Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

Journal of Lifestyle Medicine Coaches and Wellness: JLCW)

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1. PUBLICATION POLICY AND SCOPE

       The Journal of Lifestyle Medicine Coaches and Wellness (JLCW) is established as an academic platform for students, lecturers, educators, and scholars to disseminate scholarly works in the fields of lifestyle medicine and wellness. The journal aims to promote the generation of new knowledge and the integration of interdisciplinary approaches toward holistic health development, encompassing physical, mental, social, and behavioral dimensions. The scope of the journal covers key disciplines, including lifestyle medicine, health and wellness coaching, positive psychology, health behavior science, health promotion and disease prevention, health innovation, and digital health technologies. It also encourages integration with related fields such as medicine, public health, nursing, psychology, education, and the humanities and social sciences. The journal emphasizes interdisciplinary research that contributes to improving quality of life at individual, community, and societal levels.

2. PEER REVIEW REVIEW PROCESS

      All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the editorial board to ensure alignment with the journal’s scope, format, and academic standards. Manuscripts that pass this stage are then evaluated through a double-blind peer review process by at least three qualified reviewers, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous. The evaluation focuses on the quality of content, methodological rigor, originality, and academic or practical significance. The journal strictly adheres to international publication ethics standards, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the review process.

3. TYPES OF ARTICLES

The journal accepts various types of scholarly contributions, including:

• Research Articles
• Academic Articles
• Case Studies

Submissions should demonstrate academic rigor, in-depth analysis, and contribute to new knowledge or practical applications in the fields of lifestyle medicine and wellness.

4. LANGUAGES

       The journal accepts manuscripts in both Thai and English. All submissions must include abstracts in both languages. The journal supports the development of high-quality academic writing to meet international standards and enhance global dissemination and citation impact.

5. PUBLICATION FREQUENCY 

The journal is published biannually:

      Issue 1: January – June
      Issue 2: July – December

6. PUBLISHER

      Thai Association of Lifestyle Medicine Coaches and Wellness Front Office of Dr. Amorn Nontasut Learning Center 6th Building, 5th Floor, Department of Health 88/22 Talat Khwan Subdistrict, Mueang District Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand

7. ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGES (APC)

      The journal charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) to support its operations. The APC is applicable only after the manuscript has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication. The fee policy will be implemented starting from Year 3 (2026), Issue 1 onward. The rates are as follows:

1. Thai-language article:      4,000 THB per article
2. English-language article: 5,000 THB per article

8. STUCTURE OF EACH TYPE OF ARTICLE

     8.1 Research Article

             A research article reports the results of an original empirical study conducted systematically to answer a research question or test a hypothesis related to health behavior change coaching, grounded in the principles of lifestyle medicine and holistic wellness. This type of article is the backbone of knowledge generation in the field and must present a transparent, reproducible methodology and reliable results.
            JLCW welcomes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research, provided the content is clearly connected to the coaching process or outcomes arising from coaching within the context of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and social connection.

General Requirements

Item	Requirement
Maximum length	15 pages or 8,000 words (excluding references)
Abstract	Not exceeding 350 words (in both Thai and English). Must be structured with the following subheadings: Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
Keywords	3–5 keywords in both Thai and English
Maximum tables/figures	5 items
Maximum references	35 references (Vancouver style)
Structure	Strictly follows the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion)
Ethics approval	Research involving human or animal subjects must have been approved by the relevant ethics committee, and the approval number must be stated in the manuscript.
Trial registration	For clinical trials, registration in a recognized public database (e.g., Thai Clinical Trials Registry, ClinicalTrials.gov) is recommended, and the registration number should be included.

Prescribed Structure (IMRaD)

Research articles must strictly adhere to the following sequence:

1. Title

• • Provide both a Thai and an English title. The title should be concise, clear, and convey the main variables or key issue studied.
  • Avoid non-standard abbreviations.

2. Authors and Affiliations

• • List the full names (in Thai and English) of all authors, along with their highest degrees, academic titles (if any), affiliations (institution, city, country), and the email of the corresponding author.
  • Include ORCID iD (if available).

