LILACS Methodology Field:
- Field 71 Publication Type
Guidelines:
These are descriptors that represent the content types of documents: format, structure, or study design.
Always search for the publication types in DeCS to read their definition and indexing notes before using them.
Apply Publication Type only if the article’s format requires it. To do so, consult the appropriate DeCS descriptor and carefully read its definition.
Important:
The Publication Type is not always clearly indicated in the document. To identify it correctly:
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Carefully read the Materials and Methods section.
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Also check the article classification, usually located in the upper-right corner of the page, near the title or subtitle.
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In case of doubt, it is recommended to study the main study designs commonly used in health.
Some common examples:
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Clinical trial (or specific variations):
An original, prospective article presenting the evaluation of the efficacy of a therapeutic intervention, such as a drug or procedure. -
Case report:
A detailed clinical description of one or a few patients.
Example: Female patient, 76 years old, with congenital long QT syndrome, diagnosed in 1996… -
Evaluation studies, systematic reviews, among others:
Check the methodological structure of the article to distinguish between narrative, integrative, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses.
Do not use the publication type “Classic Article” routinely.
This type is reserved for republished articles that represent a historically significant or innovative scientific contribution and is therefore rarely applicable.
Note: Many indexers have incorrectly assigned this classification to regular scientific articles, which should be avoided.
