Transcript No Slide Title

Istanbul May 2010
Getting the Message Across in Print
- How to write a Scientific Article Klaus F. Rabe MD, PhD
Leiden
University
Medical
Center
Department of Pulmonology
Leiden University Medical Center
The Joys of Publishing
 Why is my supervisor putting so much emphasis on publishing
our data?
 Where does my paper fit into the scientific journals arena?
 What should I check before writing the paper?
 How do I actually start writing my paper?
introduction
methods
results
discussion...
 How do I handle reviewer’s comments?
 How to cope with rejection, and how to celebrate acceptance?
Why Such Emphasis on Publishing?
presents
level of
data
interaction
global
access
chance of
citation
Poster
++
+++
+
-
Oral
+
+
-
-
Article
+++
-
+++
+++
Who Will be My Customer,
When Writing Things Up?
How do I
stay
clinically
up-to-date?
Clinicians
How do I know
who else is doing
really good work
in my field?
Scientists
What do I Need to Consider Before
Writing the Paper?
 The data
 novel or confirmative?
 strengths and weaknesses
 no duplicate publication
 The authors
 only those who have done work or writing
 statement of interest
 The journal
 specialty or general?
 fast acceptance?
 open access?
Impact Factor for 2010
Total number of citations in all scientific journals
during 2010, of papers from journal X published
during 2008 and 2009
____________________________________
Total number of papers published in journal X
during 2008 and 2009
Impact Factors of Journals in Our Field
Respiratory
2005
Allergy
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
8.69
J Immunol
6.39
Thorax
6.15
Allergy
4.12
Chest
4.01
Clin Exp Allergy
3.55
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol
3.99
Eur Respir J
3.95
Am J Physiol Lung
3.47
J Appl Physiol
3.04
Sarcoidois Vasc Dif
2.72
Resp Res
2.68
Respir Med
1.66
Pediatr Pulmonol
1.59
Pulm Pharmacol Ther
1.58
J Allergy Clin Immunol
7.67
Impact Factors of General Medical Journals
Journal
2005
N Engl J Med
44.0
Science
30.9
Nature
29.3
Nature Med
28.9
Lancet
23.4
J Clin Invest
15.1
Plos Biology
14.7
Plos Medicine
8.39
Where do I get Information
on (my) Citations and Impact Factors?
http://portal.isiknowledge.com
 Citations: Web of Science
 Impact factors: Journal Citation Reports
The Essentials: a Checklist








Title, authors, institute
Abstract
Background/rationale
Hypothesis/question
Aim
Endpoints
Subjects (in-excl)
Design








Intervention
Measurements
Analysis (+ stat. power)
Results
Tables and figures
Discussion
Conclusion
References
The Essentials: a Checklist








Title, authors, institute
Abstract
Background/rationale
Hypothesis/question
Aim
Endpoints
Subjects (in-excl)
Design








