International Congress on Peer Review in Biomedical Publication - Instructions for Writing, Preparing, and Submitting Abstracts

Fifth International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication

September 15-17, 2005
Fairmont Hotel
Chicago, Illinois USA

Call for Abstracts

JAMA and the BMJ invite abstracts for the Fifth International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication. Following the successful four previous congresses, the fifth congress will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of new research on peer review and scientific publication. Abstracts on any aspect of editorial peer review, scientific publication, and the dissemination of scientific information will be considered. Instructions for preparing and submitting abstracts are on the reverse side of this announcement. Abstracts that summarize new research and findings will be given priority.

Suggested areas of research include:

Mechanisms and new models of peer review and editorial decision making
Evaluations of quality, validity, and practicality of peer review and editorial assessment
Quality assurance for reviewers and editors
Authorship, contributorship, responsibility, and accountability for published material
Breakdowns, weaknesses, and biases
Conflicts of interest
Scientific misconduct
Ethical concerns in peer review and scientific publication
Peer review of grant proposals
Methods to improve the reporting of research and biomedical information
Online and Web-based peer review
Online publication and dissemination of scientific information
Effects of open access and other publishing models
Prepublication posting and release of information
Evaluations of use and impact of peer-reviewed scientific information
Evaluations of editorial policies
Economics of peer review and scientific publication
Assessments of editorial procedures and systems
Evaluations of the quality of print and online biomedical information
Methods for improving the quality, efficiency, and equitable distribution of biomedical information

For more information, contact

Annette Flanagin
JAMA
515 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610 USA
tel: 312-464-2432
fax: 312-464-5824
jama-peer@jama-archives.org

Jane Smith
BMJ Publishing Group
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London, WC1H 9JR UK
tel: 44-207-383-6009
fax: 44-207-383-6418
jsmith@bmj.com

Limited opportunities for scholars to apply for funding to attend the Congress as well as a pre-congress workshop (September 13-14, 2005) will be available. For more information, contact Annette Flanagin at the above address.

Submission Deadline: January 15, 2005

Instructions for Abstracts

Please take care when preparing your abstracts. Abstracts that do not meet these requirements will be returned. Priority will be given to abstracts that report original research.

Preparing the Abstract

Format

Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words. Provide a word count at the top of the abstract.

The title of the abstract should be printed at the top of the page. The names of authors and other identifying information should not appear on the same page as the abstract to facilitate blinded review.

Research Abstracts

Summaries of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, comparison studies, surveys, bibliometric analyses, retrospective reviews of data, systematic reviews of literature, meta-analyses, and cost-effectiveness analyses. These abstracts should be structured using the following headings:

Objective: Precise statement of the study question or hypothesis.

Design: Description of how you tested your hypothesis or addressed the study question. Include type of study, date(s) of study, sample or data source, sample or data selection procedures, inclusion/exclusion criteria, intervention and/or assessment tools, methods of analyses, and methods used to control for potential confounding/bias.

Results: Description of what you found, with specific data. If appropriate, numerical results should be accompanied by confidence intervals/measures of variability and levels of statistical significance. Provide response/participation rates, as appropriate. A single, simple table displaying the main results may be included.

Conclusions: Brief statement of what you conclude from the results, limiting generalization to the domain of your study sample or data source.

Nonresearch Abstracts

We will also consider historical, ethical, or descriptive reviews, although these will be given lower priority. Abstracts for such reviews do not have to be structured but should include a succinct summary of the subject or problem, historical and current significance, proposals or solutions, and conclusions.

Submitting the Abstract

All abstracts and cover letters should be submitted via e-mail as attached files. Word documents are preferred.

Attach a cover page listing the title of the abstract, followed by the complete names, degrees/credentials, and affiliations of all authors. One author must be identified as the corresponding author. Provide a complete mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address for the corresponding author.

If your abstract includes a table, it must be part of the abstract file. No more than 1 table can be included in each abstract.

All abstracts must be submitted by e-mail. Send abstracts to jama-peer@jama-archives.org

Acknowledgments will be sent to the corresponding author by e-mail within 1 week of receipt of abstract. Corresponding authors will be notified of the decisions regarding their submission by the end of April 2005.

Submission deadline: January 15, 2005

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