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Core skills of
effective
medical writing
Diaa E.E. Rizk*
Writing for scientific journals
or research grants requires particular skills but very few researchers
have been trained formally in writing. That is why a large number of
papers or research study protocols submitted for grants are rejected
because they are poorly written and documented. That is one of the
reasons that many important ideas and research findings fail to reach
the scientific community.
Writing for biomedical journals and research study protocols:
Writing for biomedical journals or research study protocols for grants
is different. Each journal and institution providing grants for research
accepts papers on a limited range of subjects. In the research study
protocol the primary readership is defined. The style of writing is
usually governed by established standards, rules and conventions. The
layout or format of manuscript is determined by the publisher and is
designed to be standardized.
Core Writing Skills:
There are five well established core principles of medical writing.
These are:
1. Developing a concept
2. Preparing an outline
3. Writing the first draft
4. Topping and tailing
5. Publishing
Developing a concept: This should cover the following:
Why publish, What to publish, What is the main message, Who are the
likely readers and finally where to publish.
Preparing an outline: While preparing an outline, the points which need
to be addressed include:
* Principal objectives or hypotheses/Introduction.
* Main message of the paper
* Materials (Patients, Subjects) and Methods
* Principal findings (Results)
* Discussion
* Conclusions
Introduction: While writing introduction, it is important to state what
is already known before this study was planned. Then state the problem
why the things could not be left as they were. It should also cover what
answers are needed to the questions and what is being done to answer
these questions. It is better to use few sub-headings but make sure that
introduction is not unnecessary lengthy. Do not forget to add
appropriate references to strengthen your viewpoint.
Main Message: It is suggested that one should select about twenty to
twenty five words as a key message which should form the main body of
the manuscript. Write the principal objectives of the study or
hypothesis and make sure that both of them are relevant.
Materials (Patients, Subjects) and Methods: This section in the
manuscript should cover how the population was defined, sampling,
materials, methods, data analysis, inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Give details how sampling was done. What sample size was determined.
What were the relevant characteristics of the sample i.e. age, sex
distribution. Comment on these if the sample’s features are markedly
different. Remember the characteristics of the sample should be covered
in this section and not in the Results. How the ethical concerns were
addressed. Species and strains if relevant of experimental animals,
plants and micro-organisms.
Include relevant references to the literature for the relevant technical
specifications, sources, methods of preparation and other relevant
information of the materials. Describe whether these are standard
materials? If so, refer to the relevant literature for specifications.
If you have used new materials, describe them in sufficient detail to
allow another expert to prepare the same materials. Describe the methods
used briefly, but in sufficient detail to ensure that another expert can
reproduce your experiment. Mention which outcome variables were measured
and how? What techniques were used? Has the technique been described
elsewhere - in which case you need only cite the reference.
Data analysis: If you have used unusual data analysis techniques,
briefly describe them. In case you have used any special methods that an
expert would need to know in order to repeat the analysis, then provide
sufficient information? Only describe statistical tests if they were
specially developed for this analysis and you may need to justify their
use.
Ethical concerns: The manuscript must contain information as to how the
data was complied with all relevant ethical requirements, including
those governing experiments on humans and animals? Explain how the
identity of research subjects were protected and that informed consent
was obtained from all the participants enrolled in the study.
Results: This section will cover all the important findings of the study
in order of their importance. Each of them should be summarized in one
sentence. Include the supportive evidence. Look at the findings once
again alongside with the statement of objectives. Make sure that all the
results are listed directly relevant to the objectives of the study.
Presentation of the data: It should have a brief description in the
narrative form. It can also be presented in the form of Tables, Graphs,
Photographs and illustrations.
Discussion: Describe principle conclusions from the study and then
assess, evaluate them in the light of existing knowledge. Highlight the
main implications of your findings. State the limitations of the study
if any. Indicate where further work is necessary and then summarize your
main conclusions.
Writing the first draft: Different people have their own style of
preparing the first draft. Either one can prepare a structured abstract
first and then give the details in the full manuscript or one can write
few paragraphs about all the important sections of the manuscript i.e.
Introduction, Materials (Patients and Subjects) and Methods, Results,
Discussion. The last paragraph should summarize how the study was
conducted followed by appropriate and relevant references.
The first draft should be written quickly, without interruption and
without editing. It is important that one keeps to the plan of the
outline. As regards writing style, usually the past tense is used.
Prefer using the Word “We” instead of “I”. Be brief as there is too much
pressure on the limited space available in the biomedical journals. Most
of the reputed and well established biomedical journals have a long
waiting list of approved manuscripts for publication. Hence, brief
manuscripts will ensure speedy peer review and early publication. Do not
mind showing the manuscript to experienced colleagues and seek their
advice, suggestions to further improve it.
Having prepared the first draft, keep it pending for a few days or weeks
and then have another look before you start final editing. Even
distinguished and successful writers ask for second opinion. Editing is
done for clarity to ensure the message is conveyed effectively. Editing
on paper is best particularly for the beginners but some experienced
writers are used to do editing on the screen and they find it absolutely
comfortable.
Conclusions
Scientific papers/research
study protocols are written so that a group of peers and experts can
assess observations, repeat experiments and evaluate scholarly thinking
to judge whether the content meets the agreed standards. Therefore,
writing papers for these purposes is governed by certain well
established criteria, rules, regulations and conventions. Hence
biomedical researchers and academic physicians need to acquire the
knowledge and skills of writing and understand the guidelines of
publication.
* Prof. of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology,
Ain Shams University, Cario - Egypt.
E-mail: rizk.diaa@gmail.com
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