Intervention
Measurements
Analysis (+ stat. power)
Results
Tables and figures
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Tables and figures
References
ABSTRACT
Rationale
Hypothesis
Study-design
Methods
Results
with data
Conclusion
Implication
Introduction
General
background
about the
disease
The
specific
dilemma
Why is
this still
unresolved?
My idea
to resolve it:
Sell it as the
obvious approach
Hypothesis
or question
Aim
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
The Introduction funnels from something known, to
something unknown, to the question the paper is
asking
The Introduction may end with the question or may
go on to state the experimental approach used to
answer the question
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
The Funnel:
A Known,
B. Unknown,
C. Question,
D. Experimental Approach
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
Function of the Introduction:
Establish the context of the work being reported. This is
accomplished by discussing the relevant Primary research
Literature (with citations) and summarizing the current
understanding of the problem you are investigating.
State the purpose of the work in the form of the hypothesis,
or problem you investigated
Briefly explain your Rationale and approach and, whenever
possible, the possible outcomes your study can reveal.
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
Style of the Introduction:
Use the active voice as much as possible.
Some use of the first person is okay, do not overdo it.
Some journals prefer the first person not to be used
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
Begin your Introduction by clearly identifying the
subject area of interest
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
Establish the context by providing a brief and
balanced review of the pertinent published
literature that is available on the subject
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
What literature should you look for in your review
of what we know about the problem?
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
Be sure to clearly state the purpose and /or
hypothesis that you investigated
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Introduction
Provide a clear statement of the rationale for your
approach to the problem studied
How to Start Writing my Paragraphs?
 Split the thinking from the writing!
 Make a flow chart of paragraphs
 Give each paragraph
 a single label
 a single message (5 words)
 a bridge to the next paragraph
 Add the references to each paragraph
1.
Asthma
Message: Chronic, requires regular therapy
Bridge: High medical burden
2.
Exacerbations
Message: prevalent, hazard
Bridge: despite current therapy
3.
Mechanisms
Message: viral, specific inflammation
Bridge: better targets?
4.
Anti-viral
Message: effective in animals
Bridge: why not in asthma?
5.
Hypothesis
We postulated......
Our aim was to test this in........
Therefore, we did......
- GINA 2006
- Busse NEJM 2001
- Rabe JACI 2004
- Tattersfield AJRCCM 1999
- O’Byrne AJRCCM 2001
-
Friedlander JACI 2005
Johnston BMJ 1995
Grünberg AJRCCM 2001
Wark J Exp Med 2005
- Alcami Immol Today 2002
- Krenn J Virol 2005
- Turner Paediatric Ann 2005
What do I Need to Consider
Before Writing the Paper?
 The data
 novel or confirmative?
 strengths and weaknesses
 no duplicate publication
 The authors
 only those who have done work or writing
 statement of interest
 The journal
 specialty or general?
 fast acceptance?
 open access?
Conflict of Interest: What is it?
 Competing interest
 normal and healthy, daily human experience
 objectives, wishes, desires
Scientific
result
A result
I like
Conflict of Interest: What is it?
 Competing interest
 normal and healthy, hourly human experience
 objectives, wishes, desires
Scientific
result
A better
result
Conflict of Interest: What is it?
 Competing interest
 normal and healthy, hourly human experience
 objectives, wishes, desires
Scientific
result
A better
publication
Conflict of Interest: What is it?
 Competing interest
 normal and healthy, hourly human experience
 objectives, wishes, desires
Scientific
result
Admiration
Conflict of Interest: What is it?
 Competing interest
 normal and healthy, hourly human experience
 objectives, wishes, desires
Scientific
result
A better
carreer
Conflict of Interest: For Whom?
 Investigators
 Authors
 Institutes
 Sponsors
 Editors
 Reviewers
 Readers
Conflict of Interest: How Common is it?
Investigators
% 40
30
20
10
ies
Pe
rs
on
al
fin
an
cia
lt
ar
es
St
oc
ks
/S
h
bo
ar
d
or
y
Pa
id
ad
vis
co
ns
ul
ta
nt
Pa
id
ke
r
sp
ea
Pa
id
Di
sc
lo
su
re
0
Bekelman et al. JAMA 2003;289:454-465, Bhandari et al. Can Med Ass J 2004;170:477-480
Conflict of Interest: How Common is it?
Study- and Institutional Level
%
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Study funding
Stocks/shares
6 months pub
delay
Denied access
to data
Bekelman et al. JAMA 2003;289:454-465, Stelfox et al. NEJM 1998;338:101-106
Conflict of Interest: Does it have Impact?
Odds Ratio 3.60 (2.6-4.9)
Bekelman et al. JAMA 2003;289:454-465
What is Meant by Disclosure?

