LibGuides: PBL Resource Guide: Evaluating & Citing References

Information Evaluation

Practice Defensive Information Evaluation

Information is not passive!
- It is filtered, pushed, promoted, spun, and sold
- It can be disinformation, misinformation, out of date, trying to sell you something
Be critical of the source
- You already take a critical eye for news, social media, etc. the same should be done when looking at medical information
- Google doesn't change it's ways just because it is a science topic ;-)
Quick critical questions
- Who is in charge of this resource (author, editorial team, experience/relevancy)?
- What is the context for use of this resource (audience, depth of information, purpose)?
- Is this information current and accurate based on what I already know?

Critical Appraisal of Research

If searching for evidence to answer a clinical question, you may need to evaluate the trustworthiness, relevance and results of the research you find.
The following is a list of organizations that provide critical appraisal checklists for various types of research studies.

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Citation Guidelines

Why Cite Sources?

Remember that citations are there so others can validate the information you present to them.
It is also good habit to ensure you are crediting the work that others have done.
To ensure you are giving enough information in a citation, and get practice for future publications and presentations, we recommend following AMA/JAMA guidelines.

Presentations Without Slides

Create a numbered list of citations for resources you used following AMA/JAMA guidelines in any document editor.
Title it "References".

Slide Presentations

Cite resources in-text, including images, figures or tables you did not create.
Cite in consecutive order using superscript Arabic numbers in text.
Use commas to separate multiple citation numbers in text.
Unpublished works and personal communications should be cited parenthetically (and not on the reference list).
Corresponding references should be listed in numeric order in a References slide.

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AMA Format Examples

General Format

Name of app. Version if available. Publisher Name. Updated date.

Example
Epocrates app. Version 20.20.1. Epocrates, Inc. Updated October 10, 2020.

General Format

Chapter/Article author(s) last name and initial(s). Title of the chapter/article. In: Editor's last name and initial(s), ed. Title of Book. Publisher's name; Copyright year: Pages of chapter or chapter number if page numbers aren’t available.

Example

Cohen M. Chronic and acute. In: Sapphire P, ed. The Disenfranchised. Baywood Publishing; 2013:109-122.

Note: You need to cite to chapter level to help others find what you are referencing.

General Format

Author(s). Title of specific item cited (or, if unavailable, give the name of the organization responsible for the site). Name of Web Site. URL. Publication date. Updated date. Accessed date.

Example

Protocol Snow. Harvard Medical School classroom. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/6wAnUu. Published June 15, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2020.

General Format

Author. Article title. Abbreviated Journal Title. Year;Volume(Issue):page numbers.

Example

Steward DL. Effectiveness of multilevel (tongue and palate) radiofrequency tissue ablation for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Laryngoscope. 2004;114(12):2073-2084.

General Format

Author. Title. Format. Publisher or distributor. Year. URL (if applicable).

Examples

Gray D. Condition Red: Prepared for Disaster. DVD. Advantage Source, Inc; 2003

Gorth DJ, Oliveros E, Williams PN, Witt L, Watto MF. Pulmonary Hypertension Update with Estefania Oliveros. The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast. September 13, 2021. Accessed September 16, 2021. https://thecurbsiders.com/episode-list

General Format

Author or responsible body (If given). Title of item cited (if none given, use the organization name). Name of website. [Published date]. Updated [date]. Accessed [date]. URL

Example

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 5, 2020. Accessed October 16, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/

General Format

List all authors if six or less, otherwise list three followed by "et al".
Authors’/Editors' last name and initials, separated by commas.
Follow general format guidelines for resource format, adding authors and/or editors according to above.

Example

Gilman S, Newman SW. Manter and Gatz's Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology. 10th ed. F.A. Davis; 2003.

PBL Resource Guide

Katie Houk, UME Librarian

Information Evaluation

Practice Defensive Information Evaluation

Critical Appraisal of Research

Citation Guidelines

Why Cite Sources?

Presentations Without Slides

Slide Presentations

AMA Format Examples

General Format

Name of app. Version if available. Publisher Name. Updated date.

Example

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Examples

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Locations

Contact