(3)科学性。临床研究论文作者应遵循相关指南撰写,须满足随机、对照和可重复等基本科学试验原则。例如,随机对照试验报告规范(consolidated standards of reporting trials,CONSORT)、非随机对照试验研究报告规范(transparent reporting of evaluations with nonrandomized designs,TREND)、观察性研究报告规范(strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology,STROBE)、诊断准确性研究报告规范(standards for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies,STARD)等。对存在错误的论文,作者和编辑都应该及时提出更正、修改乃至撤销论文。