AMA Journal Article Citations
Learn to cite medical journal articles, clinical research, and peer-reviewed studies using the AMA Manual of Style formatting standards.
AMA Journal Article Format
The AMA Manual of Style uses a numerical citation system with specific formatting requirements for journal articles in medical and healthcare literature.
Standard Format:
Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):page range. doi:DOI
Clinical Research Examples
Single Author - Clinical Trial:
1. Peterson MJ. Efficacy of novel immunotherapy in stage III melanoma patients. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(15):2789-2796. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.00456
In-text citation: Recent clinical trials demonstrate improved survival rates.1
Multiple Authors - Medical Research:
2. Rodriguez CA, Thompson LK, Williams JM, et al. Cardiovascular outcomes following bariatric surgery: a 10-year follow-up study. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(12):1089-1098. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2301234
In-text citation: Long-term cardiovascular benefits have been documented.2
Collaborative Research Group:
3. COVID-19 Vaccine Research Consortium. Safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines in immunocompromised populations. Lancet. 2023;401(10385):1245-1254. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00567-8
In-text citation: Consortium data support vaccine safety in vulnerable populations.3
Specialized Medical Publications
Case Report:
4. Chen SL, Park JH. Rare presentation of drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome: a case report and literature review. Dermatol Case Rep. 2023;17(3):45-48. doi:10.1159/000530123
Editorial:
5. Harrison RL. Advancing precision medicine in psychiatry [editorial]. Am J Psychiatry. 2023;180(6):401-402. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.20230415
Systematic Review:
6. Kumar AS, Taylor BK, Wilson CM, et al. Effectiveness of telehealth interventions for chronic disease management: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2023;381:e074610. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-074610
Online and Digital Publications
Online-First Publication:
7. Foster JK, Miller DL. Gene editing breakthrough in treating sickle cell disease. Blood. Published online March 15, 2023. doi:10.1182/blood.2023019876
Open Access Article:
8. O'Connor MR, Lewis TJ, Brown EA. Global health disparities in cancer screening programs. Glob Health Action. 2023;16(1):2198765. doi:10.1080/16549716.2023.2198765
Preprint (Not Peer-Reviewed):
9. Zhang WL, Anderson KP. Novel biomarkers for early Alzheimer's detection. Preprint. Posted online February 28, 2023. medRxiv. doi:10.1101/2023.02.28.23286543
AMA Style Guidelines
Journal Abbreviations:
Use standard abbreviations from PubMed's Journal Database:
- Journal of the American Medical Association → JAMA
- Annals of Internal Medicine → Ann Intern Med
- Circulation → Circulation
- Pediatrics → Pediatrics
DOI Requirements:
Always include DOI when available. If no DOI exists, include URL and access date for online sources.
Evidence Hierarchy:
AMA style emphasizes evidence-based medicine. Prioritize:
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Level 1)
- Randomized controlled trials (Level 2)
- Cohort studies (Level 3)
- Case-control studies (Level 4)
- Case series and reports (Level 5)
Conflict of Interest:
When citing research, be aware of potential conflicts of interest and funding sources that may influence study outcomes.