuscript

All manuscripts are submitted through the Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice (AICO Journal) online submission system. 
Include: cover letter, abstract, anonymized manuscript, title page, figures, tables, and supplementary files.

Submission Checklist

  • Cover letter
  • Title page
  • Abstract, keywords and Key Findings
  • An anonymized manuscript containing APA 7 references, figures and tables, and the mandatory Conflict of Interest and Funding statements
  • EQUATOR checklist (if applicable)
  • Ethics approval documentation (if applicable)
  • Graphic Abstract (optional)

After Acceptance
Authors will receive proofs for final verification. Only typographical errors may be corrected.

Article Requirements
Advanced Interdisciplinary Care in periOperative Practice (AICO Journal) endorses the EQUATOR Network initiative, which promotes the transparent and accurate reporting of health research. Authors are required to identify the relevant reporting checklist for their study type and ensure that it is completed and submitted along with their manuscript. Adhering to these guidelines enhances the quality and clarity of research reporting, ultimately contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge.

Original Research Articles
Length: 3,000–5,000 words.
Structured abstract (250–300 words) following the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).
Manuscripts must follow the appropriate EQUATOR reporting guideline (e.g., CONSORT for randomized trials, STROBE for observational studies, COREQ for qualitative research, or other relevant checklists).
Ethics approval and informed consent required when applicable.
Up to 6 tables/figures.

Editorial
Length: 800–1,200 words.
Maximum of 10 references.
Concise, argumentative, or reflective perspectives on relevant issues.

Review Articles
Length: 3,500–6,500 words.
Structured abstract (250–300 words) following the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).
Clear methodology description (PRISMA guidelines recommended).
Up to 5 tables/figures.

Case reports and Case series
Length: 1,500–2,000 words.
Structured abstract (150–250 words): Introduction, Case Presentation, Intervention, Outcome, Conclusion.
Clear methodology description (CARE guidelines recommended).
Written informed consent required.
Up to 3 tables/figures.

Research Protocols
Length: 2,500–4,000 words.
Structured abstract (250–300 words) including: Objectives, Trial Design, Participants and Settings, Interventions, and Primary/Secondary Outcomes, Conclusions (SPIRIT guidelines recommended).
Structured format: Introduction, Objectives, Methods, Ethical Considerations.
Ethics approval required.
Clinical trials must include a registration number.

Guidelines and Consensus Statement
Length: 2,800–3,000 words.
Structured abstract (250–350 words): Importance, Objective, Evidence Review, Findings, Conclusions and Relevance.
Clear methodology description (RIGHT recommended).
Detailed methodology section (evidence search strategy, study selection criteria, evidence appraisal and synthesis, vote or consensus processes [e.g., Delphi, majority voting, consensus thresholds], management of conflicts of interest).
Numbered recommendations (accompanied by the level/quality of evidence (GRADE strongly preferred).
Mandatory supplementary materials (GRADE evidence tables, Evidence profiles, Extended methodology details, Search strategies, PRISMA flow diagrams when applicable and any additional content that supports the guideline development).
Up to 6 tables/figures

Commentaries
Length: 1,000–1,800 words.
Unstructured abstract (120–150 words).
Focused, critical, or interpretive discussions.

Letters to the Editor
Maximum 800 words.
Address recently published articles or ongoing scholarly debates.

APA 7th Edition Reference Examples
Authors are strongly encouraged to use a reference management software (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to the APA 7th edition reference style.

Journal Article
Macieira, T. G. R., Cho, H., Bjarnadottir, R. I., & Pruinelli, L. (2026). Emerging Technological Innovations in Perioperative Nursing. AORN journal, 123(1), 46–58. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.70002 

Book
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2021). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Website
World Health Organization. (2023). Neonatal care guidelines. https://www.who.int/neonatal

Technical Requirements for Tables, Figures, and Files

AICO Journal follows high technical standards for the preparation of tables, figures, and supplementary materials to ensure accuracy, readability, and high-quality production. Authors are required to follow the specifications below.

Tables

  • All tables must be included within the text at their appropriate locations, and not placed at the end of the paper or submitted separately
  • Tables must be fully editable in Microsoft Word (no images, screenshots, or pasted Excel tables).
  • Use Word’s built-in table function and avoid manual spacing or tabulation.
  • Each table must include:
    • A clear and concise title above the table
    • Explanatory notes below the table when needed
    • Units of measurement for all numerical data
  • Avoid merged cells unless necessary for clarity.
  • Do not use color shading; tables must remain clean and minimal.
  • Tables should be cited in numerical order in the manuscript (Table 1, Table 2, etc.).

Figures and images

  • All figures must be included within the text and also submitted as separate high-resolution image files.
  • Accepted formats: JPEG (.jpg), PNG (.png), or PDF (.pdf).
  • Minimum resolution:
    • 300 dpi for photographs
    • 600 dpi for charts, diagrams, and line drawings
  • Figures must not be embedded inside Word documents; they must be uploaded as separate files during submission.
  • Provide a figure legend within the manuscript, not inside the figure file.
  • Number figures sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).
  • Ensure that no copyrighted material is used unless explicit permission is obtained.


Graphical Quality and Accessibility

  • Use fonts within figures that are at least 8 pt when printed.
  • Ensure adequate contrast for accessibility (no light gray text).
  • Avoid excessive decoration, 3D effects, or gradients.
  • Text within figures must match the general manuscript language (English).

File Naming Conventions

  • Tables: Table1.docx, Table2.docx
  • Figures: Fig1.jpg, Fig2.png
  • Supplementary files: SuppFile1.pdf, Dataset1.csv

Supplementary Material 

  • Additional materials such as questionnaires, datasets, extended methods, or multimedia must be clearly labeled.
  • Supplementary files will be published online alongside the article.
  • Video formats accepted: MP4, MOV (maximum size 200 MB).


Copyright and Permissions 

  • Authors must obtain permission for any previously published figure or table.
  • Permissions must be uploaded during submission.
  • A full citation of the original source must accompany reproduced materials.


For submission enquiries and for additional requests please contact Dr. Bernardino Tomei (Journal Manager): aicoj@ieditore.com