Two Convenient Submission Methods

We offer flexible submission options designed to accommodate your preferences and manuscript complexity. Choose the method that works best for your research submission.

Article Types We Publish

Death welcomes diverse manuscript types across multiple disciplines including thanatology, palliative medicine, end-of-life care, bereavement studies, medical ethics, sociology of death, cultural studies, psychology, nursing, social work, and public health. We publish rigorous research that advances understanding of mortality, dying, and death-related phenomena.

Peer Review Timeline

We are committed to transparent, efficient peer review. Our editorial team works diligently to provide timely decisions while maintaining rigorous quality standards. Expert reviewers from relevant disciplines in death studies, palliative care, thanatology, and related fields evaluate each manuscript.

Average Total Timeline: Submission to Publication in approximately 60 days

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

General Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or LaTeX format. Use double-spacing throughout, including references and figure legends. Apply 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font with 1-inch margins on all sides. Enable line numbering for easier review. Pages should be numbered consecutively.

Structure for Original Research Articles

Title Page: Include full manuscript title (concise but descriptive), complete names of all authors with institutional affiliations and ORCID identifiers, corresponding author contact information (email, phone, postal address), word count (excluding abstract and references), and running head (maximum 50 characters).

Abstract: Provide a structured abstract of 250-300 words with the following sections: Background (context and objectives), Methods (study design, participants, interventions, outcome measures), Results (key findings with relevant statistics), and Conclusions (interpretation and implications). Avoid citations in the abstract.

Keywords: List 4-6 keywords that accurately reflect the manuscript content. Use Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms where applicable to enhance indexing and discoverability.

Main Text Sections: Organize as Introduction (background, rationale, objectives), Methods (study design, participants, procedures, ethical considerations, statistical analysis), Results (present findings logically with appropriate tables and figures), Discussion (interpretation, comparison with existing literature, limitations, implications), and Conclusions (key takeaways and future directions).

Figures and Tables

Submit figures as separate high-resolution files (minimum 300 DPI) in TIFF, EPS, or high-quality JPEG format. Each figure should have a descriptive caption explaining all symbols, abbreviations, and statistical significance markers. Tables should be editable (not images) with clear column headers and footnotes explaining abbreviations. Number figures and tables consecutively in order of appearance in text.

References

Format references according to AMA (American Medical Association) style. Number citations consecutively in order of appearance using superscript numbers. Include DOIs for all references where available. Ensure all cited works are publicly accessible or published. For articles with more than six authors, list the first three followed by "et al."

Ethics and Consent

All research involving human participants must include a statement confirming ethics committee approval with the committee name and approval number. For case reports, include written informed consent from patients or next of kin. Studies involving vulnerable populations require additional ethical justification. Animal studies must follow ARRIVE guidelines and include ethics approval.

Data Availability

Include a data availability statement describing where and how readers can access the data supporting your findings. If data cannot be shared, provide justification. Deposit datasets in recognized repositories (e.g., Figshare, Dryad, Zenodo) and include DOIs or accession numbers.

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Death operates on an open access model to ensure your research reaches the widest possible audience without barriers. Article Processing Charges support the costs of peer review, editorial management, production, and online hosting.

Standard APC: Contact editorial office for current rates. Charges vary by article type and length. No submission fees or page charges.

Waiver Policy: We are committed to ensuring financial barriers do not prevent publication of high-quality research. Affordable or partial APC waivers are available for:

• Authors from low-income and lower-middle-income countries (as classified by World Bank)
• Unfunded research without institutional support
• Early career researchers without access to publication funds
• Research addressing critical gaps in death studies, palliative care, or bereavement support

Waiver requests are evaluated confidentially and do not influence editorial decisions. Apply for a waiver during the submission process or contact the editorial office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of research does Death publish?

We publish multidisciplinary research related to death, dying, bereavement, palliative care, end-of-life care, thanatology, mortality studies, grief counseling, hospice care, medical ethics at end of life, cultural perspectives on death, death education, and related topics. We welcome quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies from medicine, nursing, psychology, sociology, anthropology, social work, public health, and humanities perspectives.

How long does the review process take?

Our average time to first decision is 21 days from submission. The complete process from submission to publication typically takes 60 days, though this can vary based on the complexity of revisions required. We offer fast-track review for time-sensitive research.

Can I suggest reviewers for my manuscript?

Yes, you may suggest potential reviewers during submission. Provide names, affiliations, email addresses, and brief justification for each suggestion. However, final reviewer selection remains at the editor's discretion to ensure independence and expertise.

What happens if my manuscript is rejected?

Rejection decisions are made carefully based on scope fit, methodological rigor, and contribution to the field. You will receive detailed feedback explaining the decision. We encourage authors to carefully consider reviewer comments, which may help improve the manuscript for submission elsewhere.

Can I submit a manuscript that is under review elsewhere?

No. We require that submitted manuscripts are not under consideration by any other journal. Simultaneous submission violates publication ethics and will result in immediate rejection. Preprints posted on recognized servers (e.g., medRxiv, PsyArXiv) are acceptable.

Do you accept manuscripts previously rejected by other journals?

Yes, provided the manuscript falls within our scope and meets our quality standards. We evaluate each submission independently. If you have addressed previous reviewer concerns, mention this in your cover letter and explain the improvements made.

How do I track my manuscript status?

Authors submitting via ManuscriptZone Portal can log in anytime to check real-time manuscript status, view reviewer comments, and communicate with editors. You will also receive email notifications at each stage of the review process.