References
Reference management software, such as Procite®, EndNote®, or Reference Manager®, is recommended.
For in-text citations:
- Assign each source a number, in the order in which it is referred to in the text. When the same source is cited a second time, it retains its number.
- Distinguish footnotes from references by using roman numerals or lowercase letters.
- For references and footnotes, use superscript numbers or letters.
For the reference list:
- Use PubMed style for references; do not use the reference style of the source material.
- Add a document identifier if one is available, such as a PMID number for journal articles indexed by PubMed, an NTIS number for government reports, or a digital object identifier (DOI) for web documents. If you provide a link to a document (e.g., abstract, article, report), a document identifier is not needed.
Citing Journals
For journal citations and reference lists, copy the PubMed citation, listing authors first.
Example:
De Oliveira GS Jr, Errea M, Bialek J, Kendall MC, McCarthy RJ. The impact of health literacy on shared decision making before elective surgery: a propensity matched case control analysis. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018 Dec 12;18(1):958. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30541541. Accessed April 11, 2024.
Citing Books
- Author names followed by initials (no periods after initials). Use a comma between authors’ names.
- Title. Use title capitalization for the title of a work as a whole; sentence capitalization for titles of parts (e.g., chapters, articles in a series).
- City of publication (followed by a colon), publisher (followed by a semicolon), and date. For the State (used only when location of city is not clear), use the two-letter U.S. Postal Service abbreviation.
- Use a period to separate each of the three major elements above (author, title, and publication information).
Examples:
Arthur J. Lean Six Sigma Demystified: A Self Teaching Guide. New York: McGraw Hill; 2007.
Pesce MA. Laboratory testing in infants and children. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chapter 714.
Rombeau JL, Caldwell MD, eds. Parenteral Nutrition. In: Clinical Nutrition, vol. 2. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1986.
Citing Scientific and Technical Reports From Government Agencies
- Author names.
- Title of the article and/or individual publication within a series. Title capitalization for full-length reports.
- Name of the series.
- Publication number.
- City (and State if necessary) of publication, followed by a colon.
- Agency or organization responsible for the series, followed by a semicolon.
- Date of publication.
- DOI number, if available.
- Statement of online availability, if applicable.
Example:
Stagnitti MN, Machlin SR, Zodet MW, Saleska E. Design, Methods, and Field Results of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Medical Provider Component (MEPS MPC), Including the Medical Organizations Survey (MOS)—2016 Data Year. Methodology Report #32. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; October 2018. https://meps.ahrq.gov/data_files/publications/mr32/mr32.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2024.
Citing Grant or Contract Reports
- Author names.
- Full title of the report (using title capitalization).
- Status of the report, if given (final, draft, preliminary).
- Grantee or contractor.
- Grant or contract number.
- Publication number.
- City (and State if necessary) of publication.
- Agency for which the report was prepared.
- Date (year with first three letters of month).
Example:
Balk E, Adam GP, Kimmel H, Rofeberg V, Saeed I, Jeppson P, Trikalinos T. Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review Update. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 212. (Prepared by the Brown Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2015-00002-I for AHRQ and PCORI.) AHRQ Publication No. 18-EHC016-EF. PCORI Publication No. 2018-SR-03. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; August 2018. https://doi.org/10.23970/AHRQEPCCER212. Accessed April 12, 2024.
Citing Web Pages
When citing web pages, give the following information as applicable:
- Author names followed by initials (no periods). Use a comma between authors' names.
- Title. Use title capitalization for the title of a work as a whole; sentence capitalization for titles of parts (e.g., chapters, articles in a series).
- URL.
- Date accessed.
Example:
Valdez RO, Pardasaney P. AHRQ’s Unique Effort to Advance Care for People Living with Long COVID. https://www.ahrq.gov/news/blog/ahrqviews/long-covid-care-network.html. Accessed April 17, 2024.
Using Stock Photography
Contractors will work through their project officers and the managing editors to identify stock photos through AHRQ's license for royalty-free photos. The managing editor will obtain the photos. Contractors should not purchase photos without consulting with the managing editor.
Submitting Documents to AHRQ
- Consult with the AHRQ managing editor regarding any special formatting requirements.
- Use Styles in Microsoft Word to designate the font type and size for titles, headings, and subheadings. Doing so facilitates conversion to a 508-compliant document.
- Remove any contractor logos.
- Paginate the report consecutively, according to the table of contents. For short documents, number appendixes continuously. For long documents or long appendixes, where readers may want to separate the appendixes and use them individually, number each appendix with its appendix letter and page number (e.g., B-1, B-2, B-3).
- Number the reference list sequentially, and do not number a reference more than once. Note: If inserting endnotes using the Word endnote function, use the cross-reference function to cite the same reference more than once.
- Include with your final submission a copy of permissions you received to use copyrighted material. Be sure that all copyrighted material includes attribution to source (Appendix 1-A; PDF, 575 KB).
- Use the checklist below to assess understandability.
Did the document:- Make the purpose evident (purpose statement)?
- Use plain language? (Refer to Plain Language at AHRQ.)
- Use active voice?
- Chunk content into short sections, using subheads where appropriate?
- Present information in a logical sequence?
- Use visual cues (e.g., arrows, boxes, bullets, bold, larger font) to draw attention to key points?
- Make tables and other visual aids uncluttered, with clear titles, column headings, or captions?
- Provide summaries at appropriate points?
- Submit files electronically in Microsoft Word (or other appropriate Microsoft file formats: e.g., Excel or PowerPoint). Managing editors must be able to make changes using Word’s Track Changes function. PDF files are not acceptable until the managing editor deems the content final.
