This year we have been asking authors to use a new evidence abstract called BMJ pico to abridge their original research articles, with the aim of making research more readable and useful for print readers, and particularly for busy clinicians.1 We are delighted that so many authors have volunteered to pilot this new format successfully, and from now on we will be adopting it for all newly accepted research articles. By January 2010 the entire research section of the print journal will comprise BMJ picos.

BMJ pico has gone down well with readers and authors during the pilot phase, as rapid responses, other feedback, and formal market research attest. Cross sectional surveys of authors, including those who took part in the pilot phase, show considerable support for the concept of BMJ pico and its ability to convey the key aspects of a research study to general readers (see http://resources.bmj.com/bmj/authors/article-submission/bmj-pico-of-pico-surveys). Around two thirds of responders in both surveys said that this publishing model would make them more likely to submit to the BMJ …