A recipe is a set of instructions for making something-food dish or structured abstract-from various ingredients. Preparing food to eat generally requires selection, measurement, and combination of ingredients in an ordered procedure so as to achieve desired results. Similarly, a structured abstract is a concise, single-paragraph summary of completed work or work in progress that is developed from the written report to address an important topic. Making beef stew is analogous to writing a structured abstract for a conference or journal such as Rehabilitation Nursing (RNJ). Although the ingredients vary based on the specific recipe, the best ingredients are needed.

Beef Stew Recipe

For this stew, add about 2 pounds of cubed beef meat, vegetables such as carrots and onions, as well as spices, (for example, rosemary, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper and/or cumin, curry, ground chipotle chili powder or garlic salt, and beef stock). Consider using organic beef or filet mignon meat, as some people believe that it is more tender and flavorful. Other ingredients may be substituted for beef, so if vegetarian or vegan, use seitan made from wheat or white rice.

Cooking instructions. For "delicious" beef stew, in a large pot, braise the beef evenly in butter. Combine lightly sauteed chunks of carrots, onions, potatoes, and celery and add spices, water, and beef stock; how much is up to you. Bring the stew to a rolling boil before simmering for 3-5 hours. Check the stew periodically to make sure it does not burn or stick to the bottom of the pot.

Structured Abstract Recipe

In general, for a structured abstract add these elements in distinct, labeled section headings: (1) motivation/problem statement/purpose (Why do we care about the problem? What practical, scientific, theoretical, or artistic gap is your project filling or what is the purpose or aim of the project?), (2) methods/procedure/approach (What did you actually do to get your results or outcomes? For instance, did you implement a practice change, interview 17 nurses?), (3) results/findings/product (As an outcome of completing the above procedure, study or project, what did you learn/invent/create?), and (4) conclusion/implications (What are the larger implications of your findings, especially for the problem/gap identified?). Topics for this recipe can vary tremendously and may focus on a variety of areas such as quality improvement or evidence-based practice projects, administrative or leadership challenges, reports of research findings and their specific practice implications, or special care considerations or recurring clinical situation questions for selected patient/family populations. Abstract ingredients for different conferences or journals may differ, so be sure to follow the sponsor or publisher's specific inclusion directions.

Writing instructions. For an "appealing" structured abstract, the content is divided by headings and summarized in a few words, for example, for RNJ no more than 150 words. For example, in a research abstract, specific section headings of purpose, design, methods, and, if the study was completed, findings and conclusions, plus clinical relevance, are expected. For other types of abstracts other than research, the section headings may be different; however, the content still needs to reflect what was done and its outcomes. Remember that clinical relevance in both the abstract and all types of manuscripts that link the subject matter to rehabilitation nursing practice is a must.

The Current RNJ Issue

In this issue of RNJ, there are four Feature articles on various aspects of rehabilitation and by diverse authors from several countries. As an exemplar, read the structured abstract by Gerschke and Seehafer to investigate differences between thickened and naturally thick beverages for persons with dysphagia and you will see the research study reported is set out in a distinct, stylized form with separate sections broken down under headings of purpose, design, methods, findings, conclusions, and clinical relevance. There is also a Current Issue by Yetzer, Blake, Goetsch, Shook, and St. Paul; a Clinical Consultation by Faag, Bergenius, Forsberg, and Langius-Eklof; and a Perspective by Feng, Li, Xu, Ju, and Qiu. Quickly scan these structured abstracts to see how these authors organized the content in a straightforward manner.

In all, making beef stew or writing a structured abstract is a way to make the best use of ingredients. Both recipes can be tempting! Specific to writing a structured abstract, there are several advantages for authors and readers. First, it helps authors to summarize the content of their topic in a concise and meaningful way; it facilitates the peer review process, as it helps to catch the conference or journal reviewers or editor's attention; and it improves computerized literature searching on this topic of interest, as well as uncovering systematic reviews for an evidence-based practice. Second, structured abstracts help readers to quickly discover what the presentation or article contains and decide if it is of interest or clinically relevant to their nursing practice. Enjoy the structured abstracts and articles that you choose to read in this RNJ issue.

Linda L. Pierce, PhD, RN, CRRN, FAHA, FAAN

University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

Associate Editor, Rehabilitation Nursing