R E S E A R CH C AT IO N A N D IO N O F E D U Y M E D IC IN E (D E A R ) D I V IS N T O F F AM IL D E PA R T ME 5 8 17 -7 3 5 -24 0
HOW TO WRITE RESEARCH PAPERS FOR PUBLICATION
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WRITING FOR PUBLICATION IT’S EASY AS 1,2,3
1. Understand what you do. • you see patients • you make a diagnosis • you prescribe treatment regimens • you perform follow up procedures • you read medical journals to stay current • you observe anecdotal evidence You are already writing you just didn’t realize it. • write up histories • admitting notes • progress notes • discharge notes • letters to referring physicians Translate your written notes into a written paper.
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It’s easier than you think!
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HOW TO TRANSLATE YOUR WRITTEN NOTES INTO A WRITTEN PAPER
Ask yourself HAVE I EXAMINED AN INTERESTING OR UNUSUAL PATIENT DURING ROUNDS OR IN THE CLINIC? If you answered yes then you should write a CASE REPORT. How to write a CASE REPORT… just follow these easy steps. • WRITE THE INTRODUCTION – the introduction tells in simple words why the case you saw is unique or interesting. • WRITE THE CASE DESCRIPTION – the case description sums up information found in your patient’s files including presenting history, past medical history, initial examination findings, laboratory and other diagnostic findings, and subsequent clinical events. • WRITE THE DISCUSSION – the discussion evaluates your patient’s symptoms as they relate to current literature findings.
OR IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED just call us, the Division of Education and Research (DEAR) at 735-0162 and we will help you start writing your paper.
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REMEMBER A CASE REPORT DETAILS
• A unique clinical characteristic of a disease, syndrome or disorder • New information about a pathogenic mechanism • A previously undescribed syndrome
An example of a CASE REPORT can be found on the next page.
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A CASE REVIEW ARTICLE Reviews and summarizes other investigators’ published case reports.
To write a CASE REVIEW ARTICLE . . . just follow these easy steps. • MAKE A LIST OF INTERESTING MEDICAL TRENDS YOU HAVE READ ABOUT IN PUBLISHED ARTICLES • WRITE THE INTRODUCTION – the introduction tells in simple words why the trends observed in other researchers’ patient populations are unique or interesting. • WRITE THE CASE DESCRIPTION – the case description sums up similarities in patient trends as found in other researchers’ published reports including presenting history, past medical history, initial examination findings, laboratory and other diagnostic findings, and subsequent clinical events. • WRITE THE DISCUSSION – the discussion evaluates observed patient trends reported in the current literature. OR IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED just call us, the Division of Education and Research (DEAR) at 735-0162 and we will help you start writing your paper.
A CASE REVIEW ARTICLE is similar to a case series article except the cases are from outside your institution.
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HOW TO TRANSLATE YOUR WRITTEN NOTES INTO A WRITTEN PAPER
Ask yourself HAVE I READ AN ARTICLE IN A JOURNAL AND DON’T AFREE WITH THE CONCLUSIONS? If you answered yes then you should write a LETTER TO THE EDITOR. To write a LETTER TO THE EDITOR . . . just follow these easy steps. • THE FIRST PARAGRAPH • summarize the key point or conclusion reached in the article that you disagreed with. • state why you think the key point or conclusion reached in the article is incorrect • THE SECOND PARAGRAPH • provide documentation for your point of view • THE THIRD PARAGRAPH • summarize why your point of view is correct A letter to the editor must be accepted for publication in a peer review journal to count for research credit. OR IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED just call us, the Division of Education and Research (DEAR) at 735-0162 and we will help you start writing your paper. An example of a LETTER TO THE EDITOR can be found on the next page.
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Ask yourself DO I HAVE AN INTERESTING POINT OF VIEW ON PATIENT TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATES OR THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE? If you answered yes then you should write an EDITORIAL. To write an EDITORIAL . . . just follow these easy steps . . . remember an EDITORIAL is a short, concise summary of your opinion on a specific topic. • WRITE AN INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE summarizing your opinion on a specific subject. • WRITE SEVERAL SENTENCES on how you reached your opinion. • WRITE SEVERAL SENTENCES on how your opinion differs from their opinions previously reported. • WRITE SEVERAL SENTENCES explaining shy your opinion differs from previously reported opinions. OR IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED just call us, the Division of Education and Research (DEAR) at 735-0162 and we will help you start writing your paper.
