Check each citation against the original study it reports, then replace secondary summaries with the direct source where possible and log every change. The ICMJE Recommendations advise authors to verify references against original sources, cite direct sources where possible, identify retractions, and follow the target journal's reference style.
Build a compliance table
Create one row per citation with these columns: citation number, claim it supports, cited item, source type (primary study, secondary summary, or other), verification result, action, and rationale. Fill the table claim by claim so each entry maps to a specific sentence in your manuscript.
- Locate the cited item and read the passage that supports your claim. Record whether it reports original data or summarizes another study. Expected result: each row is labeled primary or secondary.
- If the item is a secondary summary, trace its reference to the original study and check that the original supports the claim. Expected result: you either confirm the direct source or find that the claim needs rewording.
- Replace the secondary citation with the direct source where the original supports the claim, and note the replacement in the action and rationale columns. Expected result: the reference list points to the study that produced the evidence.
- Check each retained reference for retraction notices and confirm the formatting against the journal's style. Expected result: flagged items are resolved or documented before submission.
Decide what counts as a direct source
A direct source is the publication that first reports the study, such as the original journal article. A review, commentary, textbook passage, or news summary that describes that study is a secondary summary. When your sentence describes the original finding, the direct source is the better citation under ICMJE guidance. When your sentence describes the review's own synthesis or interpretation, the review is the appropriate source.
Record the rationale
For every flagged citation, write one sentence explaining the change: what the cited item was, what the direct source is, and why the replacement fits the claim. This record lets coauthors and editors see the reasoning without re-tracing each reference.
Match the journal's style
ICMJE directs authors to follow the target journal's reference style. Use the NLM style guide, Citing Medicine, for structured examples covering journal articles, books, conference material, databases, websites, and datasets, then adapt to the journal's requirements.