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related work, the key aspects of the methodology, results and some kind of discus-
sion of the results.

If you are short of space, then you may be allowed to use an appendix, but bear in
mind that many reviewers simply won't have the time to read appendices.

13.13 What is a video abstract? How can I make one?
A video abstract, as explained by expert Karen McKee (see References), is a brief
description of a technical paper in which you explain your work on camera, physi-
cally demonstrate your methods, use animations or simulations to illustrate concepts,

and/or discuss the implications of your findings. By using video and other multime-
dia, you can explain your work in a way that the print article cannot. This approach
provides a richer, more accessible and more diverse experience for the readership.

There are several reasons for using a video abstract:

• have more flexibility to describe and explain your work

• gain greater visibility for you and your research, particularly if you post your
video on the internet (e.g. YouTube)

• increase readership for your printed article

• exploit search engines which tend to rank video high in relation to text-based
descriptions, so a video abstract can make your work more visible and acces-
sible to fellow researchers searching for papers on that topic

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) encourages authors to create video abstracts
lasting up to four minutes to accompany accepted research articles. The BMJ's web-
site ( www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-authors/article-types/research ) gives
some great advice:

Video abstracts enable authors to go beyond the constraints of their written article to personally
explain the importance of their work to The BMJ 's global audience. … In the simplest kind of
video abstract the author(s) talks directly into the camera and, perhaps, presents a slideshow. In
the interest of maximising engagement and visibility, however, we encourage authors, where
appropriate, to combine footage of themselves with other relevant visual and audio material
(such as animations, video clips showing how the study was conducted and any intervention
was delivered, audio, still photographs, fi gures, infographics).
When using materials from previously published work, ensure you have the relevant
permissions.