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APA

ACU Library guide to referencing in APA7 style

Clinical practice guidelines

Reference list

Author. (Year). Title of document (Report number if provided). Site Name. https://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2020). Clinical practice guidelines: Pregnancy care. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/pregnancy-care-guidelines

In-text

(Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, 2020) or The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (2020) outlines …

Notes

  • Use the government department responsible for the publication or report as the author.
  • Acronyms for long organisational names can be used, if the acronym is added in brackets after first use.
    • First citation: (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA], 2018)
    • Subsequent citations: (NMBA, 2018).
  • Omit the site name when it is the same as the author.
  • Copy and paste the complete URL to avoid transcription errors.
  • If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.
  • Include page numbers (or paragraph numbers in the absence of page numbers) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, page numbers are recommended but not required.
  • For further examples of Clinical Practice Guideline citations, visit the APA Style Blog.

Cochrane reviews

Reference list

Authors. (Year). Review title Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, volume number(issue number). https://doi.org/xxx

Example:

Garrison, S.R., Korownyk, C. S., Kolber, M. R., Allan, G. M., Musini, V. M., Sekhon, R. K., & Dugré N. (2020). Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 20(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009402.pub3

In-text

(Garrison et al.,, 2020) or Garrison et al. (2020) demonstrated that …

Notes

  • Follow journal article format, but with the database title in italics.
  • Provide the volume number and issue after the database title if provided in the source, otherwise omit. (Note, Cochrane PDFs show the volume number as the year).
  • For multiple authors consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.
  • For further Cochrane examples, visit the APA Style Blog.

Drug guides

Reference list

From a library database (e.g. MIMS, AMH)

Manufacturer/Organisation Responsible (Year). Drug name [Description, if applicable]. In Title of the Resource. https://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Arrow Pharma. (2024). APO-Pregabalin. In MIMS Online. https://www.mimsonline.com.au/Search/FullPI.aspx?ID=121710001_2

Australian Medicines Handbook. (2024). Diazepam. In Australian Medicines Handbook. https://amhonline.amh.net.au/chapters/psychotropic-drugs/drugs-anxiety-sleep-disorders/benzodiazepines/diazepam

From a website

Author/Manufacturer/Organisation Responsible. (Year). Drug name [Description, if applicable]. Site Name. https://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Allergan Inc. (2024). Pred Forte (prednisolone acetate) suspension/drops [Drug information]. Guideline Central. https://www.guidelinecentral.com/drug/00a5aa88-e361-4ea7-8922-530c738b726e/PRED_FORTE/

In-text

(Arrow Pharma, 2024) or Arrow Pharma (2024)

Notes

  • The date is the last update for the drug always found either at the top or bottom of the information.
  • Substitute the date with (n.d.) if a year is not available.
  • Copy and paste the complete URL to avoid transcription errors.
  • If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.

DSM-5-TR

Reference list

Entire manual

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Entry from the DSM-5-TR

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Chapter title. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/xxxx

Example:

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Neurodevelopment disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.x01_Neurodevelopmental_Disorders

In-text citation

First in-text citation

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed. text rev.; DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2022) …

Subsequent citations

The DSM-5-TR states that … (American Psychiatric Association, 2022)

Notes

  • Individual parts and chapters of the DSM-5-TR have their own individual DOI.
  • The abbreviated acronym can be used only after the full title has been referred to previously in the text.
  • Because the author and the publisher are the same, "American Psychiatric Association" is written only in the author element.
  • Include page numbers (or paragraph numbers in the absence of page numbers) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, page numbers are recommended but not required.
  • For further examples on how to cite the DSM, including previous editions, see the APA Style Blog.

Joanna Briggs: Best practice series

Reference list

Joanna Briggs Institute. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Vol(issue), pp-pp. http://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Joanna Briggs Institute. (2014). Effectiveness and safety of influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Best Practice: Evidence-Based Information Sheets for Health Professionals.18(13):1-5. http://bit.ly/2P1qdi8

In-text

(Joanna Briggs Institute, 2014)

Notes

  • The periodical may appear as Best Practice: Evidence-Based Information Sheets for Health Professionals, or it may appear as JBI Database of Best Practice Information Sheets and Technical Reports. Use the name that appears on the sheet you are citing.
  • Include page numbers (or paragraph numbers in the absence of page numbers) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, page numbers are recommended but not required.
  • Copy and paste the complete URL to avoid transcription errors.
  • If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.

