https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/
Before you start writing your manuscript:
(and preferably when writing the study protocol)
- Decide as a group who will be an author
- Decide the order of the authors’ names (the first author is usually the person who writes the first draft)
- Decide who will be the corresponding author (i.e., responsible for all communication with the journal)
While you are writing your manuscript:
- Seek input from all authors on the structure and content—and especially on the research objectives, results, and interpretation/discussion (i.e., give them the opportunity to contribute to analysis and interpretation of study findings)
- Ensure that all authors have read the final version that is submitted to the journal
What are the ICMJE criteria for authorship (also known as the Vancouver rules)?
- Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
- Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
- Final approval of the version to be published; AND
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Contributors who do not meet all four of the above criteria should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgement section of the manuscript
The ICJME (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) is a group of general medical journal editors who has produced a set of recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals. Many non-ICMJE journals also use these recommendations.