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Library Research: AMA

A guide to library research

AMA Manual

Things to Note

  • In your bibliography, references are listed in the order they are cited. 
  • In-text citations use superscript numbers in numberical order. 1
  • Use the NLM catalog to find journal title abbreviations. 
  • In your references, authors should appear in the order they appear in the item. Don't use punctuation between the last name and initials. 
  • When there are more then 6 authors, include only the first three authors followed by et al. 

Citation Management Tools

Any computer-generated citation should be considered a "rough draft." It's up to you to verify the correct formatting.

Journal Articles

Notes: When the DOI is given for a journal article, AMA style prefers that the DOI is cited instead of the URL. If not DOI is given, include the URL. Do not cite both. If there are more than 6 authors listed, include the first three followed by et al.

Print

  1. Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages.

Online, DOI

  1. ​Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi:.

Online, URL

  1. Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. URL. Publication date. Updated date. Accessed date.

Online, Epub Ahead of Print

  1. Author(s). Article title [published online ahead of print, date].  Abbreviated Journal Name. doi:.

Examples

  1. Culshaw J, Kendall D, Wilcock A. Off-label prescribing in palliative care: a survey of independent prescribers. Palliat Med. 2013;27(4):314-319.
  2. Bouwmeester C, Kraft J, Bungay KM. Optimizing inhaler use by pharmacist-provided education to community-dwelling elderly. Respir Med. 2015;109(10)1363-1368. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.07.013.
  3. Hummer J. Lean process in pharmacy renewal. AAACN Viewpoint. 2010;32(1)1-11. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,cpid&custid=s6945693&db=c8h&AN=105302731&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed August 1, 2017.
  4. Park BK. Ultrasound-guided genitourinary interventions: principles and techniques [published online ahead of print May 29, 2017]. Ultrasonography. doi: 10.14366/usg.17026.

Books

Note: When referring to an entire book, rather than pages or a specific section, use the Print or Online formats.  When citing an entire book, all major words in the title should be capitalized. If you are citing pages from a print book, include the page numbers at the end of the citation. e.g. copyright year:xxx-xxxx.

Print

  1. Author(s) or Editors(s) {If you are listing the editors, include ", eds." after the list of editors}. Book Title. Edition number (do not indicate 1st edition). City, State (or, Province or Country) of publication: Publisher name; copyright year.

Online

  1. Author(s) or Editors(s) {If you are listing the editors, include ", eds." after the list of editors}. Book Title. Edition number (do not indicate 1st edition). City, State (or, Province or Country) of publication: Publisher’s name; copyright year. URL. Accessed date.

Book Chapter, Online

  1. Author(s) of chapter. Chapter title. In: editor(s), ed. Book Title. Edition number (do not indicate 1st edition). City, State (or, Province or Country) of publication: Publisher name; copyright year. URL. Accessed date.

Examples

  1. Bertino JS. Pharmacogenomics: An Introduction and Clinical Perspective. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2013.
  2. Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S. Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System. 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2016. https://www-clinicalkey-com.proxy.lib.mcw.edu/#!/browse/book/3-s2.0-C20140041366. Accessed August 1, 2017.
  3. Moores KG, Kee VR. Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. In: Malone PM, Kier KL, Stanovich JE, Malone MJ, eds. Drug Information: A Guide for Pharmacists. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013. http://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com.proxy.lib.mcw.edu/content.aspx?bookid=981&sectionid=54480670. Accessed August 01, 2017.

Online Resources & Websites

UpToDate

Cite the UpToDate topic as a chapter in a book titled UpToDate, edited by Ted. W. Post, published by UpToDate in Waltham, MA. There are no page numbers to cite, and the publication year for any topic should be the current year.

Example

  1. Ferguson GT, Make B. Stable COPD: Initial pharmacologic management. In: Post TW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; Updated December 17, 2019. Accessed July 17, 2020.

 

LexiComp 

Drug Name. In: (Specific database title). Publication City, State/Province: Publisher. Updated date. Accessed date.

Example from Lexicomp:

  1.  Acetaminophen and Caffeine. In: Lexi-Drugs. Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp, Inc.; Updated June 18, 2020. Accessed July, 17, 2020.

 

Johns Hopkins ABX Guide

Article author(s).  Title of the topic. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University; 2019. Available from https://www.unboundmedicine.com. Accessed date. 

Example

  1. Dzintars K, Pham PA. Docosanol. In: Auwaerter PG, Bartlett JG. eds. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University; 2019. Available from https://www.unboundmedicine.com. Accessed June 18, 2019.  

 

Website

Note:  Only cite what information is available (e.g. author name, updated date, etc.).

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

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/improving-prescribing/core-elements/core-outpatient-stewardship.html Updated September 24, 2018. Accessed January 14, 2019.