3. Abstract

• • Write both a Thai and an English abstract, each not exceeding 300 words.
  • Must be structured with the following subheadings:
    • Objective: State the research question or primary objective.
    • Methods: Briefly describe the study design, population/sample, interventions, and data analysis.
    • Results: Report the main findings with key statistical values (e.g., p-values, confidence intervals, effect sizes).
    • Conclusion: Summarize the main takeaway and its implications for practice or future research.
  • Do not cite references in the abstract.

4. Keywords

• • 3–5 keywords in both Thai and English.

5. Introduction

• • Provide the background and significance of the problem, highlighting the knowledge gap that the study aims to fill.
  • Succinctly review relevant literature and logically lead to the research question or hypothesis.
  • Clearly state the study objective(s) and hypothesis (if applicable).
  • End the introduction with a clear statement of the study's purpose.

6. Methods
   This section must be described in sufficient detail to allow readers to assess the study's trustworthiness and other researchers to replicate it. It should include:
           6.1 Study Design: Clearly state the design (e.g., randomized controlled trial, cross-sectional study, phenomenological qualitative research, mixed methods).
           6.2 Population and Sample: 1) Define the target population and inclusion/exclusion criteria. 2) Describe the sampling method and sample size, including the rationale or power calculation if applicable.
           6.3 Instruments: Describe all measurement tools (e.g., questionnaires, assessment forms, laboratory instruments). Provide details on their source, validity (content, construct), reliability, and scoring interpretation.
           6.4 Procedures: Describe the research steps chronologically, from participant recruitment and informed consent to data collection and study completion. For experimental studies, describe the intervention or program in detail (e.g., number of sessions, duration, coaching techniques used) so that others can apply it.
           6.5 Data Analysis: Specify the statistical tests used, the level of statistical significance, and the software (e.g., SPSS version 28, STATA, R). For qualitative research, describe the analytical approach (e.g., thematic analysis, content analysis).
           6.6 Ethical Considerations: State the name of the institutional ethics committee that approved the study and the approval number.

7. Results

• • Report findings aligned with the study objectives, without interpretation or discussion.
  • Present data clearly, using tables and figures with appropriate numbering and titles as specified in the general formatting guidelines (Section 6 of the Author Guidelines).
  • Report essential statistical details: means, standard deviations, test statistics, p-values, 95% confidence intervals, and effect sizes.
  • Ensure that information in tables/figures does not duplicate the text.

8. Discussion

• • Interpret the results, beginning by addressing the research question or hypothesis.
  • Compare the findings with previous research, and explain possible mechanisms or reasons.
  • State the strengths and limitations of the study honestly (e.g., sample size, instrument limitations, potential biases).
  • Provide concrete recommendations for how the findings can be applied in lifestyle medicine coaching practice, and suggest directions for future research.

9. Acknowledgements

• • State any funding sources (grant name, contract number) and/or contributors who do not meet authorship criteria (e.g., data collection assistants).

10. Conflict of Interest

• • Clearly state, e.g., “All authors declare no conflict of interest,” or disclose any relevant conflicts.

11. References

• • Use the Vancouver style as specified by JLCW.
  • Number references in the order they appear in the text.

8.2 Academic Article
       An academic article is a scholarly work that presents analysis, synthesis, or critique of concepts, theories, bodies of knowledge, or policy proposals related to lifestyle medicine coaching and wellness. Unlike a research article, it does not report original empirical data. Instead, it offers the author’s informed perspective, grounded in a comprehensive review of the literature, and proposes new ideas or directions for advancing the field of health coaching.

General Requirements

Item	Requirement
Maximum length	15 pages or 8,000 words (excluding references)
Abstract	Not exceeding 350 words (in both Thai and English). No subheadings are required (in contrast to research articles).
Keywords	3–5 keywords in both Thai and English
Maximum tables/figures	5 items
Maximum references	35 references (Vancouver style)
Review criteria	Emphasis on novelty of ideas, depth of critical analysis, comprehensive synthesis of literature, and the article’s contribution to lifestyle medicine coaching.

