EDITORIAL

WILL YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY?
During the last decade physiotherapists have increasing­

ly been encouraged to become involved in research. In order 
to maintain and improve our professional status our body of 
knowledge needs to be thoroughly researched and authenti­
cated.

If research is to be validated it must be submitted to the 
critical eye of one’s colleagues. This can be done only by 
having the work published in a reputable professional journal.

Are you prepared to take the responsibility of author­
ship? In the case of a single author no problem of responsi­
bility should be encountered since he must automatically be 
able to justify his statements. However, most research pro­
jects involve a number of people and in that case the question 
of authorship might arise.

In its guidelines on authorship, the International Com­
mittee of Medical Journal Editors drew up the following: - 
“Each author should have participated sufficiently in the 
work to take public responsibility for the content”. This is 
essential in order for the readers to have confidence in the 
information.2 If a named author has had little to do with the 
published work, he cannot answer any criticism.

Participation in the work implies: “(a) conception or 
design, or analysis and interpretation of data, or both; 
(b) drafting the article or revising it for critically important 
intellectual content; and (c) final approval of the version to 
be published. Participation solely in the collection of data 
does not justify authorship. All elements of an article (a, b and 
c above) critical to its main conclusions must be attributable 
to at least one author”. There is always a leader in a group 
and this person should be the first author.

If you have had assistance with your project such as data 
collection, advice, technical help etc., this should be acknow­
ledged usually at the end of the article and only with the 
permission of the persons named.

Authorship is not a privilege to be granted to all and 
sundry, it is a responsibility to be earned by hard work.

Now that the profession is moving into independent 
status we must become more aware of the pitfalls involved in 
publication. Research must be justified ethically; it must be 
reported on accurately without bias to a positive outcome and 
it must be original. There is so much work to be done that 
there really is no necessity to use other people’s ideas. Most 
physiotherapists, both in hospital and private practice, could 
survey their own work thus providing valuable epidemiologi­
cal information. In our changing health service we will have 
to justify our existence and we cannot expect any help in this 
regard.

A  body of valid, useful and honest research published in 
the Journal will go a long way to proving our professionalism. 
And you, the authors, are responsible for every word publish­
ed.

L M DAVIDS

References
1. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Guidelines on 

authorship. Br Med J  1985;291:722.
2. Huth EJ. Guidelines on authorship of medical papers. Ann Intern Med

1986;104:269-274. V

STAFF PHYSIOTHERAPIST REQUIRED 

AT MELFORT UNION HOSPITAL, CANADA

Our hospital is an acute care facility of 85 beds. Opened in 1985, our new building services patients with 
respiratory, neurological, surgical, obstetrical, orthopaedic, and other medical conditions. 

The Physiotherapy Department includes inpatients with conditions listed above plus a large outpatient 
population. In addition, the Physiotherapy Department is well equipped. 

We offer excellent benefits and salary. Relocation incentives are available. 
Please write to: 

Director of Personnel, Melfort Union Hospital, Box 1480, MELFORT, Saskatchewan SOE 1A0 

Telephone 306 752-2811.

Bladsy2 Fisioteraple, Augustus 1990, dee! 46 no 3

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