Guide for Authors

This guide provides essential information for authors preparing manuscripts for submission to the journal. Authors are encouraged to read this guide carefully before submission and to consult the journal’s Aims and Scope, Article Types, Open Access and Fees, and Journal Policies pages where applicable.

The journal publishes scholarly work on metaverse medicine, virtual care, digital health, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, digital twins, virtual patients, avatars, AI-enabled clinical environments, simulation-based medical education, immersive rehabilitation, remote care, digital therapeutics and related clinical, educational, technological and translational research.

The journal accepts manuscripts written in English or Chinese. Manuscripts in either language are subject to the same editorial assessment, peer review standards, publication ethics requirements and post-publication policies. To support international discoverability and indexing, all submissions must include complete English metadata as specified in this guide.

Manuscripts that do not meet the journal’s requirements may be returned for correction before editorial assessment or peer review. Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee external peer review or acceptance.

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that the work is suitable for the journal and that all required materials are prepared.

Authors should:

• read the journal’s Aims and Scope to confirm that the manuscript fits the journal’s academic focus and target readership;

• select the appropriate article type and follow the relevant requirements for structure, word limits, references, tables, figures and supplementary materials;

• ensure that the manuscript is original, has not been formally published previously and is not under consideration by another journal;

• obtain approval from all authors for the submitted version;

• ensure that authorship, author order and corresponding author details have been agreed by all authors before submission;

• prepare all required statements, including ethics approval, informed consent, author contributions, competing interests, funding, data availability, clinical trial registration and AI-use statements where applicable;

• provide complete English metadata, including English title, English abstract, English keywords, author names in Roman script and affiliations in English or Roman script;

• clearly identify the metaverse platform, immersive technology, software, device, AI system, digital twin, avatar system, virtual patient system or digital health tool studied, where applicable;

• disclose platform provider, software developer, sponsor, funder or technology provider involvement in study design, technology development, data access, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation and publication decisions;

• follow appropriate reporting guidelines according to the study design;

• obtain permission for any third-party material, including figures, tables, images, videos, screenshots, software interfaces, virtual environment designs, avatar images, digital assets or substantial text reproduced or adapted from other sources;

• review the journal’s policies on peer review, publication ethics, authorship, research ethics, data availability, use of AI, copyright, licensing and post-publication updates.

Authors who are unsure whether their manuscript is suitable for the journal may contact the Editorial Office with a pre-submission inquiry. A pre-submission inquiry should include the manuscript title, author list, abstract and a brief explanation of the manuscript’s relevance to the journal. A positive response to a pre-submission inquiry does not guarantee peer review or acceptance.

Language and Indexing Metadata

The journal accepts submissions in English or Chinese. Authors submitting Chinese-language manuscripts must provide an English title, English abstract, English keywords, author names in Roman script and affiliations in English or Roman script. Chinese title, Chinese abstract and Chinese keywords should also be provided where applicable.

Authors are responsible for ensuring consistency between Chinese and English titles, abstracts, keywords, terminology, author names, affiliations, tables, figures and supplementary materials. The journal may request language editing, translation revision or clarification if the English metadata is incomplete, unclear or inconsistent with the main text.

For Chinese-language manuscripts accepted for publication, the final published article should include English metadata sufficient for international indexing and readership. Where a full English translation is provided, authors are responsible for ensuring that it accurately reflects the approved version.

Preprints

The journal considers manuscripts that have been posted on recognized preprint servers, provided that the work has not been formally published and is not under consideration by another journal at the same time.

Authors must disclose any preprint at submission and provide the preprint server name, DOI or link where applicable. If the manuscript is accepted, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with a citation and link to the final published article.

Online Submission

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system. Authors should create a user account, log in and submit the manuscript following the instructions in the system. Submissions sent by email are generally not considered unless specifically requested by the Editorial Office.

The maximum file size for individual uploaded files is 50 MB, unless otherwise specified by the submission system.

The journal considers several types of manuscripts. Authors should select the article type that best matches the purpose, design and scope of their work.