Recommended Structure

Academic articles offer flexibility in organization, but should include the following key components in the order given:

1. Title

• • Provide both a Thai and an English title. The title should be concise and clearly signal the core argument or focus of the article.
  • Example: “Integrating Motivational Interviewing into Primary Care: A Policy Proposal for Thailand”

2. Authors and Affiliations

• • List the full names (in Thai and English) of all authors, along with their highest degrees, academic titles (if any), affiliations (institution, city, country), and the email of the corresponding author.
  • Include ORCID iD (if available).

3. Abstract

• • Write both a Thai and an English abstract, each not exceeding 300 words.
  • No subheadings should be used (unlike the structured abstract of a research article).
  • The abstract should concisely convey: the background or problem being addressed, the purpose of the article, the main argument or proposal, and the conclusion or scholarly contribution.

4. Keywords

• • 3–5 keywords in both Thai and English that capture the core themes.

5. Introduction

• • Set the stage by explaining the context and significance of the topic.
  • Identify the knowledge gap, theoretical controversy, or policy problem that motivates the article.
  • Clearly state the article's objective (e.g., “This article aims to analyze…”, “This article proposes a framework for…”).
  • It is helpful to end the introduction by briefly outlining the structure of the article.

6. Body

• • The body should be organized into thematic sections and sub-sections (using numbered headings: 1., 1.1, 1.1.1), with a logical flow.
  • Content should demonstrate:
    • Comprehensive literature review: While not a formal systematic review, the discussion must draw upon and integrate significant, up-to-date works in the area.
    • Critical analysis: Do not merely summarize others' work; evaluate strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, and build an argument.
    • Synthesis and novel contribution: Present a new model, framework, perspective, or set of recommendations that advances current thinking.
  • Examples of possible headings:
    • “The Evolution of Health Coaching Concepts: From the Past to the Present”
    • “Barriers to Implementing Motivational Interviewing in Thai Healthcare Settings: A Critical Analysis”
    • “A Proposed Model for Integrative Coaching Based on the Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine”
    • “Professionalization of the Lifestyle Medicine Coach: Challenges and Policy Recommendations”

7. Conclusion

• • Summarize the key arguments succinctly.
  • Reiterate the article's scholarly contribution, main proposal, or new perspective.
  • May include practical recommendations or suggestions for future research.
  • Do not introduce entirely new information that was not discussed in the body.

8. References

• • Use the Vancouver style as specified by JLCW.
  • Number references in the order they appear in the text.

 8.3 Case Study

       A case study in JLCW is a scholarly article that reports on a real-life coaching process with an individual, group, or community. Its purpose is to systematically convey practical experience, analyze the mechanisms of change, and distill valuable lessons that contribute to the science and art of lifestyle medicine coaching.
        The core of a JLCW case study, which distinguishes it from a standard medical case report, is its focus on the “coaching process.” It emphasizes describing what the coach did, how, when, and why, along with the outcomes that resulted from the coaching, both quantitative (if available) and qualitative.

General Requirements

Item	Requirement
Maximum length	12-20 pages or 8,000 words (excluding references)
Abstract	Not exceeding 250 words (in both Thai and English). Subheadings are not required, but the abstract should summarize the case background, the coaching process used, and key outcomes.
Keywords	3–5 keywords in both Thai and English
Maximum tables/figures	3 items (e.g., coaching timeline, progress graph, session summary table)
Maximum references	20 references (Vancouver style)
Confidentiality	Client identity must be strictly protected. Use pseudonyms. A signed Informed Consent Form from the client, authorizing the use of data for academic publication, must be attached.
Ethics	Even if a case study does not meet the definition of human subjects research, informed consent is mandatory, and institutional ethics committee approval may be required by the author's institution.
Review criteria	Completeness of information, depth of coaching process analysis, critical reflection, and practical utility for other coaches.

