Skip to Main Content

AMA Guide - 11th Edition: Database Specific Formatting

Explicit instructions for paper format are not given in the AMA manual because publishers provide specific requirements for submitted manuscripts. These research paper format guidelines have been chosen by faculty for South College students, and can be found in the official South College AMA Style Guide. 

Note: Your instructor may have specific or additional requirements not listed in this guide.

Citing ChatGPT

Reference entry: 

ChatGPT. Version March 14. OpenAI; 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Note: The “version” in the reference entry is the date that ChatGPT was used for that entry.  AMA also requires an Accessed date for online software.  


In-text citations are superscript numbers that correspond to the reference entry.  Examples: 

The ChatGPT1 entry suggested the use of the word profound more than once, but I felt it was excessive. 

In some cases, words were used that are not in my normal vocabulary and I had to look them up in the dictionary, the context of the sentence was not enough.1

Databases with Specific Formatting Recommendations

UpToDate

UpToDate states to cite topics as a chapter in the book UpToDate, edited by the article's deputy editor(s), and the date of retrieval. While UpToDate does not include the URL at the end of the citation, the AMA Manual recommends including it. 

Author InIn. Section title. In: Deputy Editor InIn, ed. UpToDate. UpToDate; most recent copyright year. Accessed [date]. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/xxxxxxxx

Nieman LK. Measurement of cortisol in serum and saliva. In: Martin KA, ed. UpToDate. UpToDate; 2018.  Accessed July 12, 2018. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/measurement-of-cortisol-in-serum-and-saliva

 

StatPearls [Internet]

StatPearls is a freely available online resource provided by the National Libraries of Medicine, it's unique formatting warrants a combination of book chapter and general webpage reference formatting.

Author InIn. Title of chapter in sentence case. In: Book Title in Italics. Publisher Name. Updated [Date]. Accessed [Date]. https://www.PutUrlHere.com

Shamrock AG, Dreyer MA, Varacallo M. Achilles tendon rupture. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. Updated August 17, 2023. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430844/

 

STAT!Ref

Cite the original source. Use the bibliography tool located at the bottom of each section to find the citation information. STAT!Ref ebooks do not include page numbers, so exclude the page numbers after the year.  

Example for a chapter from The 5-Minute Clinical Consult:

Domino FJ, Golding J, Stephens MB, et al., eds. What is evidence-based medicine? In: The 5-Minute Clinical Consult. 27th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health; 2019. Accessed February 1, 2019. http://online.statref.com/Document.aspx?docAddress=mHtHUWXzkHdYq7OOMP8bVw!! 

 

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) is cited like a journal article. For CDSR issues, the year is both the published date and the volume number. Instead of repeating the year in the citation, leave out the year as the published date but retain it as the volume number. In addition, the CDSR recommends giving the article number in place of the page numbers. 

Author InIn, Author InIn. Title of review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. YEAR(Issue#):CD00XXX. Accessed [date]. doi:10.XXXX/XXXXXXXX.CD00XXXX.pubX.  

Cooney GM, Dwan K, Greig CA, et al. Exercise for depression. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. 2013(9):CD004366. Accessed November 6, 2018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004366.pub6 

 

Micromedex

Merative Micromedex states that "when referencing a Micromedex product or database, you must include: (electronic version), Merative information, URL address (https://www.micromedexsolutions.com/) and the date accessed." 

Drug name. Micromedex (electronic version). Merative; 2024. Accessed [date]. https://www.micromedexsolutions.com 

Amoxicillin. Micromedex (electronic version). Merative; 2024. Accessed March 15, 2024.  https://www.micromedexsolutions.com

 

UpToDate Lexidrug

Drug name. Lexidrug. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2024. Accessed [date]. http://online.lexi.com 

Amoxicillin. Lexidrug. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2024. Accessed March 15, 2024. http://online.lexi.com