Uniform manuscript submission formats: The need and challenges

Uniform requirements for manuscript submission (URMs) are considered to be “recommendations on conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals.” They have gradually evolved from initial guidance describing how to prepare manuscripts into a full document defining the role and responsibilities for all key players involved with academic medical publishing and ethical considerations of publishing and editorial issues. Significant changes to URMs over the years include an update on criteria for authorship. Emphasis is also laid on mandatory disclosure of financial or relationships not only by the authors but also by editors, peer reviewers, and editorial staff alike. Since 2005, all International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) journals require that clinical trials are prospectively registered. Efforts and guidance by the ICMJE are primarily to ensure transparency in academic publishing and enhance the credibility of published data.