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
- Objectives epidemiology prognostic studies
- 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 Subgroup analyses in trials for acupuncture trials)
PRISMA: systematic reviews
following: Economic evaluations: Cancer pain educational
- Setting, location interventions
MOOSE: systematic reviews of Cost-effectiveness analysis
- Participants (or objects) Procedures:
- Study design including planned sample size observational studies in Economic evaluations in trials
epidemiology Cardiovascular magnetic
- Interventions (or exposures)
resonance examinations
- Outcomes (variables) Quality of life assessment in trials
- All statistical methods Statistical guidelines:
Case reports
- Ethical issues (e.g. consent) Multivariate logistic regression
STARLITE: literature searches in transplantation research
Information should be clear, accurate, and complete (provide More specialised designs (often
enough details to repeat, assess, and compare with other Economic evaluations:
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

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 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