David J Preiss raises an important point about the word length of
abstracts
and Trish Groves provides an excellent response including a historical
context. We encourage authors reporting abstracts for journal articles or
conference proceedings to consider using the CONSORT for Abstracts
extension (1). We have shown that the CONSORT for Abstracts minimally
increases the word count of abstracts and is well within the Medline 600
words mentioned by Groves. Examples of written abstracts prior to and
after
using the CONSORT for abstracts guidance can be seen at the CONSORT
website (www.consort-statements/abstracts).
The same issues apply to reports of systematic reviews, although the
PRISMA
Group has not as yet developed specific guidance for abstracts of such
articles. It may be that these articles require more words than reports of
randomised trials, reflecting the larger number of sections recommended
for
structured abstracts of such articles (REF).
References
1. Hopewell S, Clarke M, Moher D, Wager E, Middleton P, Altman DG,
Schulz
KF and the CONSORT Group. CONSORT for reporting randomized controlled
trials in journal and conference abstracts: explanation and elaboration.
PLoS
Med 2008;5(1):e20.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
28 July 2009
David Moher
Senior Scientist
Douglas G. Altman, Alessandro Liberati, and Jennifer Tetzlaff
Rapid Response:
Abstracts
David J Preiss raises an important point about the word length of abstracts and Trish Groves provides an excellent response including a historical context. We encourage authors reporting abstracts for journal articles or conference proceedings to consider using the CONSORT for Abstracts extension (1). We have shown that the CONSORT for Abstracts minimally increases the word count of abstracts and is well within the Medline 600 words mentioned by Groves. Examples of written abstracts prior to and after using the CONSORT for abstracts guidance can be seen at the CONSORT website (www.consort-statements/abstracts).
The same issues apply to reports of systematic reviews, although the PRISMA Group has not as yet developed specific guidance for abstracts of such articles. It may be that these articles require more words than reports of randomised trials, reflecting the larger number of sections recommended for structured abstracts of such articles (REF).
References
1. Hopewell S, Clarke M, Moher D, Wager E, Middleton P, Altman DG, Schulz KF and the CONSORT Group. CONSORT for reporting randomized controlled trials in journal and conference abstracts: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med 2008;5(1):e20.
Competing interests: None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests