Transcript Types of Medical Writing

Medical Writing
Dr. Sarwar J Zuberi
Ziauddin Medical University
&
Pakistan Medical & Research Council
Types of Medical Writing








Editorial
Original Article
Review Articles
Short Papers
Case Reports
Letter to Editor
Personal Views
Special Communication
The Basic Structure of Article
TITLE
(S)Summary
(Structured Abstract)
(I) Introduction (What Question was asked?)
(M)Methods
(How was it Studied?)
(R)Results
(What was Found?)
(A)Analysis
(How data was analysed?)
(D)Discussion
(What Do the Findings Mean?)
Acknowledgements
References
Title




Should be specific But comprehensive
Short But sufficiently descriptive
No abbreviations
Should be easy To catalogue
Structured abstract
• Objective
• Design
• Setting
• Patients and methods
• Results
• Conclusions
• Key words
Introduction
Existing state of knowledge
Gaps in knowledge which research will fill.
State what you Intend to do
Give pertinent references
It does not
Review the history of the subject
Does not identify all the other gaps in knowledge
Don not include methods, results and discussion
Methods


What Subjects/patients/animals/specimens
techniques were used?
Reason for selecting the experimental design
of the study

Statistical methods used for analysis

The section should be called "Materiel and
Methods" only if inanimate specimens have
been used.
(continue)
Methods
Patient / Animals / Specimens
• Numbers
• How are they grouped
• (cases /controls)
• Criteria
• Informed consent obtained
Techniques



Give enough details for readers to assess the
validity of the results, and repeat the study
If standard techniques is used, give appropriate
reference,any modifications should be clearly
explained
If drug trial- clear description of trial
Statistics
Clearly mention the statistical
methods used for appropriate
verification of reported results.
(consult a statistician before starting
the study)
Results

Communication of facts, measurements,
and observations gathered by the author

Start with the results that are easier to
interpret

Results should be set out in tables and
figures

Do not duplicate illustrations
Discussion

What gaps in knowledge remain to be filled?

Main results should be summarised at the
beginning of discussion

Only mention previous results or comments which
illuminate or which are illuminated by the present
results.
(continue)
Discussion
• Final paragraph in which the message of the article is
firmly stated.
• Point out where further gaps in knowledge could usefully
be filled instead of "further research is needed".
• Intention of author to explore the "Gaps" further.
Acknowledgements (Silent partners)
“We wish to thank” - all those who deserve
recognition for their contribution but who have
not made a significant intellectual contribution
and
are therefore
not
included
as authors
(Colleagues,Institutions, Organizations providing
financial help, laboratory and secretarial staff)
References
1.Standard journal article
Vega K., Pina I., Krevisky B. Heart transplantation
is associated with an increased risk for
pancreaticobiliary disease. Ann Intern Med 1996
Jun 1: 124(11): 980-3
2.Books and other monographs
Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP. Hypertension and stroke.
In: Laragh JH, Bremier BM, editors. Hypertension:
pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. 2nd
ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. P.465-78.
References
3.Disertation
Kaplan SJ. Post-hospital home health care: the
elderly's access and untilizaiion (dissertation]. St.
Louis (MO): Washington Univ: 1995.
4. Unpublished material
Leshner AL. Molecular mechanisms of cocaine. N
Engl J Med. In press 1996.
5. Electronic material
Morse SS. Factors in the emergence of infectious
disease. Emerg Inftect Dis [serial online] 1995 JanMar (cited 1996 Jun 5]; 1(1): [24 screens].
Available from URL:
http:/www.cdc.gov/ncdod/EID/eid.htm
Summing Up
In the words of Stephen Lock,
“ A good article has a definite structure. Make
its point and then shuts up”
Sending Manuscript to the Journal

Required number of copies in a heavy envelop
enclosing figures / photos / photo
micrographics in card boards in separate
envelop

Covering letter signed by all co-authors

Has not been submitted else where

Approved by all authors

Authors will bear the cost of colour illustration
Requirements for Submission of
Manuscript
Must Read Instructions to Authors
(Uniform requirements for manuscripts
submitted to biomedical Journals 1997)
Preparation
Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Materials
• Subjects
• Patients
• Results
• Discussion
Typing
• White bond paper
(8.1/2 x 11” or A4 with 1”
margins
Typing - Double space
• Number pages
consecutively beginning
with title page (upper or
lower right hand corner)
Requirements for Submission of
Manuscript
Manuscript on DISC

Include a printout version

Name the file clearly

Label the disc with format of the file
and file name

Provide information on hardware and
software used.
Title Page (1st Page)

Title of the article (concise information)

Name of author(s)

Highest academic degree(s)

Affiliation
 Department
 Institution

Disclaimers if any

Name and address of author for correspondence
about the manuscript

Source of support in the form of grants,
equipment, drugs

Short running head or foot line of no more than
40 characters
Abstract and Key Words (2nd Page)

150 words for unstructured abstract

250 words for structured abstract

Abstract should be


Purpose of the study

Basic procedures (selection of subjects,
observational and analytical methods)

Main findings (Data and its significance)

The principal conclusions
3-10 Key words

Assist indexer and cross indexing

Terms from medical subject heading (MeSH)
should be used
Introduction (3rd Page)

State purpose of the article

Summarize the rationale for study or observation

Give Strictly pertinent reference

Do not include data or conclusion
Method (4th Page)

Describe selection of the observational,
Experimental subjects including controls

Experimental method (reference for standard
methods)

Statistical methods

Ethics
Results (5th Page)

Logical sequence
Text
 Tables
 Illustrations
 Do not repeat in the text all the data in tables /
figures emphasize, summarizing important
observations
Tables
- Number tables separate sheets
Figures
- Legends
5 x 7” or 8 x10” glossy prints
(Black & white / coloured)



Discussion (6th Page)

Emphasize new and important aspects of the study
and conclusions that follow

Do not repeat the data

Include implications of the funding, their
limitations and implications for future Research

Relate observations with other relevant studies

Recommendations when appropriate may be
included
Acknowledgement (7th Page)

Those who do not justify to be Authors should be
Acknowledged

Those who have provided technical help

Financial and material support
Some Guidelines

Choose an appropriate Journals

Go through the “uniform requirements for
Biomedical publications”

Write simple grammatically correct sentences

Brevity is the best practice

Avoid irrelevant details

Show the draft to colleagues

Read final draft carefully

Typographical and grammatical mistakes give bad
impression

Check tables and figures (Captions, size, clarity)
Authorship

All person designated as authors should qualify for
authorship

Author should have participated sufficiently in the
work to take public responsibility for the content

Authorship credit should be based on substantial
contribution to:

Conception
Design
 Analysis & interpretation of data

Authorship

Drafting, revising it critically, for important
intellectual contents and final approval of the
contents

Participating solely in acquisition of funding,
collection of data does not justify authorship

General supervision of research group is not
sufficient for authorship

Order of the author should be a joint decision of
the authors