These guidleines are meant as a guide only. It is by no means necessary for you to use these structures in your publication, they are just a means of helping you format your work for publication should you need them.Please feel free to use them or not, and or edit them as you wish.
Randomised Controlled Trials
For randomised controlled trials, provide a structured summary including the following as applicable:
- Title
- Author/s – names of all author
- Abstract – a concise and factual abstract is required (maximum length 200 words)
- Background – including objectives or a clear statement of the purpose of the study
- Methods – include the following:
- Design : describe aspects of the study: randomisation, prospective, blinding, placebo controlled, observational, survey
- Setting : include the level of care eg primary, secondary; number of participating centres
- Participants : numbers, selection criteria, numbers entering and completing study
- Interventions : what were the interventions, how and for how long
- Main outcome measures : identify primary outcome measure and any supporting secondary outcome measures
- Results – including main findings, point estimate and degree of uncertainty eg: confidence interval, where appropriate
- Conclusions – main conclusion based on results and objective of study
- Implications – main implication of key findings for practice and further research
- Funding – for the research
- Clinical Trial Registration number – if appropriate
- Author Biography – include a short biography for each author
Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews
For meta-analyses and systematic reviews, provide a structured summary in line with the PRISMA Statement[1], including as applicable:
- Title
- Author/s – names of all author
- Abstract – a concise and factual abstract is required (maximum length 200 words)
- Background or context
- Objectives – the clinical question or purpose
- Data sources – databases searched and other information sources
- Study selection or eligibility criteria, (participants, and interventions)
- Study appraisal and synthesis methods (or Data Extraction and Data Synthesis);
- Results
- Limitations
- Conclusion and implications of key findings
- Funding – for the systematic review
- Systematic review registration number – if appropriate
- Author Biography – include a short biography for each author
Case Studies
- Title
- Author/s – add names of all authors here
- Abstract – 100 word limit, non-structured description
- Patient Characteristics
- Demographic Information: (occupation/vocation, gender, age, etc.)
- Medical diagnosis if applicable
- Co-morbidities
- Previous care or treatment
- Examination
- Subjective : Patient History and Systems Review (chief complaints, other relevant medical history, prior or current services related to the current episode, use relative dates i.e. years or months or days relative to onset of injury or start of treatment, patient/family goals)
- Self Report Outcome Measures
- Physical Performance Measures
- Objective : Physical Examination Tests and Measures
- Clinical Impression
- Summarization of Examination Finding
- Working Diagnosis and Targeted Interventions
- Intervention
- Phases of Interventions (e.g. protective phase, mobility phase, etc.)
- Dosage and Parameters
- Rationale for Progression
- Co-interventions if applicable (e.g. injection therapy, medications)
- Outcomes – Findings Over time
- Discussion – Summary Statement which should include related findings in the literature, potential impact on clinical practices
