TY - JOUR
T1 - The abstract format of original articles
T2 - Differences between imaging and non-imaging journals
AU - Sconfienza, Luca Maria
AU - Di Leo, Giovanni
AU - Muzzupappa, Claudia
AU - Sardanelli, Francesco
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Objectives: To compare the abstract structure in the 70 highest-rank imaging journals with that of the two highest-rank journals in each of 35 non-imaging biomedical categories, according to 2008 impact factors. Methods: We searched on MEDLINE for articles published in high-ranking imaging and non-imaging journals. Abstract format was considered as: IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion/conclusion); extended structured (ES), when including headings other than IMRaD; or narrative (without headings). Results: Abstracts of the 70 highest-rank imaging journals were: IMRaD, n=43 (61%); narrative, n=27 (39%); ES, n=0. Abstracts of the 70 highest-rank non-imaging journals were: IMRaD, n=26 (37%); narrative, n=35 (50%); ES, n=9 (13%) (p=0.001). Additional headings were: study design, n=7; measurements, n=7; context/setting, n=4; interventions, n=2; rationale, n=1; level of evidence, n=1; clinical relevance, n=1. Study design was declared in 12/23 abstracts (57%) and 21/23 (91%) article bodies in Radiology, 6/21 (29%) and 10/21 (48%) in Investigative Radiology, 11/24 (46%) and 18/24 (75%) in European Radiology, and 12/30 (40%) and 23/30 (77%) in American Journal of Roentgenology, respectively. Conclusions: Although about 60% of imaging journals adhere to IMRaD format, 13% of non-imaging journals requires additional headings; ES abstracts may assist readers in selecting full articles to be read.
AB - Objectives: To compare the abstract structure in the 70 highest-rank imaging journals with that of the two highest-rank journals in each of 35 non-imaging biomedical categories, according to 2008 impact factors. Methods: We searched on MEDLINE for articles published in high-ranking imaging and non-imaging journals. Abstract format was considered as: IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion/conclusion); extended structured (ES), when including headings other than IMRaD; or narrative (without headings). Results: Abstracts of the 70 highest-rank imaging journals were: IMRaD, n=43 (61%); narrative, n=27 (39%); ES, n=0. Abstracts of the 70 highest-rank non-imaging journals were: IMRaD, n=26 (37%); narrative, n=35 (50%); ES, n=9 (13%) (p=0.001). Additional headings were: study design, n=7; measurements, n=7; context/setting, n=4; interventions, n=2; rationale, n=1; level of evidence, n=1; clinical relevance, n=1. Study design was declared in 12/23 abstracts (57%) and 21/23 (91%) article bodies in Radiology, 6/21 (29%) and 10/21 (48%) in Investigative Radiology, 11/24 (46%) and 18/24 (75%) in European Radiology, and 12/30 (40%) and 23/30 (77%) in American Journal of Roentgenology, respectively. Conclusions: Although about 60% of imaging journals adhere to IMRaD format, 13% of non-imaging journals requires additional headings; ES abstracts may assist readers in selecting full articles to be read.
KW - Abstracting
KW - Biomedical journals
KW - Imaging journals
KW - Indexing
KW - Literature research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053924606&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80053924606&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00330-011-2202-7
DO - 10.1007/s00330-011-2202-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 21769527
AN - SCOPUS:80053924606
VL - 21
SP - 2235
EP - 2243
JO - European Radiology
JF - European Radiology
SN - 0938-7994
IS - 11
ER -