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Medical Writing
Dr. Sarwar J Zuberi
Ziauddin Medical University & Pakistan Medical & Research Council

Types of Medical Writing

x x x x x x x x

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
x x x x

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
x

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)

x x

Methods
Patient / Animals / Specimens Numbers How are they grouped (cases /controls) Criteria Informed consent obtained

Techniques
x

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
x

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
x x

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

x

Required number of copies in a heavy envelop enclosing figures / photos / photo micrographics in card boards in separate envelop

x x x x

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) 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)

Preparation Abstract Introduction Methods Materials Subjects Patients Results Discussion

Requirements for Submission of Manuscript

Manuscript on DISC
x x x

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)

x x

Title of the article (concise information) Name of author(s)

x x

Highest academic degree(s) Affiliation

x x

Department Institution

x x

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)

x x x

150 words for unstructured abstract 250 words for structured abstract Abstract should be
x x

Purpose of the study Basic procedures (selection of subjects, observational and analytical methods) Main findings (Data and its significance) The principal conclusions Assist indexer and cross indexing Terms from medical subject heading (MeSH) should be used

x x x

3-10 Key words

x x

Introduction (3rd Page)

x

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)

x

Describe selection of the observational, Experimental subjects including controls

Experimental method (reference for standard methods)

Statistical methods Ethics

Results (5th Page)

x

x x

Logical sequence x Text x Tables x Illustrations x 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)

x

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

x x

x x

Acknowledgement (7th Page)

x

Those who do not justify to be Authors should be Acknowledged

x x

Those who have provided technical help Financial and material support

Some Guidelines
x x

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)

x x x x x x

Authorship
x

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:

x x x

Conception Design Analysis & interpretation of data

Authorship
x

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