Detailed requirements for each article type, including word limits, abstract format, reference limits, figure and table limits and required sections, are provided on the Article Types page.

Brief overview of available article types:

• Original Article — Reports original clinical, translational, technical, educational, behavioral, computational or methodological research. Standard structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion.

  Common sub‑categories:

• Clinical Trial / Digital Health Intervention Study: Prospective or retrospective investigations of metaverse‑based interventions, virtual‑care systems, digital therapeutics, immersive rehabilitation, VR/AR/MR/XR interventions or AI‑enabled clinical workflows. Supply ethics approval, trial registration, intervention specifications and safety‑related reporting where applicable.

• Technology Evaluation / Validation Study: Usability, feasibility, performance or implementation assessments of metaverse platforms, virtual environments, digital twins, avatar systems, virtual‑patient modules, simulation platforms, wearables and immersive devices. Report system specifications, intended use, evaluation protocols, study population, outcomes and limitations.

• Simulation and Medical Education Study: Research on simulation‑driven education, virtual patients, virtual hospitals, immersive teaching, digital anatomy, procedural and team‑based training under metaverse frameworks. Describe educational context, learner cohorts, interventions, assessment tools and evidence for educational validity as applicable.

• AI, Avatar, Virtual Human or Digital Twin Study: Investigations of AI‑driven agents, virtual humans, avatars, digital clinicians, digital twins, conversational agents, prediction models and automated feedback systems. Document system version, data sources, model construction, validation workflows, human oversight, limitations and potential risks.

• Dataset, Software or Digital Asset Article — Describes datasets, software, virtual scenarios, simulation resources, avatar libraries, annotation corpora, codebases or other digital assets with clear field‑wide value. Provide access pathways, licensing terms, documentation, validation results and limitations.

• Review Article — Comprehensive balanced critical synthesis of a defined topic; identifies knowledge gaps and future‑research directions.

• Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis — Systematic searching, screening, appraisal and synthesis of existing evidence. Follow standardized reporting guidelines and supply protocol‑registration information when applicable.

• Brief Report / Short Communication — Concise meaningful findings that do not require full‑length manuscript format; include clear methods, focused results and grounded conclusions.

• Case Report / Case Series — Clinically or scientifically significant cases of metaverse‑medicine, virtual‑care, digital‑therapeutics, immersive‑rehabilitation or simulation‑AI‑driven applications. Written publication‑ready informed consent is mandatory if identifiable patient‑participant data, imagery, screenshots, video/audio or case narratives are included.

• Method / Technical Note — Novel workflows, technical refinements, validation frameworks, protocols, software, virtual‑environment‑design or analytical pipelines for metaverse‑medicine.

• Guideline / Consensus — Evidence‑based or expert‑consensus recommendations for a defined topic. Clearly document evidence‑review methodology, panel composition, conflict‑interest management, consensus‑building procedures and recommendation grading.

• Editorial / Commentary / Perspective — Expert‑led critical discussion and interpretation of metaverse‑medicine, digital‑health and immersive‑medical‑education topics. Mostly commissioned; unsolicited submissions may be considered at editors’ discretion.

• Letter to the Editor — Short commentary on journal‑published articles or concise observations relevant to readership.

Manuscripts should be prepared clearly, concisely and consistently. Authors should write for an international scholarly audience and avoid unnecessary jargon, unsupported claims or excessive technical detail that is not essential to understanding the work.

File Format

Manuscripts should be submitted in an editable format, such as Microsoft Word. LaTeX files may be accepted where appropriate. Figures, tables, screenshots, videos, software documentation and supplementary materials should be prepared according to the journal’s file and formatting requirements.

Title Page

The title page should include:

• manuscript title;

• full names of all authors;

• author affiliations;

• corresponding author name, email address and full contact details;

• equal contribution or co-corresponding author notes, where applicable;

• short running title, if required;

• word count, number of figures, number of tables and number of supplementary files, if requested;

• English metadata for all submissions, including English title, English abstract and English keywords where required by the submission system.