 Prescribed Structure

Case studies submitted to JLCW must strictly follow the structure below:

1. Title

• • Include both Thai and English titles. The title should be concise and reflect the core coaching issue.
  • It should contain the phrase “Case Study” or “กรณีศึกษา”.
  • Example: “Application of Motivational Interviewing in Coaching for Sleep Behavior Change in an Individual with Chronic Insomnia: A Case Study”

2. Authors and Affiliations

• • Provide full names (in Thai and English), highest degrees, academic titles (if any), affiliations (institution, city, country), and email of the corresponding author.
  • Include ORCID iD (if available).

3. Abstract

• • Write both a Thai and an English abstract, each not exceeding 250 words.
  • Subheadings are not required, but the abstract should cover: case background, purpose of the presentation, coaching methodology used, a brief overview of the process, key outcomes, and main lessons learned.

4. Keywords

• • 3–5 keywords in both Thai and English.

5. Introduction

• • Describe the importance of coaching in the specific health issue addressed by the case.
  • Briefly review literature on the coaching technique or approach used, and identify the knowledge gap that this case will help fill.
  • State the objective of the case study, e.g., “to describe the coaching process… analyze success factors… and draw lessons for practitioners.”

6. Client Background

• • Describe the client's characteristics using a pseudonym: e.g., age, gender, occupation, life context, health problem or risk behavior targeted for change, and the client's motivation or expectations regarding coaching.
  • State the mutually agreed-upon coaching goals.
  • Do not include any information that could identify the client (real name, specific hospital, identification numbers).

7. Coaching Framework

• • Identify the theory, model, or framework that underpinned the coaching design, such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Health Belief Model (HBM), Transtheoretical Model (TTM), or Integrative Health Coaching.
  • Briefly explain why this framework was chosen for this particular case, and how each step of the model was adapted and applied.

8. Coaching Process — The Heart of the Case Study
   This is the most critical section. Describe it thoroughly and chronologically so that readers can visualize the real-life coaching. It should include:

• • 1 Coaching Overview:
    • Number of sessions, duration of each session, frequency (e.g., weekly), total program length (e.g., 12 weeks), and format (face-to-face, telephone, online, or blended).
  • 2 Session-by-Session Progression: Summarize key points from each session, possibly in a table or timeline format. Indicate session goals, techniques used, and the client’s responses.
  • 3 Critical Dialogue: Provide at least 2–3 excerpts of actual verbatim dialogue between coach and client that demonstrate:
    • Core coaching techniques (e.g., open-ended questions, reflections, eliciting strengths).
    • Turning points where the client gained insight or decided to change.
    • How resistance or ambivalence was handled.
    • Written consent must be obtained from the client for the publication of such dialogue.
  • 4 Adaptation of the Coaching Plan: Explain when things did not go as planned, how the coach adjusted the strategy, and the rationale.

9. Coaching Outcomes

• • Report outcomes in a concrete manner, separating:
    • Quantitative outcomes (if available): e.g., changes in BMI, blood glucose, psychological scale scores (pre-post), possibly presented in a table or graph.
    • Qualitative outcomes: Changes reported by the client (Patient-Reported Outcomes), such as self-confidence, motivation, quality of life, relationships, or perspectives on health.

10. Coach’s Reflection

• • The author, in the role of the coach, critically analyzes the coaching experience, covering:
    • What went well and the factors contributing to success.
    • Obstacles or mistakes made, and how they would be addressed in the future.
    • Lessons learned for both the coach personally and for the profession.
    • Personal growth as a coach from this case.
  • Reflection must be honest and deep, not merely a self-congratulatory or client-praising statement.

11. Recommendations for Practice

• • State what insights or guidance this case offers to other coaches who may encounter similar situations.
  • Mention any precautions or necessary conditions if the approach is to be applied elsewhere.

12. References

• • Use the Vancouver style, not exceeding 20 references.

13. Informed Consent

• • Must be attached as a separate file when submitting the manuscript. The consent form should confirm that the client agrees to the use of their data for academic publication and understands that their identity will be protected.
  • Do not include the consent form content in the manuscript body, but certify that it exists.