An example of an EDITORIAL can be found on the next page.
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Ask yourself ARE THERE ANY MEDICAL MEETINGS WHERE I COULD PRESENT INFORMATION ABOUT MY PATIENTS OR MY RESEARCH? If you answered yes then you should write an ABSTRACT . . . just follow these easy steps. • WRITE A HYPOTHESIS or what you set out to prove. • WRITE AN INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE summarizing information you are reporting (present tense). • WRITE A METHODS SENTENCE detailing how you got your information or data (past tense). • WRITE ONE OR TWO SENTENCES on what you found or your results (past tense). • WRITE ONE OR TWO DISCUSSION OR CONCLUSION SENTENCES stating what your results mean (present tense). An abstract must be presented at a professional conference to receive research credit. OR IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED just call us, the Division of Education and Research (DEAR) at 735-0162 and we will help you start writing your paper.
An example of AN ABSTRACT can be found on the next page.
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HOW TO TRANSLATE YOUR WRITTEN NOTES INTO A WRITTEN PAPER
Ask yourself HAVE I CONDUCTED ORIGINAL RESEARCH? If you answered yes then you should write a RESEARCH PAPER. To write a RESEARCH PAPER . . . just follow these easy steps. • WRITE AN ABSTRACT • see abstract section for specific, “how to” instructions. • WRITE AN INTRODUCTION • this section is like a mini literature review • written in the present tense • see literature review section for specific, “how to” instructions. • WRITE A METHODS section • this section details how you collected your data or information • this section details how you collected your data or information • written in the past tense • WRITE A RESULTS section • this section sums up what you found • written in the past tense • can include tables, figures, and diagrams • WRITE A DISCUSSION section • this section tells why you think your results are important • written in the present tense OR IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED just call us, the Division of Education and Research (DEAR) at 735-0162 and we will help you start writing your paper. An example of a RESEARCH PAPER can be found on the next page.
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TIPS FOR SUCESSFUL PUBLICATIONS
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BEFORE YOU WRITE . . . TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PUBLICATION
JUST DO IT:
• PICK YOUR JOURNAL CAREFULLY – your chances for publication success are increased by choosing a journal with a purpose and scope similar to yours, be sure to look at the audience of the journal • CREATE A WRITING ROUTINE – writing at the same time and place every day improves writing skills and efficiency – schedule time • WRITE WITH A DICTIONARY, THESAURUS, AND STYLE MAUAL ON HAND – word has these resources automatically programmed • MAKE IT SIMPLE – avoid pretentious language, unnecessary jargon and doublespeak by cutting out every unnecessary word • DON’T PROCRASTINATE – keep pressing ahead, set a realistic timetable and stick to it • READ YOUR PAPER OUT LOUD – a sentence that is difficult to say will be difficult to read • REVISE…REVISE…REVISE…- have a neutral source edit your research paper before submission (DEAR) • PUT AN END TO IT – just do it, the faster you finish the paper and submit it the less time you’ve wasted thinking about writing it
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SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD . . . KEY WORD SUBSITUTION
⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ For IN AGREEMENT WITH use: comparison, correspondingly, similarly, just as, in the same way For CAUSE/REASON use: as a consequence of, because, due to, owing to, since, therefore, whereas For PURPOSE use: in order to, so that For EFFECT/RESULT use: accordingly, as a result of, consequently, hence, then, therefore, thus For IN OPPOSITION/CONTRAST use: conversely, however, to the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, yet For SUMMARY use: in conclusion, in short, to sum up For CHOICE use: rather than, than, whether
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OOPS! TOP GRAMMATICAL ERRORS
ALL READY means to fully prepare ALL TOGETHER means everyone or everything in the same place ALREADY means by this time ALTOGETHER means thoroughly AFFECT means to produce an influence on (verb); an emotional response EFFECT means result (noun); to bring together (verb) AMONG indicates more than two BETWEEN means indicates two COMPLEMENT means something that completes COMPLIMENT means praise or flattery DATA is plural for results DATUM is singular for results ITS is the possessive pronoun IT’S is the contraction for it is MAY BE means might be PRINCIPAL means foremost (adj); school head (noun) PRINCIPLE means moral conviction or truth THAN means in comparison with; besides THEN means at that time; next; therefore THERE means at or in that place THEIR means belonging to THEREFORE means for this reason THUS means in this way TO means in the direction of TOO means in addition TWO means the number 2
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