The Interdisciplinary Journal of Acute Care (IJAC) is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated specifically to the field of acute care. IJAC serves as a platform for the dissemination of high-quality original research and evidence-based articles that address the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of acute care, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration for patients across all acute care settings, including emergency, trauma, and critical care. The journal’s subject areas encompass a broad spectrum within acute care, including: Acute Care, Emergency Care, Emergency Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery, and Midwifery. IJAC welcomes manuscripts that explore theoretical foundations and professional perspectives in acute care, innovations and clinical approaches to patient care, comparative studies of care models, new strategies in professional development and education, ethical considerations, management and quality assurance, information and communication technology, software applications in acute care, and health policy and continual quality improvement. As a scientific journal, IJAC is committed to advancing knowledge and practice in acute care by fostering interdisciplinary research and dialogue among healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators worldwide.
Scope
IJAC publishes high-quality original research and review articles that provide novel and significant research-based evidence related to physical, psychological, and emotional practices with interdisciplinary activity for patients in all fields of acute care needs, including emergency, trauma, and critical care. To reflect the rapidly evolving and multifaceted nature of acute care, IJAC defines its scope around the core principles of safety, innovation, and collaborative excellence. We actively seek contributions that not only advance clinical and nursing competencies but also critically engage with the operational, ethical, and digital transformations reshaping modern healthcare. The following comprehensive scope outlines our editorial priorities, ensuring that every published work contributes meaningfully to the continual improvement of patient care in acute and emergency settings.
1. Primary Clinical and Professional Domains
The journal serves as a multidisciplinary platform dedicated to the advancement of:
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Acute Care and Emergency Care (including pre-hospital, in-hospital, and disaster response).
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Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, Emergency Nursing, and general Nursing practice.
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Nursing and Midwifery across all acute care interfaces.
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Comprehensive Patient Care and Patient Safety frameworks.
2. Interdisciplinary and Methodological Framework
The journal strongly emphasizes:
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Evidence-Based Interdisciplinary Research that bridges clinical, behavioral, and systems sciences.
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A Multidisciplinary Approach in Health Care, fostering collaboration among physicians, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and health administrators.
3. Thematic Pillars of Research and Practice (Completed Scope)
To fully encapsulate the breadth of acute care, IJAC actively solicits contributions addressing the following thematic areas:
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Theoretical Foundations and Professional Perspectives: Exploration of the epistemological and theoretical underpinnings of acute care, alongside professional opinions, clinical narratives, and expert consensus from frontline practitioners.
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Clinical Innovations and Comparative Models: Novel innovations and clinical approaches in both caring (holistic patient support) and curing (interventional treatments), including robust comparative studies of different caring and curing models across diverse acute settings.
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Education, Pedagogy and Lifelong Learning: Cutting-edge strategies in continuing professional development (CPD), interdisciplinary teaching methodologies, simulation-based learning, and competency assessment for acute care teams.
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Ethical and Legal Dimensions: In-depth analysis of ethical dilemmas, moral distress, end-of-life decisions, informed consent, and medico-legal challenges unique to high-stakes acute and emergency environments.
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Management, Quality Assurance and Evaluation: Operational management models, quality assurance protocols, clinical validation studies, psychometric evaluation of assessment tools, and outcome-based performance evaluation methods.
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Information, Communication and Digital Health: Integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in fast-paced environments, including the deployment, usability, and impact of specialized software (e.g., electronic triage systems, clinical decision support systems, EHRs, and real-time monitoring platforms) used in acute care settings.
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Health Policy and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI): Analysis of local, national, and global health policies affecting emergency and acute services, alongside implementation science and CQI initiatives aimed at reducing errors, optimizing patient flow, and enhancing system resilience.
This comprehensive scope ensures that IJAC remains the definitive interdisciplinary hub for translating frontline clinical evidence, technological innovation, educational strategy, and health policy into tangible improvements in acute patient outcomes.
Aims
In alignment with its comprehensive scope, the Interdisciplinary Journal of Acute Care (IJAC) is dedicated to the following core aims:
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To provide a premier interdisciplinary forum for the efficient exchange of clinical, operational, and scientific information across the full continuum of acute care.
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To foster a robust interdisciplinary foundation that advances scientific knowledge, stimulates innovative research, and translates evidence into practice within acute care settings.
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To promote and enhance the quality, safety, and effectiveness of patient care delivered in acute, emergency, and critical environments.
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To advance pedagogical frameworks, continuing professional development, and clinical education strategies specifically tailored for acute care practitioners and trainees.
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To catalyze and encourage high-quality empirical and theoretical research that addresses pressing challenges in acute care delivery and patient outcomes.
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To identify, engage, and disseminate the scholarly contributions of leading national and international experts, thereby cultivating a collaborative and globally representative academic community.