 

Vancouver Referencing Style – Abridged Guide
Journal of Lifestyle Medicine Coaches and Wellness (JLCW)

         This document summarizes the key guidelines of the Vancouver referencing style, with added examples in both English and Thai to cover common source types in the journal’s context. For detailed rules and special cases, please refer to the full “Vancouver Style Reference Guide for Health Science Journals – Detailed Author Edition.”

 1. In-text Citations

          Use Arabic numerals in square brackets [ ] after the cited text, before punctuation marks.

         ...was statistically significant [1].

          Assign numbers in the order of first appearance in the text.

          When citing the same source again, reuse the original number.

          Multiple citations in the same place:

• • Non-consecutive: separate by commas [2, 5, 7]
  • Consecutive (3 or more): use a hyphen [3-6]
  • Mixed: [1, 3-5, 8]

 2. Reference List

       Place the reference list at the end of the manuscript under the heading “References” .
       List entries in numerical order as they appear in the text [1], [2], [3]… Not alphabetically.
       Every in-text citation must have a corresponding entry in the reference list, and vice versa.

3. Key Formatting Rules

Element	Guidelines
Author(s)	Surname followed by initials (no periods). e.g., Smith JA, สมชาย ส. List all authors if ≤6. If >6, list the first 6 followed by “et al.” or “และคณะ” (choose one and be consistent throughout the paper).
Title	Article/chapter titles: sentence case (first word capitalized, the rest lower case except proper nouns).
Journal Name	Use NLM standard abbreviation for English-language journals (e.g., N Engl J Med, Lancet). For Thai journals, use the full name or the abbreviation designated by that journal.
Book Title	Use italics, sentence case.
Year	Year of publication (CE). If a Thai document uses the Buddhist Era (พ.ศ.), convert to CE by subtracting 543. Follow the year with a semicolon (;) in journal articles.
Volume/Issue	Format: Volume(Issue): e.g., 38(2):
Pages	First page–last page. Abbreviate repeated digits (e.g., 23093-101).
DOI	Present as doi:10.xxxx (without https://doi.org/).
URL / Access Date	For online sources, include “Available from:” and [cited date] in the format YYYY Mon DD.
Language	For non-English sources, provide an English translation of the title in [square brackets] and state the language at the end of the entry (e.g., Thai. Japanese.).

 4. Common Examples (English–Thai Pairs)

       4.1 Journal Article
             Author(s). Article title. Journal Abbreviation. Year;Volume(Issue):Pages. doi:...

      [1] Wolever RQ, Dreusicke M, Fikkan J, Hawkins TV, Yeung S, Wakefield J, et al. Integrative                      health coaching for patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial. Diabetes                      Educ. 2010;36(4):629-39. doi:10.1177/0145721710378423.

      4.2 Entire Book 
             Author(s). Book title. Edition. City: Publisher; Year.

             [3] Rippe JM. Lifestyle medicine. 3rd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2019.

      4.3 Book Chapter
            Author(s) of chapter. Chapter title. In: Editor(s), editors. Book title. Edition. City: Publisher; Year. p. pages.

           [5] Nosten F, McGready R. Malaria in pregnancy. In: Warrell DA, Cox TM, Firth JD, editors.                       Oxford textbook of medicine. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2020. p. 1679-91.

          4.4 Website and Online Documents         
                Author/Organization. Title [Internet]. Year [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available from: URL

               [7] American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle medicine pillars [Internet]. 2023                               [cited 2026 May 10]. Available from: https://www.lifestylemedicine.org/

        4.5 Legislation and Government Documents    
              Country. Legislative body. Title of Act. Public Law details. Year.

              [10] United States. Congress. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Public Law 111-                          148. 2010.

       4.6 Theses/Dissertations    
             Author. Title [dissertation/master’s thesis]. City: University; Year. Total pages p.

            [11] Pongchaiyakul C. Prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis in Thai men                                              [dissertation]. Khon Kaen: Khon Kaen University; 2005. 180 p.