[Norms for authors of Mexican medical journals in 1994 and 1995]. / Normas para los autores de revistas médicas mexicanas en 1994 y 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To find out how much information of the Vancouver Norms (VANNOR) are given to prospective authors in the Instructions for Authors (IFA) in a sample of Mexican medical journals (MMJ) published in 1994 and 1995. DESIGN: Prospective, cross sectional, descriptive, observational. MEASUREMENTS: The IFA in the last issue of the MMJ that were published in 1994 and 1995, were reviewed and 121 characteristics in the VANNOR were scored in nine categories (characteristics, presentation, title page, summary and key words, text order and contents, references, tables, illustrations and other instructions). A one point score was given to any characteristic present in order to obtain a score for each category and a total score for each journal. The total scores in the VANNOR affiliated journals (N = 33) versus the non-affiliated ones (N = 27) were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney and exact Fisher test with alpha = 0.05 (two-tailed). RESULTS: A statistically significant higher score was found in the IFA of VANNOR journals in 22 of the 121 characteristics, in six of the nine categories, as well as in the total score. CONCLUSION: VANNOR affiliated journals offer a significantly higher amount of information regarding the IFA than those not affiliated.

[Comparison of instructions to authors of Mexican medical journals and the Vancouver requirements]. / Comparación de las normas para autores de revistas médicas mexicanas con las normas de Vancouver.

OBJECTIVE: To find out how much information of the Vancouver norms (VANNOR) are given to prospective authors in the instructions for authors (IFA) in some Mexican medical journals (MMJ). DESIGN: Prospective, cross sectional, descriptive, observational. MEASUREMENTS: To score the IFA in the MMJ published between 1989 and 1991. The scoring was done on the basis of presence in the IFA of the VANNOR characteristics grouped in categories (characteristics and presentation of the manuscript, title page, summary and keywords, text order and contents, references, tables, illustrations, and other instructions). A total score of 60 characteristics (grouped in nine categories) was obtained for each journal. Statistical differences as a function of VANNOR affiliation were investigated by means of Student's t test, chi-square, and exact Fisher tests using a 0.05 alpha level (two-tailed). RESULTS: 50 MMJ were included (21 affiliated to VANNOR). No statistical difference was found for VANNOR affiliation and registration in bibliographic data bases. But statistically significant higher scores were found in the affiliated journals in 12 of 60 characteristics (three of nine categories) and in the total score. CONCLUSIONS: Independently of VANNOR affiliation, there were deficiencies in the IFA of all journals, particularly in instructions regarding the manuscript's contents. Possibly, some inadequacies in manuscripts might be prevented with IFA that comply more thoroughly with the VANNOR requirements.