Structured Abstracts

Lawrence DJ, Structured Abstracts for Case Reports Published in JMPT, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Mar/Apr 1993; 16(3): ,123-4.

Dr. Lawrence through consistent and valient efforts has attempted to lift chiropractic research as editor of JMPT. One of his many accomplishments has been to have chiropractic literature set the standard for scientific publishing. To this he published this editorial concerning “structured abstracts.” While they are mandatory for JMPT they should be mandatory for all chiropractic publications.

“In early 1992, the JMPT began requiring the use of a structured abstract for original data reports and review of literature. [1] The use of the structured abstract grew out of the work of Haynes and colleagues [2], who were concerned that the typical prose abstract allowed inappropriate information to be placed into the abstract. By providing the structure, information would be better codified for dissemination.

“The orginal work by Haynes reocmmended that the structured abstract be used only for the types of papers noted above. However, some medical journals have devised methods for using structured abstracts in case reports. This makes eminent good sense.

‘Within the chiropractic profession, there is a growing understanding of the importance of case reports. The JMPT recently noted its own publication record with regard to the types of case seen and treated by chiropractors [3].”

“The increased call for case reports carries with it a responsibility to ensure that the cases published adhere to very strict guidelines. There have been concerns reaised about past publications within some trade publications [4], and we can ill afford to allow poor cases into print because they may influence a reader into attempting a clinically unjustified or potentially damaging procedure, or may cause a reader to put off more appropriate care.

“To that end, a first start in improving the presentation of cases to the reading public will be to implement structured abstracts for case reports. The structure itself imposes a more rigorous approach to how the information contained in the case is to be reported and organized. The structured abstract will itself have the following components: Objective; Clinical Features; Intervention; Outcome; and Conclusions.”

References:

1. Lawrence DJ, Structured abstracts and JMPT , Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1992;15:
77-82.

2. Ad Hoc Working Group for Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature, A proposal for more information abstracts
of clinical articles, Ann Intern Med 1987;106:598-604.

3. Lawrence DJ, Fourteen years of case reports, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutic 1991;14 447-9.

4. McGregor M, Chiropractic magazines, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutic 1993; 1:3-6.

5.. Lawrence DJ, Structured abstracts for Case Reports Published in JMPT: Editorial , Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Therapeutics 1993;16(3):123-4.