How to write a paper and publish in international journal?

Professor Andy H. Lee, PhD School of Public Health Curtin University Perth, Australia

Outline

Why publish in international journal?

Types of article Length of paper Authorship Manuscript structure Drafting and write up Journal selection – where to publish?

Submission process Editor’s perspective Critical issues; review process

Why publish in international journal?

English is the dominant international scientific language To publicise your research and gain worldwide recognition Sponsor or funding agency obligation Enhance track record – get more grants?

Promotion and academic expectation Assist in writing PhD thesis – requirement and guarantee pass?

Personal satisfaction Real reason: benefit the wider community, improve human health and well being

Types of article

Letter – easiest, a good way to start Research paper Editorial – current and timely?

Commentary – important issue?

Case study – new insight and innovative?

Review – meta analysis/systematic review: must be critical and analytical, not just a list of studies

Length of paper

Easer to get shorter paper published Lengthy paper likely introduces errors Incurs fees and page charge Brief Report or Short Communication Start with a longer paper and trim it down Meet specification of selected journal Often 3000 words limit (use word count in MS Word Tools menu)

Authorship

Authorship must be earned – not a gift!

Journals are strict on authorship criteria: Substantial contributions to conception and design or analysis and interpretation of data Drafting the manuscript or critical revision of intellectual content Each author must approve manuscript before submission Decision on order and roles of authors made when project starts Prepare a draft list of articles with titles, authors and timetable First author – student, junior researcher?

Manuscript structure

Title Abstract – 200 to 250 words, structured or summary Keywords – about 5, choose when finish Introduction – background, literature review, objectives Methods – design, methodology, ethics, statistics Results – descriptive summary, multivariate analyses Discussion – relate results to literature, limitations Conclusion – important message, recommendation Acknowledgement – 1 to 2 sentences References – 30 is usually maximum Tables and figures

Title

Make a strong statement A colon allows you to include 2 ideas Include as many key words as possible What you have done, where and type of study Phase as a question?

Catch the imagination of lay press?

Examples: Coffee and prostate cancer: A case-control study in Vietnam Coffee reduces prostate cancer risk in Vietnamese men: A case-control study Is coffee protective against prostate cancer?

Abstract

Write after finish article – 200 to 250 words Enter into Medline (PubMed) if published Determine who will read your full paper Ensure consistency with main text Structured abstract becomes more common Typical headings are: Background or Design and Setting Objectives or Aims Methods or Patient/Subjects and Methods Results Conclusions

Key words

Usually 4 to 6 words For searches in databases Will determine if your paper is cited Check keywords in selected journal Check keywords for similar articles Use terms from the MeSH list of

Index Medicus

Introduction

Background (set the scene) – history, importance, gaps in knowledge, why study this problem?

Include main definitions and quote source – use standard one e.g. WHO Define abbreviations in first use (put in brackets) Literature review: Critically assess strength and weakness of each paper cited Methods, sample size and selection, statistics, interpretation of results, limitations, contribution to knowledge How can your study build on previous studies?

End with aim, objective or research question – no more than 2 specific objectives

Methods

Describe methods used in study What methods or laboratory procedures available?

Advantages and disadvantages of each – cite references Basis of your choice – cost, equipment, time constraints How will you monitor quality?

How to control bias? Statistical analysis – univariate, multivariate, package e.g. SPSS Questionnaire or instrument Source – standard scale? permission granted?

Translated version – check for cultural relevance?

Modified or adapted – address validity and reliability Development - pilot study, test-retest, focus groups

Methods

(cont) Patients/subjects/participants How is sample chosen – random, systematic, stratification, convenience Justify and state program used to calculate sample size Epidemiological study - sample representative of population?

Clinical trials – CONSORT statement Randomized controlled trial – registration number and protocol Ethics approval Conform to international standard e.g. Helsinki declaration Permission from local animal or human research ethics committee Written informed consent from participants?

Refusal or withdrawal without prejudice Confidentiality of information and secure data storage

Results

Enough data to address research question / objective Give response rate if desired Sample descriptive statistics from univariate analysis Multivariate model results Provide confidence intervals and p-values Add interesting tables and figures But do not repeat table data in main text Tables Title or legend – self explanatory Denote symbols and abbreviations Ensure numbers add up to total or explain missing cases

Discussion

Statement of principal findings – new discovery?

Results consistent with literature? In what ways?

