This document provides guidelines for formatting a dissertation or thesis submitted to the Rural Medical College, PIMS (DU) Loni in India. It includes guidelines for page layout, fonts, spacing, binding, order of sections, length of sections like abstract and introduction, formatting of tables and figures, presentation of results including statistical values, style of references, and required approvals. The document aims to standardize the formatting so the dissertations and thesis are uniformly presented and meet university requirements.

1. Dr. A.P. Kulkarni
BSc, MBBS, MD, DPH, PhD, FIAPSM
Professor & Head
Community Medicine
Rural Medical College, PIMS (DU) Loni

2. Circular number 10/2013, 16th
Mar 2013
Paper: Plain white, bond paper, 8.5 x 11 inches
Type: On one side only. Main text: 10-12, Title: 14
bold, Sub-title: 12 bold
Print: Letter quality, Laser
Pagination: Title-List of abbreviations: Roman,
Numeric. Introduction to end: Arabic numeric
Spacing: Main text: Double space. Long
quotation, foot notes, end notes: Single space
Margins: Left: 1.5”. Other: 1”
Binding: Hard cover (No spiral binding)

3. As per guidelines of PIMS
AbbreviationsAbbreviations
CertificateCertificate
Page/sPage/s
Title pageTitle page
List: Tables/List: Tables/
FiguresFigures
Table ofTable of
contentscontents
Abstract & KeyAbstract & Key
wordswords
IntroductionIntroduction ObjectivesObjectives
Review ofReview of
literatureliterature
ResultsResults DiscussionDiscussion ConclusionsConclusions
SummarySummary ReferencesReferences
Review ofReview of
literatureliterature

4. Title exactly as approved
by PIMS
As per template
Perforated margins
Short, self explanatory
Must contain key words
Key words as per MeSH
terminology
Study design especially if
RCT
University guidelinesUniversity guidelines General guidelinesGeneral guidelines

5. Declaration by candidate
Certificate by guide
Certificate by HOD
Certificate by HOI
Copyright declaration by
candidate
IEC approval
Workshop certificate
Acknowledgement
Perforated margin
Avoid superlatives
Be brief
University guidelinesUniversity guidelines University guidelinesUniversity guidelines

6. In alphabetical order
University guidelinesUniversity guidelines General guidelinesGeneral guidelines

7. 300 words
Back ground & objectives
Material & methods
Results
Important conclusions
Past tense
Key words to be suffixed
Use MeSH terminology for
key words
University guidelinesUniversity guidelines General guidelinesGeneral guidelines

8. Sno, Content, Page
University guidelinesUniversity guidelines General guidelinesGeneral guidelines

9. Not more than 3 pages
Rationale: Reason study was conducted
i. Explanatory: Assessing effect of new drug
ii.Pragmatic: To guide the practitioner on risk
factors of a disease
Justification on grounds of novelty and
relevance
Knowledge gap filled by the study
Few pertinent references of similar studies
Why did you do it?Why did you do it?

10. Not more than 5
Do not include step as objective
Derived from research question
Must indicate primary variable/s and
population (Participants)
Hypothesis for analytical/ experimental
studies: RH & NH
What did you wanted to do?What did you wanted to do?

11. Pertinent to the topic only
May be grouped as per objectives
Variations/differences in observations to be
pointed out
Background of the topicBackground of the topic

12. Study design/ study setting
Study duration / endpoint/ reference period
Defining participants: Inclusion / exclusion
Sampling method
Sample size: Assumptions, Formula / software
Enlisting variables: Primary, Confounding,
Demographic ( With scale of measurement)
and method of ascertainment
Tools for measurement: New method?
How did you do it?How did you do it?

13. Profile of participants
Objective-wise results
Tables/ Figures: Numbering, Title, foot notes
Avoid duplication in tables / figures
Result of statistical tests
Mention number (n) for %, means
Mention units for quantitative data
Minimum, Maximum values for quantitative
95% for any statistic based on sample
What did you find?What did you find?

14. Are your findings different than others? How?
Why?
Did you find any new thing that others did not?
If so, reasons
What is the utility of your findings to others?
Restrict discussion to your findings only.
What are the implications of findings?What are the implications of findings?

15. What are your important findings?
What are important findings?What are important findings?

16. Vancouver style only (PIMS Guidelines)
Quoting in text:
i. In the sequence of appearance
ii. As superscript
Enlisting:
14. Kulkarni AP, Powar RM, Mangalkar SM,
Kulkarni VA, Nagalgaonkar RN. Epidemiological
investigation of an outbreak of enteric fever in a
village in Maharashtra. J Comm Dis 28 (2), 117,
1996
What do others say?What do others say?

17. Description of tools: Questionnaire, Interview
formats
New test/ Procedure
Approval letter from IEC
Approvals from regulatory authorities
Approval from participating departments/
institutions
Time schedules: Pilot, Training, Pre-testing
Informed consent form, Brochure, Record sheet
Statutory under takings
Any thing else?Any thing else?