However, the majority of benefits of registration occur when trials are registered prospectively: researchers are obliged to publish completed trials, any selective reporting of outcomes (eg, only favourable outcomes) is easily identifiable, and other researchers can know that a trial is underway so that it is not duplicated unnecessarily (World Health Organization

2009). Therefore, in 2012, the journal will begin accepting trials only if they are prospectively registered. Clinical trials are not the only type of research for which prospective registration has been recommended. Registration of systematic reviews has also been recommended Selleckchem IWR1 in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement (Moher et al 2009). Soon after the PRISMA statement was released, its recommendations were adopted by the Journal of Physiotherapy ( Elkins and Ada 2010). However, the recommendation to register systematic reviews has not been achievable

due to the absence of a publicly available register. This year, a free, publicly available register for systematic review protocols – known as PROSPERO – has been established by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination in York, UK. Currently, PROSPERO accepts both prospective and retrospective registrations. Therefore, the Journal of Physiotherapy is instituting the requirement that systematic reviews be registered, just as we have done with clinical trial registration. At some point in the future, we will mandate that these

registrations are prospective. Therefore we encourage all potential authors to Histone Methyltransferase inhibitor register their clinical trials and systematic reviews as early as possible. The Editorial Board has also changed its policy regarding Cochrane systematic reviews. Although the publisher of Cochrane reviews allows them to be co-published in another journal, Cochrane reviews have not been accepted by the Journal of Physiotherapy in the past. We have now reversed that policy. Cochrane reviews, if suitably condensed, will be considered for co-publication. However, publication in the Cochrane Library does not guarantee acceptance and priority will still be given to reviews Ketanserin that identify substantial data and draw important clinical implications from the results. Another change that will benefit readers of both print and electronic versions of the journal is the introduction of an annual index of items in the Appraisal section of the journal. These include items such as critically appraised papers, clinimetric appraisals, and appraisals of clinical practice guidelines, books and websites. The annual index will appear in the last issue of each calendar year. In recognition of the high standard of work performed by submitting authors, the Editorial Board has introduced a Paper of the Year award.