RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Reviewing scientific papers. JF Archives of Disease in Childhood JO Arch Dis Child FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP 539 OP 540 DO 10.1136/adc.72.6.539 VO 72 IS 6 A1 S McKenzie YR 1995 UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/72/6/539.abstract AB Guidelines for the preparation of structured reports for laboratory studies, clinical studies, epidemiological studies, and observations could be useful. A structured report should prompt reviewers to acknowledge familiarity or otherwise with method, background papers, and so on. New reviewers could draw up their own system. Reports should be helpful and courteous so that whether or not the paper is accepted for publication the authors have a chance to improve it.