Cite a Cochrane Database Article in APA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 05/22/2024

Citing articles from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in APA format requires careful attention to detail. This guide provides a structured approach to ensure accuracy in citation. The Cochrane Database is a highly regarded source for systematic reviews in healthcare and medicine, making proper citation crucial for scholarly writing.

CITATION ELEMENTS OF A COCHRANE DATABASE ARTICLE 

An article citation from the Cochrane Database in APA format should follow this precise structure:

• Contributor: This refers to the person or entity responsible for creating the content of the article. List the surname first, followed by the initials. For multiple contributors, separate each name with a comma, and use an ampersand (&) before the last contributor’s name. If the contributor is an organization, use the full name of the organization in place of the individual’s surname and initials.
• Year of publication: The publication year should be placed in parentheses immediately after the list of authors.
• Title of the article: The title should be in sentence case, meaning only the first word and any proper nouns are capitalized.
• Title of the database: The database title should be italicized, and each main word should be capitalized (title case), except for linking words like “and,” “of,” “the,” and “for.”
• DOI: The DOI should be included at the end of the citation and formatted as a URL e.g. https://doi.org/DOI.

EXAMPLE CITATION FOR A COCHRANE DATABASE ARTICLE

To illustrate the proper format, consider the following example of a citation from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews:

Citation	Verbeek, H., Rajamaki, B., Ijaz, S., Mischke, C., Ruotsalainen, J., & Neuvonen, K. (2024). Exercise for preventing and treating work-related musculoskeletal disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD01091
Structure	Author Surname, Initial., Subsequent Author(s) Surname(s), Initial(s)., & Final Author Surname, Initial. (Year). Title of Article. Title of Database. DOI

EXAMPLE IN-TEXT CITATION FOR A COCHRANE DATABASE ARTICLE

In APA format, there are two primary ways to cite sources in-text: parenthetical citations and narrative citations.

Parenthetical citations: Place the citation in parentheses at the end of the sentence, including the author’s surname followed by the year of publication. 

Example	(Verbeek et al., 2024)
Structure	(Author, Year)

Narrative citations: Integrate the citation into the text as part of the narrative, mentioning the author’s surname and year of publication within the sentence. 

Example	Verbeek et al. (2024)
Structure	Author (Year)

Check for Updated Versions: When citing a systematic review from the Cochrane Database, it’s essential to check if there is a more recent version of the article. Cochrane reviews are periodically updated to include new evidence. Citing the latest version ensures your references are current and reflects the most up-to-date research. Always verify the publication date and version number to ensure accuracy. Accurately Use Punctuation and Formatting: Pay close attention to punctuation and formatting details when creating your citation. For instance, ensure commas, periods, and ampersands are correctly placed, and titles are formatted in sentence case with proper capitalization. Misplaced punctuation or incorrect formatting can affect the credibility of your citation. Double-check the citation for any typographical errors to maintain precision and professionalism. Include All Necessary Authors: In APA format, list all authors up to 20 names. If there are more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors, add an ellipsis (…), and then add the last author’s name without an ampersand before it. This rule ensures that all contributing authors are adequately credited, especially in collaborative works like systematic reviews which often involve many researchers. Ensuring completeness in author listing respects the contributions of all researchers involved.