Guidelines for Citing References for Authors

Guide for authors
Posted on 25-05-2025

In the realm of scientific research, the proper use and citation of references not only demonstrate respect for intellectual property but are also crucial in affirming the accuracy, transparency, and value of a scholarly work. In this article, Health & Aging Journal will provide detailed guidance on references, from basic concepts and common styles to presentation methods and supporting tools, particularly useful for Vietnamese authors seeking to publish research in reputable journals.

What are References and Their Role in Research?

References (or Bibliography) is a list of information sources such as books, scientific articles, theses, conference proceedings, websites, reports, statistical data, images, videos, etc., that the author has consulted, cited, and used to build, reinforce, or substantiate arguments, analyses, or results in their research work.

Presenting a complete and accurate reference list plays an extremely important role in scientific research because it:

  1. Confirms scientific rigor and credibility: Allows readers and experts to verify and cross-reference information, assessing the authenticity and depth of the research.

  2. Avoids plagiarism: Properly credits previous authors, demonstrating integrity and ethics in science. This is a mandatory requirement in all scientific publications.

  3. Provides a foundation and expands knowledge: Helps readers find original information sources, thereby understanding the research topic more deeply and exploring new approaches.

  4. Demonstrates continuity and knowledge advancement: Shows that new research is built upon existing works, creating a continuous and sustainable linkage and development of science.

  5. Enhances author and work credibility: A high-quality, properly presented list of references is proof of the researcher's serious and professional investment.

Common Reference Citation Styles in Medical Science

In the field of biomedical and health sciences, several reference citation systems (styles) are widely used and recognized by many reputable journals. Choosing and consistently adhering to one style is a mandatory requirement. Authors should carefully check the requirements of the journal or institution to which they are submitting their paper. Here are the prominent styles:

  • Vancouver Style: This is one of the most common styles in medical science. The main characteristic of Vancouver is the use of a numerical sequencing system for in-text citations. References in the list at the end of the paper are listed in the order of their first appearance in the text, rather than alphabetically by author's name. Many major medical journals use or adapt this style.

  • NLM (National Library of Medicine) Style: This style was developed and is used by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, especially for large databases like PubMed. NLM Style has many similarities with Vancouver and is also very common in biomedical literature and publications. It provides detailed guidance for various types of documents, including electronic sources.

  • AMA (American Medical Association) Style: Developed by the American Medical Association, the AMA style is also very common in medical publications, especially journals published by AMA (such as JAMA). Similar to Vancouver, AMA often uses a superscript numbering system in the text to refer to the reference list, which is arranged in order of appearance.

  • APA (American Psychological Association): Although more common in social sciences and psychology, APA is also accepted or required by some journals in health sciences, nursing, or public health. APA uses an author-date citation system in the text, and the reference list is arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Health & Aging Journal encourages authors to carefully consult the journal's specific guidelines. When submitting manuscripts to Health & Aging Journal, we prioritize numbering-based styles, specifically NLM. Authors should review our Submission Guidelines and Publication Process for detailed regulations before submitting their manuscript.

Guidelines for Correct Reference Formatting

To ensure accuracy and professionalism when compiling the reference list, authors should note:

  1. Identify and adhere to a citation style: Choose a specific style (e.g., NLM, Vancouver, AMA 11th edition) as required by the journal and apply it consistently to all cited sources.

  2. Provide complete necessary information: Each type of document (book, article, website, etc.) will have different information requirements. For example:

    • Journal article: Author(s) name(s), article title, journal name (often abbreviated according to Index Medicus/NLM standards), publication year; volume(issue):page numbers. DOI (if available).

    • Book: Author(s)/editor(s) name(s), book title. Edition (if not first). Place of publication: Publisher; publication year.

    • Online source: Author(s) name(s) (if available). Page/article title. Website name [Internet]. Place of publication (if available): Publisher (if available); date of publication/update [date cited]. Available from: URL

  3. Consistent formatting: Adhere to rules regarding capitalization, journal abbreviations (e.g., N Engl J Med, Lancet), punctuation, and the order of elements according to the chosen style. Arrange the reference list in order of appearance in the text (common with NLM, Vancouver, AMA) or alphabetically by the first author's last name (if using APA).

  4. Thoroughly review: Check for spelling errors, incorrect information (author names, years, page numbers, etc.) before submitting the manuscript.

