Structure of a medical research paper: key content elements, writing tips and examples of reporting guidelines from the EQUATOR website

Section Key content * Reporting guidelines that provide recommendations on reporting information relating to: Study design / methodology Specific discipline / clinical area  Generic framework for reporting key methodology aspects of:  Key focus is on discipline / clinical area specific issues - Main study designs (generic guidelines)  May or may not address general methodology items - More specialised designs - Specific methods, evaluations, analyses  No details relating to specific to diseases Framework for a complete Framework for only a part of the Framework for a complete Framework for only a part of research study / research paper research study / research paper research study / paper the research study / paper Examples include: Examples include: Examples include: Examples include: Title Indicate the focus of the paper and include important Main study designs (generic relevant ‘keywords’ to allow identification of the study guidelines): TREND: non-randomised through electronic searches. CONSORT: parallel randomised studies of behavioural and Be concise, precise, and informative. trials public health interventions Abstract Most journals require a structured abstract, typically CONSORT for abstracts STARE-HI for abstracts of including key information on the following: STROBE: observational studies in STROBE for abstracts REMARK: tumour marker studies in health informatics epidemiology prognostic studies - Objectives - Methods (setting, participants, intervention, main outcome measures) STARD: diagnostic accuracy STARE-HI: evaluation studies in - Results studies health informatics - Conclusions Introduction Provide the scientific background and clearly explain what COREQ: qualitative research Longitudinal studies in questions you were trying to answer. rheumatology Be brief and relevant to the study: start from a broad context SQUIRE: quality improvement of what is already known, proceed to the specific unknown studies Adverse events reports in problems, and finish with clearly stated study objectives traditional Chinese medicine Methods Describe in a logical sequence how the study was designed, COGS: clinical practice guidelines Statistical guidelines: Intervention: carried out, and analysed. Bayesian analysis in clinical trials Case series of colon tumours STRICTA (CONSORT extension A typical methods section provides key information on the for acupuncture trials) PRISMA: systematic reviews Subgroup analyses in trials following: Cancer pain educational Economic evaluations: - Setting, location interventions MOOSE: systematic reviews of Cost-effectiveness analysis - Participants (or objects) Procedures: observational studies in Economic evaluations in trials - Study design including planned sample size Cardiovascular magnetic - Interventions (or exposures) epidemiology resonance examinations - Outcomes (variables) Quality of life assessment in trials Statistical guidelines: - All statistical methods Case reports Multivariate logistic regression - Ethical issues (e.g. consent) STARLITE: literature searches in transplantation research Information should be clear, accurate, and complete (provide More specialised designs (often Economic evaluations: enough details to repeat, assess, and compare with other extending the generic guidance): studies) Economic evaluations in CONSORT for cluster trials Content should correspond with the Result section obstetrics CONSORT non-inferiority trials Quality of life assessment in CONSORT for pragmatic trials cancer trials 1

Section Key content * Reporting guidelines that provide recommendations on reporting information relating to: Study design / methodology Specific discipline / clinical area  Generic framework for reporting key methodology aspects of:  Key focus is on discipline / clinical area specific issues - Main study designs (generic guidelines)  May or may not address general methodology items - More specialised designs - Specific methods, evaluations, analyses  No details relating to specific to diseases Framework for a complete Framework for only a part of the Framework for a complete Framework for only a part of research study / research paper research study / research paper research study / paper the research study / paper Examples include: Examples include: Examples include: Examples include: Results Report results of the investigations described in the Methods Statistical guidelines: Statistical results in case- section (in same order) using text, tables, figures, and Heterogeneity in trial treatment control designs in statistics effects neuropsychology Be as brief and clear as possible (but don’t leave out Missing data ‘disappointing’ results)

A typical structure and chronology includes: Figures, graphs - Description of study participants (if relevant,

separately for important subgroups) - Presentation of answers to the main questions (starting with primary outcomes, then secondary outcomes, and any other analyses) Report on harms (adverse effects) as well as benefits, if relevant Outline any ways in which the study did not follow the prespecified plan. Pay special attention to presentation of data and results in tables and figures Discussion Discuss what your findings mean and where they stand in the Structured discussion context of other studies Research recommendations A typical discussion section structure and chronology includes: - Brief presentation of the main findings - Assessment of study strengths and weaknesses - Comparison of findings with previous studies - Consideration of clinical and scientific implications - If relevant, suggestions for future research Conclusions This section is not always presented separately in a research article Any conclusions must be fully supported by the study findings Acknowledge State source of funding and any relevant conflict of interest Conflict of Interest: ICMJE, ments Acknowledge any person who contributed to the study but WAME guidelines who does not qualify as an author * Key content column lists basic general content of a primary research paper

2