Abstract and Keywords

The abstract should accurately summarize the purpose, methods, main findings and conclusions of the manuscript. Original Research Articles, clinical studies, technology evaluation studies and digital health intervention studies should generally use a structured abstract where required by the article type.

Authors should provide keywords that are specific, searchable and relevant to the manuscript. Standardized medical, technical or digital health terms should be used where appropriate.

Main Text

Original Research Articles should generally include:

• Introduction;

• Methods;

• Results;

• Discussion;

• Conclusions, where appropriate.

The Methods section should provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be evaluated and, where applicable, reproduced. Authors should describe study design, setting, participants or users, eligibility criteria, technology or platform details, intervention, comparator, outcomes, safety monitoring, statistical methods, software, sample size considerations and analysis plans where relevant.

The Results section should present findings in a logical order, supported by appropriate tables, figures and statistical information. The Discussion should interpret the findings in the context of existing evidence, acknowledge limitations and avoid overstating conclusions.

Technology, Platform and System Details

Where applicable, manuscripts should clearly identify the technology, platform, software, device, virtual environment, avatar system, digital twin, virtual patient system, AI component or digital health tool studied.

Authors should report:

• technology type, such as VR, AR, MR, XR, digital twin, avatar-based system, virtual patient, virtual hospital, simulation platform or digital therapeutic;

• platform, software, hardware, headset, sensor, haptic device or interface used;

• manufacturer, developer, provider or platform operator;

• model, version, software build, firmware version or algorithm version;

• intended use, target users and clinical, educational or research context;

• intervention duration, frequency, intensity and user tasks;

• comparator, usual care, control condition or baseline condition;

• whether the technology was investigational, prototype, commercially available or modified for the study.

Authors should avoid promotional language and should not present early-stage, prototype or limited-validation technology as established clinical practice.

Tables, Figures and Visual Materials

Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are cited in the text. Each table and figure should have a clear title and legend.

Figures, screenshots and visual materials should be of sufficient resolution for peer review and publication. Authors should avoid image manipulation that could misrepresent the data or technology. Adjustments to brightness, contrast or color balance must not obscure, eliminate or misrepresent information.

Where figures, tables, screenshots, avatar images, software interfaces, virtual environment designs or other materials are reproduced or adapted from another source, authors must obtain appropriate permission and provide proper attribution.

Clinical Images, Screenshots, Videos and Interaction Data

Clinical images, screenshots, videos, voice recordings, avatar images, interaction logs, eye-tracking data, motion data, biometric data, monitoring data and other materials should be anonymized before submission where applicable.

Written consent for publication is required when any patient, participant, user, avatar likeness, voice, case detail or interaction record may be identifiable.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary materials should be directly relevant to the manuscript and should support, but not replace, the main text. Supplementary files may include extended methods, additional tables, figures, datasets, checklists, protocols, statistical analysis plans, software documentation, screenshots, videos, code, prompts, simulation scenarios or other supporting information.

References

References should be accurate, complete and relevant. Authors are responsible for checking all references before submission. References may be formatted according to the journal’s reference style, or in any clear and consistent style at initial submission if the journal permits format-free submission. Final accepted manuscripts may be required to conform to the journal’s reference style.

Authors should avoid inappropriate citation practices, including excessive self-citation, citation manipulation or citation of unreliable sources.

Language and Style

Manuscripts should be written in clear English or Chinese. Authors should ensure that the language used is precise, professional and suitable for scholarly communication.

Authors submitting Chinese-language manuscripts must provide complete English metadata and should ensure that key terminology is translated consistently. Authors who are not fluent in English may consider professional language editing for English metadata or full English manuscripts. Language editing does not guarantee editorial review or acceptance.

Authors should follow appropriate reporting guidelines according to study design and should submit completed checklists where required.