Personal
 academic links
 rivalry
 sympathy/antipathy
 consulting
 advisory board
 speaking
 attending symposium
 stocks/shares
 any links with tobacco
industry

Institutional
 study funding
 partnerships
 stocks/shares
 any ties with tobacco
industry
Methods
Design
what
when
how often
Subjects
incl, excl
subgroups
ethics
Measurements
parameters
units
validity
Intervention
dose
compliance
adverse effects
Analysis
transformations
stat tests
stat power
Results
Baseline
(sub)groups
cross-sectional
table 1
Main question
figures / tables
data in text
readable
Secondary
questions
idem
Unexpected
observations
very short
Discussion
Red line
main result(s)
message
implication
Comparisonwith
earlier studies
what is different
what is new!
Weakness/strength
design/methods
bias, stat-power:
be honest
Interpretation
Mechanisms
what is solved?
and what is not?
Clinical
interpretation
medical
relevance
Conclusion
with
Implication
Suggestion
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
The function of the Discussion is to interpret your
results in light of what was already known about the
subject of the investigation, and to explain our new
understanding of the problem after taking your results
into consideration
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
Fundamental questions to answer include:
1.) Do your results provide answers to your testable
hypotheses? If so, how do you interpret your findings?
2.) Do your findings agree with what others have shown? If
not, do they suggest an alternative explanation or perhaps a
unforeseen design flaw in your experiment (or theirs?)
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
Fundamental questions to answer include:
3.) Given your conclusions, what is our new understanding of
the problem you investigated and outlined in the
Introduction?
4.) If warranted, what would be the next step in your study,
e.g., what experiments would you do next?
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
Style:
Use the active voice whenever possible.
Watch out for wordy phrases; be concise and make
your points clearly.
Use of the first person is okay, but too much use of
the first person may actually be distracting
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
Relate your work to the findings of other studies,
including previous studies you may have done and
those of other investigators
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
Strength and Weakness of the study:
Not a very popular part of the discussion…
BUT: Necessary to report and discuss what the
strengths and shortcomings of your study are
How to Write a Scientific Article
The Discussion
Conclusion(s):
The discussion should end up with one or more
conclusions.
Authors are sometimes very cautious:Our findings
suggest, or Our preliminary results indicate that, etc.
Always try to find a very positive finding and state this
clearly
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Tables and figures
References
The Revision: Reviewer’s Comments
 Take your reviewer seriously
 Take your reviewer seriously
 Make a point-by-point list of replies, with headings
referring to the issue of concern
 Be honest, concise, and accurate
 Try to accommodate most points in the manuscript, and
tell the reviewer where you did
 Tell the editor if and why you could not comply with
some of the reviewer’s requests
Factors Influencing Publication of Research Results
Follow Up of Applications Submitted to Two Institutional Review boards
Significant Results (Yes, No)
MED
PH
Clinical Trial (Yes, No)
Sample Size (>100, <100)
External Funding (Yes, No)
Sites (>1, 1)
No. of Study Groups (>1, 1)
PI Sex (M, F)
PI Degree (MD, not MD)
PI Rank (Professor, not Professor)
0.1
0.5
1
Odds Ratio
Dickersin K et al., JAMA 1992;267:374-378
10
20 30
BMJ – Lancet – Annals of Internal Medicine
…..Submitted manuscripts are more likely to be published
if they have high methodological quality, RCT study
design, desriptive or qualitative analytical methods, and
disclosure of any funding source, and if the corresponding
author lives in the same country as that of the publishing
journal. Larger sample size may also increase the chance
of acceptance………
MJA 2006; 184:621-626
Association Between Characteristics of Submitted
Manuscripts and Publication
Multivariate Analysis
MJA 2006; 184:621-626
Your Paper: Rejected?
 Don’t panic
 It is not you, it is your paper
 Journals make a positive selection rather than a negative
one
 Reconsider the best suitable journal
 Do not copy-paste the paper to another journal
 Revise your paper according to the reviewer’s
suggestions
 And the fun starts all over again
Your Paper: Accepted?

Shout it out!!

But after one night...., the joy is over

Don’t panic

Your keybord is waiting for the next one !