Springer Nature

HEC Forum Template

Write in a clean editor, then format for HEC Forum in one click — DocuGuru applies the official Springer Nature template with superscript references and exports a submission-ready PDF plus the editable LaTeX source. Free to start.

About the HEC Forum format

HEC Forum is a peer-reviewed journal published by Springer Nature, covering Ethics in medical practice, Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare, Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues.

PublisherSpringer Nature
Reference styleSuperscript numbered (Nature)
Superscript — small raised numerals in the text
1. Smith, A., Jones, B. & Lee, C. A representative article title. HEC Forum 12, 45–58 (2023).

Formats any DOI in HEC Forum style. No sign-up.

Publishes research inEthics in medical practice Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues Patient Dignity and Privacy Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues
ISSN0956-2737
Citation impact (2-yr)1.56
h-index39
i10-index300
Total citations10,543
Article processing charge$2,990
Top institutions publishing hereSaint Louis University
Journal websitelink.springer.com
You getA submission-ready PDF and the editable LaTeX source — ready to submit.

Papers published in HEC Forum per year

29
2014
35
2015
17
2016
30
2017
23
2018
25
2019
37
2020
35
2021
38
2022
15
2023
28
2024
27
2025

Citation impact of HEC Forum by publication year

378
2014
401
2015
420
2016
654
2017
224
2018
235
2019
308
2020
488
2021
273
2022
61
2023
103
2024
12
2025

Citations each year’s papers have accumulated so far — the most recent years are still building up.

Most-cited papers in HEC Forum

Framing the Issues: Moral Distress in Health Care

Bernie Pauly, Colleen Varcoe, Jan Storch · 1 Mar 2012

Moral distress in health care has been identified as a growing concern and a focus of research in nursing and health care for almost three decades. Researchers and theorists have argued that moral distress has both short and long-term consequences. Moral distress has implications for satisfaction, recruitment and retention of health care providers and implications…

HEC Forum template — frequently asked questions

How do I write a paper in the HEC Forum format?
In DocuGuru you write your manuscript in a normal editor — no LaTeX setup required — and select the HEC Forum template. When you export, DocuGuru compiles the paper into the official Springer Nature format and hands you a submission-ready PDF along with the editable LaTeX source.
What reference style does HEC Forum use?
HEC Forum uses Superscript numbered (Nature) references, shown as superscript numerals in the text. DocuGuru formats every in-text citation and the reference list in this exact style automatically. A reference appears like this: 1. Smith, A., Jones, B. & Lee, C. A representative article title. HEC Forum 12, 45–58 (2023).
Do I need to know LaTeX to submit to HEC Forum?
No. DocuGuru generates the sn-jnl LaTeX class and compiles the PDF for you in the background, so you get a Springer Nature-ready HEC Forum document without writing any LaTeX. If you do want it, the LaTeX source is included in the export.
Can I import an existing draft into the HEC Forum template?
Yes. Paste or upload your current manuscript — Word, LaTeX, Markdown, or plain text — and DocuGuru reflows it into the HEC Forum format with correct headings, figures, tables, and superscript citations.
Who publishes HEC Forum?
HEC Forum is a multidisciplinary journal published by Springer Nature. DocuGuru's HEC Forum template matches Springer Nature's official submission format.
Can I export a submission-ready HEC Forum PDF?
Yes — DocuGuru produces a PDF built with the official HEC Forum template (the sn-jnl class) that is ready to submit to Springer Nature, together with the matching LaTeX source files.
How much does the HEC Forum template cost?
You can start writing in the HEC Forum template for free. Exporting the final submission-ready HEC Forum PDF and LaTeX source is part of DocuGuru's paid plans — see the app for current pricing.
Use the HEC Forum template