Abstract
Objective: This study was designed 1) to elucidate the usefulness of structured abstracts in the review of manuscripts by editors, and the current state of affairs regarding the circumstances of use of structured abstracts in Japanese medical society journals, and 2)to elucidate the degree of recognition of structured abstracts by the editors and medical investigators of journals published by Japanese medical societies, their degree of adoption by Japanese scientific societies, and the conditions. Methods: A questionnaire survey of editors and investigators was conducted in June 2003, and replies were obtained from67 editors of journals of medical societies (valid response rate: 69.8%) and 129 investigators (valid response rate: 43%). Results: 1. Structured abstracts were reported to be useful in reviewing manuscripts by 61.2% of the editors. Structured abstracts were more widely known by the editors of journals of clinical societies than by the editors of basic science societies, and a higher percentage used them.2. The degree of recognition of structured abstracts was 88.1% by editors and 78.3% by investigators. The possible adoption of structured abstracts by Japanese medical journals was supported by79.1% of the editors and 61.3% of the investigators. Items for which a significant difference was found between editors and investigators were "recognition of the Vancouver style" and "adoption of structured abstracts by Japanese medical journals", and there were higher percentages of positive replies by the editors in regard to both. Conclusions: The usefulness of structured abstracts is acknowledged by both editors and investigators, and structured abstracts are expected to be widely adopted by Japanese journals in the future.
