Transcript Scientific Writing for MCH Epidemiologists

Scientific Writing for MCH
Epidemiologists
Jody W. Zylke, MD
Senior Editor
JAMA
Submitting the Paper
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Revisit the Instructions for Authors
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References
Acknowledgment
Journal checklists
Checklists
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CONSORT checklist for RCTs
STROBE checklist for observational
studies
Submission Requirements
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ICMJE Uniform Requirements for
Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical
Journals
Journals that use Uniform
Requirements state this in instructions
for authors
Journals have own instructions as well
Submission Requirements
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Authorship responsibility
Copyright transfer
Financial disclosure
Acknowledgment permission
Other Requirements
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Data access statement
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Dr X had full access to all of the data in the study and
takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the
accuracy of the data analyses.
Support for study
Role of sponsor
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The funding organizations had no role in the design and
conduct of the study; in the collection, management,
analysis, and interpretation of the data; or in the
preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
Clinical Trials Registry
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Randomized controlled trials must be
registered before first patient enrolled
Must use a publicly accessible registry
such as clinicaltrials.gov
Registration number should be
provided at end of abstract
Conflicts of Interest Disclosure
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All conflicts in last 3 years or
foreseeable future
ICMJE uniform disclosure form
“when an author has financial or
personal relationships that
inappropriately influence (bias) his or
her actions”
Correction
Why disclose?
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“We continue to believe that more
transparent reporting should help
ensure the integrity of medical science;
and enable physicians, other health
professionals, and the public to
interpret the results of scientific studies
appropriately, and maintain public
confidence in biomedical research.”
Cover Letter
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Addressed to editor in chief by name
Why submitting to this journal
Why important
Unusual features
Suggest or exclude reviewers
Submitting only to 1 journal
Duplicate
Submission/Publication
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Creates extra work for
journals/reviewers
Legal problems; copyright
Creates confusion in literature
Doesn’t apply to presentations at
professional meetings, clinical trial
registries
Related Publications
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Inform editors of other articles from
same study, esp. unpublished papers
under consideration elsewhere
Inform editors of conference
presentations
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Spinoffs
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Levine RJ et al. Trial of Calcium for
Preeclampsia Prevention (CPEP): Rationale,
design and methods. Control Clin Trials.
1996;17:442-469.
Levine RJ et al. Trial of calcium to prevent
preeclampsia. NEJM. 1997;337:69-76.
Sibai BM et al. Risk factors associated with
preeclampsia in healthy nulliparous women. Am
J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;177:1003-1010.
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Salami
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Jernigan MV, Rath AL, Duma SM. Severe upper
extremity injuries in frontal automobile crashes:
the effects of depowered airbags. Am J Emerg
Med. 2005;23:99-105.
Rath AL et al. The effects of depowered airbags
on skin injuries in frontal automobile crashes.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005;115:428-435.
Duma SM et al. The effects of depowered
airbags on eye injuries in frontal automobile
crashes. Am J Emerg Med. 2005;23:13-19.
ICMJE Requirements
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When submitting a paper, the author must always
make a full statement to the editor about all
submissions and previous reports (including
meeting presentations and posting of results in
registries) that might be regarded as redundant or
duplicate publication of the same or very similar
work. The author must alert the editor if the
manuscript includes subjects about which the
authors have published a previous report or have
submitted a related report to another publication.
Any such report must be referred to and referenced
in the new paper. Copies of such material should
be included with the submitted paper to help the
editor decide how to handle the matter.
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Howard Bauchner, MD
JAMA
515 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60654
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Dear Dr. Bauchner:
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We are pleased to submit our manuscript for consideration by JAMA.
The manuscript describes a novel and clinically important study. This
manuscript has not been previously published and is not currently
under consideration by any other journal.
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Thank you for considering our work for publication in the Lancet.
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Sincerely,
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After Submission
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You should receive an
acknowledgment
If not, follow up
Journal Workflow
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Manuscript assigned to an editor
Editor decides to reject or send for
peer review
How Journal Editors Decide
Editors at Work
Journal Workflow
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Reviews returned—editor can reject or
discuss by group of editors
Group decision to reject or revise
Revision request is not a guarantee of
publication
After revision, group decision to reject,
revise again, or accept
Request for Revision
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Respond to each and every comment
Discuss each change
Indicate where manuscript changed
If disagree with comment, discuss
Be courteous and professional
Be accommodating
Rejection
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Don’t take it personally
If reason for rejection unclear, can
email editor
Editor Names
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Names not to call
the editor
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Worst editor ever
Blind
Stupid
*!#?*!#
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Names to call the
editor
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Best editor ever
Insightful
Oh wise one
Your highness
Rejection
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Make revisions and resubmit quickly
Reconsideration rare and usually only
if major error in review or new data
becomes available
Journals Aren’t Infallible
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Nature rejected Hans Krebs
description of the Krebs cycle
Science rejected Rosalyn Yalow’s
description of radioimmunoassay