If results different from others – due to sample selection or size? contrast methods of measurement Meaning and interpretation – strength of study Possible biological mechanism Implications for clinical practice or health policy Study limitations Biases - self selection/report, recall, gender etc Confounding issues Accuracy of instrument or procedure Generalised to wider population/groups?

Conclusion

Quick summary of most important finding Include most important statistic Don’t add anything new Perhaps recommend change in medical or health practice May state unanswered questions Almost always recommend more research – give hints for future direction

Acknowledgement

Thank your sponsors, co-workers, hospitals, participants or patients Mention grant number from funding agency Information for locating additional data or software – give web site address Report any conflict of interest (e.g. commercial funding) or none declared Any disclaimer – findings and conclusions are the opinions of the authors and not of the funding agency

References

Usually 30 is maximum Follow selected journal reference format Use ENDNOTE to ensure accuracy and ability to change reference format Include: 1 or 2 classic references Several current year references – up to date Reference from the submitting journal – relevance Published work from your group Increase journal and your own citation rate

Drafting and write up

Try to finish first draft in one session Add finishing touches and keep revising until satisfied Cycle of write up: 1. Discuss with co-authors and colleagues 2. Present 3. Circulate 4. Add in seminar or conference more references 5. Rewrite based on feedback 6. Checking draft paper to others for comments Don’t take too l-o-n-g to write up or someone may publish before you Practice makes perfect!

Journal selection – where to publish?

Target group of potential journals Check impact factor on ISI Web of Knowledge’s Journal Citation Reports (via library) – both Science and Social Science Higher the ranking – more difficult and competitive Increase your citation and reach maximum audience Self assessment – study and findings worth publishing in top journal?

Journal selection

(cont) Read aim and scope of selected journal (s) Browse table of contents of current and past volumes Has the journal published similar or related studies?

Cite recent/relevant articles from this journal – shows relevance to readership, important for impact factor calculation

Submission process

Be familiar with ‘Instructions to Author’ of the selected journal Conform with journal format and stylistic requirements Pay attention to spacing, word limit, abstract, reference style (Vancouver, Harvard, APA etc) Online web submission often takes one hour to complete Follow instructions exactly – typically tables at end of manuscript, graph/figures as separate files Need good submission letter

Submission process

(cont) Letter of submission: Highlight main findings and importance Sell your study and yourself How your paper fit into and enhance this journal?

Appeal to the journal readership May need to justify role of each author State funding support and ethics approval

Editor’s perspective

Receive far more papers than can publish Top journals – high rejection rate Align with journal aims and scope?

Results new or important? Large sample size? Methods valid?

Subject matter too local or parochial?

Unique findings for international readers?

Consistent with journal format?

Busy schedule – browse submission letter and abstract (must be stimulating) Citations to improve impact factor?

Critical issues

Spell and grammar checker Automatic and worthwhile Use either American or English version – depend on selected journal Does not correct words already correctly spelled (e.g. form versus from, diary versus dairy) Using Vietnamese to English translator Be very careful May alter meaning and context though correct grammatically MUST PROOF READ ENTIRE PAPER Clarify if in doubt

Critical issues

(cont) Immediate rejection can be due to: Unwise choice of suggested reviewers Lack of ethics approval Discrepancy between objectives and results Imagined (forged) data Plagiarism – very serious offense!

Simultaneous submissions – never ever try!

Overlapping/duplicated/redundant publications Ignoring similar studies and related literature Paper too long Local issue or cannot generalise small scale study

Review process

Underwent peer review – 50% success!

Do not annoy Editor – wait at least 4 months If invited to revise – study referee (editor, associate editor, reviewers) reports Point-by-point response: Need detailed but concise and balanced response to every criticism Best to agree if possible Address concerns and indicate changes made in revision Clearly state reason(s) if otherwise Be respectful and thankful to reviewers’ comments

Review process

(cont) Highlight changes in revised manuscript before resubmission If rejected – analyse what went wrong?

Address reviewer criticisms and fix problems?

Revise and rewrite Repeat journal selection cycle Attach previous review and explanation if necessary – editors appreciate your candour Experience and practise will improve chance of acceptance

Additional Information

Uniform Requirement for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journal: Writing and editing for biomedical publication www.icmje.org

Overlapping (duplicate, redundant) publications – see Section III ENDNOTE software for managing references www.endnote.com

CONSORT statement for reporting clinical trials www.consort-statement.org

Medical Subject Headings Classification (MeSH) for keywords www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh

Good Luck!