- Ensure all final content is 508 compliant. It is the contractor’s responsibility to create 508-compliant documents and validate compliance.
PowerPoint Presentations
AHRQ staff are required to use the AHRQ slide template (PowerPoint, 1.8 MB) for all presentations. It is also available from AHRQ project officers.
Master Slide Template Examples
Contractors will use the AHRQ slide template for presentations related to AHRQ-funded projects. Contractor logos cannot appear on the slides. The contractor company name will be identified on the title slide with the statement, “Presented by XXXXX under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.”
Toolkits
A toolkit is a collection of related information, resources, or tools that together can guide users to develop a plan or organize efforts to follow evidence-based recommendations or meet evidence-based practice standards. A tool is an instrument (e.g., survey, guideline, or checklist) that helps users accomplish a specific task that contributes to meeting a specific evidence-based recommendation or practice standard. This section includes a series of checklists for developing toolkits. Instructions for formatting toolkits are in Appendix 1-E.
Checklists
The following checklists help toolkit developers design and check the final product (see Table 1). Microsoft® Word versions of the Toolkit Checklists are also available [Microsoft® Word - 47 KB].
Table 1—Checklists To Use With Your Toolkit and Tools
| Toolkit | Tool | |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ | |
| ✓ | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
“Is This a Toolkit?” Checklist
Make sure you answer “yes” to each item in the checklist to ensure your content constitutes a toolkit. If you answer “no” to any items, resolve any concerns or consider a product other than a toolkit.
- What behavior or action are you trying to promote?
- Why is a package of tools the best way to attain your goal, as opposed to another type of product?
- Have you verified that a product like this does not already exist? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Did the research generate multiple action-oriented tools (such as specific procedures, protocols, or other structured activities) that help users develop a plan or organize efforts? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Have you spoken to potential users to determine the demand for a product like this? ☐ Yes ☐ No
What research or data indicate demand for a toolkit?
Toolkit Content Checklist
Answer these questions for your toolkit and tools to determine if you have provided users with sufficient information to implement the changes your research recommends. Make sure you answer “yes” to each item in the checklist. If you answer “no” to any of the items, determine how to resolve any concerns.
- Does the toolkit state its purpose? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the toolkit explain how to use the toolkit? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Is the toolkit task based? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the toolkit provide a series of steps to follow? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the toolkit list each tool and its purpose? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the toolkit describe target users and address their differing goals in using the toolkit? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Do the tools provide information on resources needed to complete tasks, such as staff time, staff skills, materials, equipment, and administrative approvals? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the toolkit organize resources to achieve a goal? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does each tool have instructions? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the toolkit provide users with additional resources for more information? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Will the toolkit be tested before it is released? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- How will the toolkit be tested? ☐ Expert review ☐ Focus groups with users ☐ Usability testing ☐ Other:
- Does the toolkit contain evaluation tools to measuare impact? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- What are the measures of success? (Suggest 3-5 methods of impact measurement.)
Tool Checklist
This checklist addresses three areas: organization, design, and language. Make sure you answer “yes” to each item in the checklist. If you answer “no” to any items, resolve any concerns.
Organization Considerations
- Does the tool have a table of contents or site map? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the table of contents or site map provide a complete view of the tool? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool identify the appropriate user? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool have sections, headings, or tasks arranged in a logical order? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Are there links to other sections, research, tools, or toolkits (e.g., web hyperlinks)? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Design Considerations
- Is each tool 508 compliant? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use common and easily readable fonts, such as Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Garamond, or Times Roman (AHRQ’s preferred fonts)? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Are different fonts or sizes used to denote different levels of the organizational hierarchy? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use bold and italics without overusing them? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Do fields for entering information expand to accommodate any number of characters? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Are pages, items, or questions numbered? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use bullets or numbers to list important information? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use borders and the space between lines to visually organize sections and items and make the tool more reader friendly? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use tables, lists, and graphics? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Do the visuals have descriptive titles? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Do the visuals support the text and help communicate the message to users? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Are the visuals 508 compliant, i.e., do they contain text to make them accessible to individuals with disabilities? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Language Considerations
- Does the tool use clear and concise language that’s free of jargon? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool minimize use of acronyms and abbreviations and spell them out on first use? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use active voice? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use personal pronouns? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use action verbs? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use gender-neutral words? ☐ Yes ☐ No
- Does the tool use words and terms consistently? ☐ Yes ☐ No
How To Present Your Toolkit on the Web
Include a short paragraph at the top of the toolkit’s main page that states the purpose, intended users, and importance. Then outline the toolkit’s contents, typically using these sections:
- How To Use the Toolkit: Explains in general terms what the toolkit components are and lists the product types, including tool types (e.g., checklists) and formats (e.g., Word, PDF, video, audio).
- Toolkit modules: Present the main subject areas, briefly describe them, and link to each subject area. Within each subject area page, present the materials by type (e.g., guides, tools, webinars, slides, videos).
- About the Toolkit Development: Explains how the toolkit was developed and provides a one- or two-sentence description with links to these topics: Background, Project Partners, and Reports.
For examples, go to AHRQ’s Toolkit for Reducing CAUTI in Hospitals and AHRQ Safety Program for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities – Toolkit.
Additional Information
To discuss specific issues or to obtain additional guidance on publishing style specifications, contact:
Bruce Seeman
Division of Print and Electronic Publishing
Office of Communications
Email: Bruce.Seeman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Phone: 301-427-1998
Doreen Bonnett
Division of Print and Electronic Publishing
Office of Communications
Email: Doreen.Bonnett@ahrq.hhs.gov
Phone: 301-427-1899