Relevant guidelines may include:

• CONSORT for randomized trials;

• SPIRIT for clinical trial protocols;

• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses;

• STROBE for observational studies;

• STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies;

• TRIPOD or TRIPOD+AI for prediction model studies;

• CARE for case reports;

• ARRIVE for animal studies;

• SQUIRE for quality improvement studies;

• COREQ or SRQR for qualitative research;

• CHERRIES for web-based surveys;

• TIDieR for intervention description;

• CONSORT-AI or SPIRIT-AI for studies involving AI components, where applicable;

• CONSORT-EHEALTH or other digital health reporting guidance where appropriate.

Authors should consult the EQUATOR Network to identify the most appropriate reporting guideline for their study design.

Metaverse and Immersive Technology Research

For studies involving VR, AR, MR, XR, digital twins, avatars, virtual patients, virtual hospitals, simulation platforms, immersive rehabilitation, virtual care or digital therapeutics, authors should describe the technology and intervention in sufficient detail.

Where applicable, authors should report:

• technology type and intended use;

• hardware, software, platform and system version;

• setting, such as hospital, home, classroom, laboratory, simulation center or remote environment;

• target users, participants or patient population;

• intervention duration, frequency, intensity and tasks;

• level of immersion, interaction mode and user interface;

• comparator, control condition or usual care;

• outcome measures and assessment timing;

• training, supervision and human oversight;

• accessibility considerations;

• usability, feasibility and acceptability measures;

• adverse events, discomfort or safety issues.

Participant Safety

Authors should describe participant safety measures where applicable, including screening for contraindications, exposure duration, adverse event monitoring, simulator sickness or cybersickness assessment, visual fatigue, dizziness, falls, psychological distress, emergency stop procedures, user training and procedures for discontinuation.

Special care is required for studies involving children, older adults, patients with cognitive impairment, psychiatric conditions, sensory impairment, severe illness or other vulnerable groups.

Digital Data, Privacy and Security

Metaverse medicine research may involve sensitive data, including interaction logs, motion data, eye-tracking data, voice data, biometric data, behavioral data, geolocation data, health data, avatar data and platform-generated data.

Authors should describe how data were collected, stored, protected, de-identified and accessed. Where applicable, authors should explain data governance, cybersecurity measures, platform terms, privacy protections and restrictions on data sharing.

AI, Avatars and Virtual Humans

For studies involving AI-enabled systems, virtual humans, digital clinicians, avatars, conversational agents, diagnostic algorithms, prediction models, clinical decision support tools, immersive simulations or automated feedback systems, authors should describe the intended use, system version, development and validation methods, datasets, performance metrics, human oversight, limitations, potential risks and safeguards where applicable.

Authors should clearly distinguish between human-generated content, AI-generated content, simulated content and real patient or participant data.

Clinical Trial Registration and Data Sharing

Clinical trials and clinical investigations involving metaverse-based interventions, digital therapeutics, virtual care systems, immersive technologies or AI-enabled clinical tools should be registered in a publicly accessible registry before participant recruitment begins, where applicable. The registry name and registration number should be provided in the manuscript.

Manuscripts reporting clinical trials should include a data sharing statement where required by applicable standards or journal policy. The statement should indicate whether de-identified individual participant data will be shared, what data will be shared, whether related documents such as the study protocol or statistical analysis plan will be available, when and for how long data will be available, and the conditions for access.

Authors must include all statements required by the journal and applicable policies. These statements should usually appear in the manuscript file, title page, acknowledgements section or submission system, according to the journal’s instructions.

Required statements may include:

Ethics Approval

Studies involving human participants, human data, human tissue, animals, identifiable information, education records, user data or platform-generated data must include the name of the ethics committee, institutional review board or relevant authority, approval number or reference, and any relevant exemption information.

Informed Consent

For studies involving human participants, authors should state whether informed consent was obtained. For identifiable patient or participant information, case details, clinical images, screenshots, videos, voice recordings, avatar images, interaction logs, biometric data or any other identifiable material, written consent for publication must be obtained where applicable.

Clinical Trial Registration

Clinical trials and clinical investigations should provide the registry name and registration number where applicable. Registration should occur before participant recruitment begins.

