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Editorial Standards and Review Process
The publisher and editors of Personal Best offer this statement of quality assurance to our
subscribers. Our editorial leadership represents more than five decades of experience in publishing
wellness and patient education materials for clients throughout the U.S. and Canada. To maintain the
highest possible quality of information, Personal Best adheres to rigorous documentation standards
and review by a long-standing Board of Health and Medical Advisors to ensure evidence-based content
and effective communication.
Purpose
The goal of Personal Best is to increase
health and safety awareness and motivate positive lifestyle habits fundamental to individual wellness
and disease prevention, as well as employee productivity vital to strengthening business performance.
To achieve this purpose, we seek to supply reliable, timely health and lifestyle information the
average person can easily comprehend. The literacy level of our standard publications is limited to
8th grade reading for the general public, corporate wellness, and diverse populations and industries.
As stated in our publications, this information is not intended to diagnose or endorse any
treatments, services, medicines or products. Readers are consistently instructed to seek the advice
of their primary health care providers before pursuing any treatment or significantly altering
lifestyle behavior.
Process
The Personal Best editorial staff selects and develops content based on the needs of its diverse
audience and the expertise of its Board members for health and medical oversight. Following Board
review, the editors incorporate all comments and suggestions with additional research as needed.
For periodic newsletters, the majority of the editorial is based on a pre-established calendar
of topics prepared annually with solicited suggestions and requests from clients, contributing
authors, and the medical editors. Topics are researched and drafted three months in advance by
the staff and guest authors. The advisory board reviews each newsletter manuscript. Annual
calendars and stock topic-specific publications, such as brochures, posters and booklets also
receive initial oversight by board experts and ongoing review of updated content.
NOTE to newsletter subscriber groups: You may be given an opportunity to preview content two
months prior to publication. This is a complimentary service that provides clients with the
manuscript via email. Clients have two weeks to complete their review and submit any comments
or requests for editorial evaluation and clarification.
Content Selection
Content for multiple monthly newsletters, a growing library of stock materials,
and all other publications is based on client surveys, primary public initiatives, and national health
observances. It is also chosen to address high-prevalence issues and satisfy the communication guidelines
of health care plans and health management organizations.
Topics of primary interest include:
- Guidelines for the prevention, management and regular screening of diabetes, cancer,
hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, asthma, chronic lung disease, arthritis, and
other chronic conditions.
- Awareness and identification of stroke, heart attack, osteoporosis, depression, substance
abuse and primary cancers (breast, prostate, cervical, colon).
- Preventing or managing colds and flu, insomnia, back pain, headache, repetitive stress
and other common ailments.
- Workplace safety and injury prevention.
- Work productivity and family balance issues.
- Stress management and mental health awareness.
- Child health and safety.
- Medication safety, provider-patient relations, and health care utilization.
- Behavior modification as it relates to the prevention and control of these health problems.
- Financial management.
Main Sources
For special features we seek the advice of local or national health care professionals in, for example,
cardiology, safety, psychology, nutrition, dentistry, and women's health. For our U.S. publications,
we observe guidelines published by the National Cancer Institute, American Heart Association,
American Medical Association, American Council on Exercise, American College of Sports Medicine,
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Safety Council, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug
Administration, and the Surgeon General's office, among other health officiating groups. For Canadian
content, we consult guidelines provided by authorities including Health Canada, the Canadian Medical
Association, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation,
Canada Safety Council and Grey Bruce Health Unit (Ontario).
Studies cited have been reported in reputable medical or scientific publications such as the
Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Physician and
Sports Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine. We stay informed by following the
daily news media and by studying periodicals including American Family Physician, Family
Safety & Health, Fitness Management, Employee Health & Fitness, and American Journal of
Health Promotion, as well as newsletters published by schools of medicine at Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard,
Tufts University and The Canada Safety Council.
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