Joanna Briggs: Evidence summaries

Reference list

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article [Evidence summary]. The Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, Document Number. https://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Jayasekara, R. (2023). Parkinson's disease: Obstructive sleep apnea [Evidence summary]. The Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, JBI-ES-3521-3.

In-text

(Jayasekara, 2023)

Notes

  • Follow journal article format, but with the Database title in italics.
  • Similar to journal articles from academic databases, no URL is included in the reference, unless there is a DOI.
  • Include page numbers (or paragraph numbers in the absence of page numbers) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, page numbers are recommended but not required.
  • For multiple authors consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

Standards for practice

Reference list

Author. (Year). Title of document. Site Name. https://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Examples:

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2016). Registered nurse standards for practice. Nursing and Midwifery Board Ahpra.https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2018). Midwife standards for practice. Nursing and Midwifery Board Ahpra. https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards/Midwife-standards-for-practice.aspx

In-text

(Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA], 2018)

(NMBA 2016, Standard 4.2)

Notes

  • Site as per a website.
  • Omit the site name if it is the same as the author name.
  • Acronyms for long organisational names can be used, if the acronym is added in brackets after first use. 
    • First citation: (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA], 2018)
    • Subsequent citations: (NMBA, 2018).
  • Copy and paste the complete URL to avoid transcription errors.
  • If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.
  • Include page numbers (or paragraph numbers in the absence of page numbers) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, page numbers are recommended but not required.
  • For multiple authors consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

StatPearls

Reference list

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (date of publication). Title of the entry. (Bookshelf ID number). National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.xxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Patterson, R. A., & Stankewicz, H. A. (2023, June 20). Penicillin allergy (Bookshelf ID NBK459320). National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459320/

In-text

(Patterson & Stankewicz, 2023) or Patterson and Stankewicz (2023)

Notes

  • StatPearls information is also available from the StatPearls website (www.statpearls.com). To reference information from this site follow the UpToDate reference format.
  • The Bookshelf ID number is located at the end of the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) record.
  • Include paragraph numbers (para.) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, paragraph numbers are recommended but not required.
  • For multiple authors, consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

Tests, scales, and inventories

Reference list

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., & Author, D. D. (Year). Title of Test (Xxx ed.). Publisher.

Example:

Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., White, T., & Messer, M. A. (2010). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-2): User's manual (2nd ed.). Psychological Assessment Resources.

In-text

(Folstein et al., 2010) or Folstein at al. (2010)

Notes

  • To cite a test, provide a citation for its supporting literature (for example, its manuals or the journal article in which it was published). If supporting literature is not available, it is possible to cite the test itself.
  • The title of a test should be capitalised using Title Case.
  • For multiple authors, consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.

UpToDate

Reference list

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (year of publication). Title of the entry. UpToDate. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example:

Gaieski, D. F., & Mikkelsen, M. E. (2018). Definition, classification, etiology, and pathophysiology of shock in adults. UpToDate. Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://www-uptodate-com./contents/definition-classification-etiology-and-pathophysiology-of-shock-in-adults

In-text

(Gaieski & Mikkelsen, 2018) or Gaieski and Mikkelsen (2018, para. 5) “shock is the …”

Notes

  • The authors of the entry are the authors to cite.
  • Use the name of the deputy editor/s listed with the entry.
  • Italicise the database name, like you would a journal title.
  • Provide a retrieval date as the information is changed and updated frequently.
  • Copy and paste the complete URL to avoid transcription errors.
  • If the URL is very long, a functioning, shortened link can be used.
  • Include paragraph numbers (para.) within in-text citations for direct quotes. When paraphrasing, paragraph numbers are recommended but not required.
  • For multiple authors, consult the guidance provided by APA for reference lists and in-text citations.
  • For further examples of UpToData article citations, visit the APA Style Blog.