Author Contributions

Authors should describe each author’s contribution to the work. The journal encourages use of the CRediT taxonomy where appropriate.

Competing Interests

All authors must disclose any financial or non-financial competing interests. For metaverse medicine research, relevant disclosures may include employment, consultancy, advisory roles, stock ownership, patents, patent applications, royalties, licensing agreements, sponsored testing, software or platform ownership, technology development, device donation, platform access, data access arrangements, technical support, statistical support, writing assistance or relationships with technology providers, platform operators, software developers, device manufacturers, digital health companies or sponsors.

Funding

Authors should disclose all funding sources and grant numbers. The role of funders, sponsors, technology providers or platform operators in study design, technology development, participant recruitment, data collection, data access, data storage, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation and the decision to submit should be stated. If the work received no specific funding, this should also be declared.

Data Availability

Authors should include a Data Availability Statement describing where the data supporting the findings can be accessed or explaining why data cannot be shared. For clinical and user studies, authors should ensure that shared data are appropriately de-identified and consistent with ethics approval, informed consent and applicable data protection requirements.

Restrictions due to privacy, ethics, legal, commercial, intellectual property, cybersecurity, platform terms, safety or participant re-identification risks should be clearly explained.

Use of AI and AI-assisted Technologies

AI tools and large language models cannot be listed as authors. Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of all submitted content.

Use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies beyond basic language editing should be disclosed according to the journal’s AI policy. Authors should identify the tool used, describe how it was used and verify all AI-assisted content, including references, factual claims and generated text.

Acknowledgements

Individuals or organizations that contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged with their permission.

• Manuscript fits journal Aims and Scope; correct article‑type is selected.

• Word‑count and reference limits are respected.

• Complete English metadata is provided; Chinese submissions include bilingual title and abstract.

• Title page contains full author list and corresponding‑author contact.

• All authors have approved the final manuscript and authorship order is confirmed.

• Abstract, keywords, figure‑table titles and legends are complete.

• Figures, tables, screenshots, videos and supplementary materials are cited in‑text and uploaded.

• Ethics approval, informed‑consent and trial‑registration documents are attached where applicable.

• Author‑contribution, competing‑interest, funding, data‑availability and AI‑disclosure statements are completed.

• Relevant reporting checklists are uploaded.

• Written permission obtained for reused third‑party copyrighted materials.

• Technology and version information is documented for metaverse‑related work.

Note: Cover letter is optional.

After submission, corresponding author receives automated confirmation. Editorial office will contact you for missing materials before formal assessment.

If revision is invited, authors should submit the revised manuscript within the deadline stated in the decision letter. Extensions may be requested from the Editorial Office where necessary.

A revised submission should usually include:

• a clean version of the revised manuscript;

• a marked-up or tracked-changes version showing revisions;

• a detailed point-by-point response to all editor and reviewer comments;

• revised figures, tables, screenshots, videos or supplementary materials, where applicable;

• updated declarations or statements, if any changes have been made.

Authors should respond to each comment respectfully and clearly. Where authors disagree with a reviewer or editor comment, they should provide a reasoned explanation supported by evidence where appropriate.

Submission of a revised manuscript does not guarantee acceptance. Revised manuscripts may be returned to reviewers, assessed by the editors or declined if concerns have not been adequately addressed.

After acceptance, authors may be required to complete a publishing agreement, confirm copyright and licensing arrangements, select open access options where applicable and pay any applicable publication charges.

The corresponding author will receive proofs for review before publication. Proof corrections should be limited to typographical errors, formatting issues and factual corrections. Substantial changes to the content, authorship, data, analysis or conclusions after acceptance may require editorial approval.

Accepted articles may be published online before assignment to an issue, where applicable. The final published article will be assigned a DOI.

After publication, authors may share their article according to the journal’s article sharing and self-archiving policies. Requests for corrections, retractions, expressions of concern or other post-publication updates will be handled according to the journal’s relevant policies.