Text guidelines
- Articles must be in English.
- Articles must be a minimum of 1,500 words, excluding references.
- Acronyms are spelled out at the first location of usage and used as the acronym thereafter. For example: "The location of a central trigger point (CTrP) is central to a taut fibre. The CTrP is palpated by…"
- Promotion of self, seminars or products is inappropriate. Reference to a particular product as it applies to the discussion — particularly where valid research of the product or a comparison of products is concerned — may be included as long as a non-promotional manner is used.
- Do not use "he", "his", etc. where the gender of the person is unknown; say "the patient". Avoid inelegant alternatives such as "he/she" and avoid sexist language. Avoid the first person ("I" statements) and second person ("you" statements); third-person, objective reporting is appropriate. When reporting an opinion or a statement that cannot be referenced, the rare use of "In the author's opinion" or "In the author's experience" may be appropriate.
A. Research articles, reviews and meta-analyses
1. Title page
Contains the full names of all authors with academic degrees and titles, their academic institutions, address, telephone, fax and e-mail. Name the author for contact.
A paper for the Diplomate examination should have a single author, unless it is an academic paper published or in press with a peer-reviewed journal, in which case multiple authors are allowed. Only one candidate may use such a multiple-author paper for their paper defence.
Each time a candidate retakes the practical examination, a different paper should be defended. A previously defended paper is allowed only if significant revisions have been made addressing deficiencies identified in the prior defence. These rules apply from 19 June 2014.
2. Abstract
No more than 250 words. For original research, reviews and meta-analyses a structured abstract is required: background (objectives); methods (design, setting and patients or subjects, interventions, main outcome measures); results; conclusions.
3. Key words
Three to ten key words, such as MeSH headings, appropriate for search in international databases such as PubMed, Medline and Index Medicus.
4. Text
4.1 Introduction
A short description of the objectives and the published research to date. No data or results of the research presented in the article itself.
4.2 Methods
Describe the study design, the trial and research methods applied, and the choice of patients or subjects. New methods ought to be described in sufficient detail that others may reproduce the procedure. In reviews and meta-analyses, describe how the presented data were found and by which criteria they were selected and compared.
4.3 Statistics
Describe the statistical methods used and the significance level required to reject the null hypothesis.
4.4 Results
Describe results in the form of text and/or graphs, including the results of statistical measures.
4.5 Discussion
Present the new and important results of your study and give theoretical explanations and comparative considerations. Include weaknesses of the study as well as strengths.
4.6 Conclusion
Brief statement of the results of the study and their implications and limitations regarding clinical practice. What do the results mean for future research?
5. Acknowledgements
Appropriate acknowledgements to all the persons who supported the study.
6. References
Citations of studies, books, articles, etc. in the text must be referenced following the uniform requirements. Mark the reference in the text with a number which refers to the reference list, in order of occurrence, at the end of the text. The fourth and subsequent names may be replaced by et al.
Examples:
- Davidoff F for the CSE Task Force on Authorship. Who's the Author? Problems with Biomedical Authorship, and Some Possible Solutions. Science Editor. July–August 2000; 23(4): 111–119.
- Yank V, Rennie D. Disclosure of researcher contributions: a study of original research articles in The Lancet. Ann Intern Med. 1999 Apr 20; 130(8): 661–70.
- Flanagin A, Fontanarosa PB, DeAngelis CD. Authorship for research groups. JAMA. 2002; 288: 3166–68.
- Godlee F, Jefferson T. Peer Review in Health Sciences. London: BMJ Books, 1999.
- World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA. 2000 Dec 20; 284(23): 3043–5.
- Pitkin RM, Branagan MA, Burmeister LF. Accuracy of data in abstracts of published research articles. JAMA. 1999 Mar 24–31; 281(12): 1110–1.
Personal communications are placed at the specific location in the text, mentioning whether they were oral or written, and stating that the communicating person authorised the quote.
7. Tables, figures and photographs
Submit tables and figures integrated in the text with sequential numbers. For all tables and figures used from other publications, the author must supply documentation of permission from the original author.
B. Case reports
Case reports should be written in the following format:
- Title, author(s) and institution
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction — the health problem and its individual and social relevance; the literature on the topic; relevance of the case study for health care; purpose of the case study.
- Method (case study) — history and examination (positive and negative findings), differential diagnosis, and a clear description of the therapeutic techniques including literature on the technique.
- Results — treatment results documented with objective, measurable data (e.g. range of motion, laboratory values) and subjective data (visual analogue scale); short-term and long-term effects.
- Discussion — interpretation of the results, a model of the mechanisms of the treatment results, description of unclear effects, failures, differential therapy, limitations of the treatment method, relevance for similar cases.
- Conclusion — was the thesis (null hypothesis) confirmed or not? Proposals for future studies.
- References — see above for format requirements.