Prevention and Control, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 1-151 (March 2005)

ScienceDirect - Prevention and Control, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 1-151 (March 2005)
Editorial

Andy Wielgosz MSc MD PhD FRCPC Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1H 8L6

This first issue of the official journal of the World Heart Federation contains all abstracts of the 6th ICPC presentations.
The Editor welcomes contributions for the next issues.
Available online 23 April 2005.

With this issue, the Editorial Board and I wish to welcome you to a new and exciting publishing venture. We believe the timing is right, the need is there and we will occupy an important niche. Prevention and Control, as the official journal of The World Heart Federation, is aimed in particular at those who are concerned about the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases that is reaching the farthest corners of the globe, and also at those who seek to make a difference. The character that this journal develops will depend in large part on the response that we elicit; it is still early.

There are admittedly a few preconceived ideas that I am committed to foster. The focus of the journal will be primarily though not exclusively on issues, which are important to developing countries. Such a focus should not be a surprise given that more than half of the world’s burden of cardiovascular diseases is placed in low and middle income countries and all forecasts indicate an exponential increase over the next two decades. This focus is also aligned with the mission of the World Heart Federation.

There are several key factors that require attention in order to be able to publish excellent articles from and about low and middle income countries. While English is the international language of science, it is not the working language for most in the developing world. We are committed to assisting authors who generate excellent science but have difficulties expressing themselves in English. Particularly for young, emerging scientists we plan to organize a workshop on scientific writing at the upcoming World Congress of Cardiology in Barcelona. Hopefully such workshops will take place at other large meetings as well.

Our reviewers will be encouraged to provide constructive feedback particularly where methodological shortcomings prevent acceptance of manuscripts for publication.

Although the journal will include materials pertaining to both prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, as its name states, it is my hope that there will be an ever-increasing number of publications addressing prevention. To encourage this will require some innovative approaches to linking research and publishing, perhaps even by creating a forum for dialogue in the planning phase of preventive programmes. I want to be flexible and responsive to suggestions and above all I want the journal to be a valuable resource of knowledge and ideas. This can be achieved by providing a variety of materials including articles reporting the results of experimental research, review articles, informative news and reports particularly of successes in policies and actions in communities, relevant guidelines and others.

Along with the publisher Elsevier and the World Heart Federation, we are committed to the success of this journal. The response of the scientific community and the readership will help guide us and we look forward to your involvement and feedback, which we will survey periodically. Prevention and Control is being launched aptly at the 6th International Conference on Preventive Cardiology in Iguassu Falls, Brazil. The Editorial Board members and I look forward to meeting many potential authors and readers there.

Corresponding Author Contact InformationFax: +613 737 8918