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How to cite using AMA in the health sciences

This guide covers the basics of the American Medical Association's (AMA) citation style.

Format, example and tips - Journal article - online (DOI)

Elements to include and formatting

Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi: (no period after the DOI)

Example

  1. Fischer MA, Stedman MS, Lii J, et al. Primary medication non-adherence: analysis of 195,930 electronic prescriptions. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(4):284–290. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1253-9
  2. van der Kam S, Roll S, Swarthout T, et al. Effect of short-term supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food or micronutrients for children after illness for prevention of malnutrition: a randomised controlled trial in Uganda. PLoS Med.2016;13(2):e1001951. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001951

Tips

  • When the DOI is given for a journal article, AMA style prefers that the DOI is cited instead of the URL. Do not cite both.
  • Authors. For 1-6 authors include all names.  More than 6 authors, include first three names followed by ,et al.
  • Journals may not always include vol/issue/page numbering, and/or may include an article number in place of these details. Include the details you have in this area.
  • Abbreviated journal name is in italics.
  • Journal abbreviations. AMA employs journal abbreviations as set by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Journals referenced in the NCBI Databases.
    • Alternatively:
      • Use PubMed or OVID Medline to locate the appropriate abbreviation.
      • Check the abbreviation from your reference management program.