CITATION INSTRUCTIONS

Why is it important to cite the works in the correct way?

Awareness of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is low. The DCM research community is small, disconnected and has limited resources. Ensuring that this community is working together to tackle the critical research priorities, in a manner that allows evidence generated anywhere in the world to change practice everywhere in the world, requires that the findings of AO Spine RECODE-DCM are recognised.

Watch this video where Ben presented RECODE-DCM at the North American Spine Society in 2020.

Please do your part to help spread the message: as you write, cite; as you present and educate, cite; and as you review for journals, recommend citations.

Citing the AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priorities

Progress in DCM is urgently required. To focus studies on the questions that matter most, we have identified the top research priorities. When we align our efforts and work collaboratively toward solutions, we can progress much faster.

To address the priorities, researchers require awareness of them. Please help to raise awareness among researchers by ensuring that all new DCM studies cite the research priorities correctly. This will help the worldwide DCM community to build on the solid foundation established by AO Spine RECODE-DCM.

I’m Writing a Publication about DCM. How Should I Cite and Acknowledge the Research Priorities?

Please indicate that your research aligns with a research priority by including a within-text citation of both the Editorial overview and the specific review of the priority as detailed below.

If multiple priorities are relevant, please include all.

Editorial Overview of AO Spine RECODE-DCM
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211035379

Priority 1 – Raising Awareness
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211050927

Priority 2 – Natural History
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211036071

Priority 3 – Diagnostic Criteria
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211030871

Priority 4 -Assessment and Monitoring
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211063854

Priority 5 – Biological Basis
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211057546

Priority 6 – Perioperative Rehabilitation
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211050925

Priority 7 – Novel Therapies
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211052920

Priority 8 – Socio-Economic Impact
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211039835

Priority 9 – Imaging and Electrophysiology
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211057484

Priority 10 – Individualising Surgery
https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682211062494

Proposed Wording to Acknowledge a Research Priority:

“This research aligns with the AO Spine RECODE-DCM top research priority [name of priority, e.g. Individualising Surgery] selected by people living and working with DCM. For further information on how this process was conducted, why this question was prioritised, and global updates on currently aligned research, please visit aospine.org/recode/individualizing-surgery.” [include relevant URL from the list above.]

If Multiple Priorities Are Relevant:

“This research aligns with the AO Spine RECODE-DCM top research priorities, selected by people living and working with DCM. For further information on how this process was conducted, why these questions were prioritised, and global updates on currently aligned research, please visit [include relevant URL from the list above].

I’m Peer-Reviewing a Publication about DCM. How Do I Raise Awareness of the Research Priorities?

If you recognise that a researcher’s work aligns with a research priority, please include in your review an endorsement, for example: “This study aligns with a current research priority, as identified by AO Spine RECODE-DCM (aospine.org/recode), an international James Lind Alliance research prioritisation process including the view of 429 individuals from 68 different countries and across 17 different healthcare disciplines.”

How Do I Recognise the Research Priorities’ Methodology?

The methodology behind AO Spine RECODE-DCM is detailed in the following open access publication: Davies BM, Khan DZ, Mowforth OD, et al. RECODE DCM (REsearch Objectives and Common Data Elements for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy): A Consensus Process to Improve Research Efficiency in DCM, Through Establishment of a Standardized Dataset for Clinical Research and the Definition of the Research Priorities. Global Spine Journal 2019;9(1_suppl):65S-76S. doi:10.1177/2192568219832855.