UpToDate: How To Cite - Library Guides - Des Moines University

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APA Citation Style

• UpToDate in APA citation style

Bordeaux, B., & Lieberman, H. R. (2020). Benefits and risks of caffeine and caffeinated beverages. UpToDate. Retrieved February 26, 2020, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/benefits-and-risks-of-caffeine-and-caffeinated-beverages

Parenthetical citation: (Bordeaux & Lieberman, 2020)

Narrative citation: Bordeaux and Lieberman (2020)

• Articles in the UpToDate database are available only in that database and have information that changes over time.
• In the reference list, format UpToDate articles like periodical articles. Italicize the database name in the reference like a periodical title, but do not italicize the database name if it appears in the text.
• Use the year of last update in the date element.
• Include a retrieval date because the content is designed to change over time and versions of the page are not archived.

DMU Library Recommendation using AMA Citation Style

The publisher of UpToDate provides a citation example on its website that doesn't follow AMA guidelines.

DMU Librarians recommend the following citation formatting that relies on elements of AMA citation style, specifically chapter of an edited book, a webpage that changes over time, and an online source without a DOI. DMU Librarians also suggest that citation format should first adhere to requirements set by instructors and/or journal/publisher editorial staff.

Format

Author name. Article/chapter title. In: Deputy editor name, ed. UpToDate. Publisher. Use literature review update. Accessed date. URL

Example

Friedman LS. Approach to the patient with abnormal liver tests. In: Law K, ed. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer. Updated July, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-the-patient-with-abnormal-liver-tests

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• Last Updated: Jan 6, 2026 3:57 PM
• URL: https://lib.dmu.edu/db/uptodate
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Library Staff Login Subjects: Clinical Decision Support, Continuing Medical Education, Internal Medicine Tags: clinical support tool, decision support tool, drug, ebm, evidence based medicine, images, mobile, point of care Report a problem.