  5. Use the latest version: Citation styles are frequently updated. Ensure you are using the latest recommended version.

Special Notes for Citing Online Resources:

  • Provide a full and accurate URL: Ensure the link is still active.

  • Prioritize DOI (Digital Object Identifier): If the article or online material has a DOI, use the DOI instead of the URL, as the DOI is a unique and more persistent identifier.

  • Clearly state the citation date (access date): For websites with content that can easily change, recording the date you accessed the information is necessary (e.g., "cited YYYY Mon DD").

  • Assess source reliability: Prioritize websites of reputable health organizations (WHO, CDC), government agencies, medical universities, research institutes, or peer-reviewed online scientific journals.

Tools to Support Reference Management and Citation

Manual management and citation can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially for works with a large number of references. Currently, many effective software tools are available:

  • EndNote: A powerful, paid reference management software, popular in academia and medicine. Integrates well with Microsoft Word.

  • Zotero: A free, open-source, easy-to-use tool that allows collecting, managing, citing, and sharing research materials.

  • Mendeley: Also a free tool (with paid options for larger storage capacity), combining reference management features with an academic social network.

These tools help automate citation formatting according to various styles, including common medical styles, creating quick and accurate reference lists.

How to Import Health & Aging Journal's Style into EndNote and Zotero

To ensure consistency and adherence to Health & Aging Journal's regulations, we provide separate "style" files for EndNote (.ens) and Zotero (.csl) software, based on the NLM standard and customized to the Journal's requirements. Authors are kindly requested to download the corresponding style file below after installing the software.

Download EndNote software here (Paid software)

Download Zotero software here (Free software)

Download NLM style for EndNote software here.

Download NLM style for Zotero software here.

Below are basic instructions for importing (installing) the Journal's style into the software:

1. For EndNote:

  1. Download style file: Download the .ens formatted file (NLM-tcsuckhoelaohoa.vn.ens) from above to your computer.

  2. Open EndNote.

  3. Install style:

    • Method 1 (Simplest): Double-click the downloaded .ens file. The style file will automatically open in EndNote. Go to File > Save As.... In the pop-up window, you can keep the original name or rename it to something shorter (e.g., NLM TCSKLS). Click Save. Then close the style window (File > Close Style).

    • Method 2 (Manual): Copy the .ens file to EndNote's "Styles" folder. The folder path is typically:

      • Windows: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\Documents\EndNote\Styles or C:\Program Files (x86)\EndNote [Version]\Styles

      • MacOS: Applications/EndNote [Version]/Styles

  4. Select style in Word: Open your Word document, in the EndNote tab, find the "Style" section and select the Journal's style (e.g., NLM tcsuckhoelaohoa.vn) from the dropdown list. If not found, select "Select Another Style..." to find and choose it. To enable the style by default, you can open EndNote, select Tools -> Output Styles -> Open Style Manager, then check the box next to NLM tcsuckhoelaohoa.vn to make it appear by default later.

2. For Zotero:

  1. Download style file: Download the .csl formatted file (nlm-tcsuckhoelaohoa-vn.csl) from above to your computer.

  2. Open Zotero.

  3. Install style:

    • Method 1 (Simplest): Double-click the downloaded .csl file and click Install.
    • Method 2 (Manual):

      • Go to Edit > Settings (on Windows) or Zotero > Preferences (on MacOS).

      • Select the Cite tab, then select the Style Manager sub-tab.

      • Click the plus button (+).

    • Browse to the location where you saved the .csl file and select it, then click Open.

    • The Journal's style will be added to the list of available styles in Zotero.

  4. Select style in Word/LibreOffice: When using the Zotero add-in in a word processor, you can select the Journal's style from Zotero's "Document Preferences" section.

Note: The interface and paths may vary depending on the EndNote/Zotero software version and the operating system you are using.

Presenting references accurately and professionally according to recognized medical citation styles is an essential skill for every researcher in the field of health and aging. By understanding their importance, mastering appropriate citation styles, and effectively using supporting tools, authors will contribute to enhancing the quality and credibility of their scientific work. Health & Aging Journal always encourages and is ready to support authors in the manuscript preparation process, ensuring the highest academic standards. We hope this guide will help you feel more confident when submitting articles to our journal as well as other medical scientific forums.