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Training of Medical
Editors and the Most of the Editors of biomedical journals in developing third world countries including Pakistan have had no formal training in editing but have had on the job training. No facilities for training are available within the country and the courses available overseas are so expensive that most of the editors cannot afford it unless they get some funding or are sponsored which is not readily available. In such circumstances the editors have to look for alternate sources for training. Continuous Professional Development is extremely important for all professionals’ medical editors being no exception. Hence, they have to be on the look out for any such opportunities. It is also important that the editors are keen learners and keep themselves abreast of latest developments in the field of medical journalism. Pakistan Medical Journalists Association (PMJA) Professional organizations like
Pakistan Medical Journalists Association (PMJA) and similar other bodies
can also play a vital role in this field. Pakistan Medical Journalists
Association has organized workshops on Peer Review in Karachi, Lahore
and Islamabad 1-2 where editors of various biomedical journals were also
invited. They were encouraged to share the process of editing and peer
review which they practice thereby providing an opportunity to the
participants to learn from each other’s experience. WAME and EMAME Listserve WAME and EMAME both have an active List serve where important issues regarding medical editing are discussed. WAME List serve in particular is extremely useful while many issues more relevant to developing third world countries are discussed by editors of biomedical journals from WHO EMRO Region on EMAME List serve. Hence, all the editors and others associated with medical journal editing in different capacities should become members of both these organizations. They will find the debate and discussion on different issues very informative and rewarding. EMAME has held three conferences so far the first one at Cairo in 2003, at Riyadh in 2004 which provided a rare opportunity for learning. 4,5 Learning through experience and from mistakes Editors of biomedical journals at times have to walk on tight ropes. Particularly editors of biomedical journals which are owned and published by specialty organizations at times have to face numerous problems when there is a difference of opinion and conflict of interest as regards editorial policy. During the last couple of years we have seen the Editors of JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of Canadian Medical Association being fired which lead to serious debate as regards editorial independence in the medical press.6 To create a balance between pursuing an independent editorial policy and the economic interests of the sponsoring organization, specialty organization is not an easy task which at times leads to serious differences. Report by Royal
College of Report of the independent committee of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the publication of two articles in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in August 1994 also throws some light the problems the editors can face. This report was prepared on the instructions of the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists which was published in May 1995.7 The committee which included John Spokes QC (Chairman), Prof. Ian Greer MCOG, Mr. Frank Loeffler FRCOG, Prof. Lesley Rees FRCP, Prof. Richard Smith FRCP and Prof. Sir Leslie Turnberg FRCP looked in to detail the circumstances under which two papers got published in British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by Pearce JM and colleagues got published and their implications. The inquiry committee also came up with a set of extremely useful recommendations to avoid such mishaps in future wherein fake data and manuscripts could not be published in the journal. They have suggested that if such articles based on fake data have been published, they should be formally retracted. They have also discussed the role of co-authors, retraction of misleading articles, submission of articles, editorial processing of articles submitted, statistical assessment of submitted manuscripts, publication of case reports, conduct of editorial meetings, system of dealing with papers where an editor has an interest or association, editorial freedom, editorial and administrative organization of the journal and reporting to the Council, training in research, future investigations besides relations with Media. These recommendations make an interesting reading and editors of biomedical journals particularly those journals sponsored and published by specialty organizations will find it extremely useful. That is how one learns from the mistakes made by others. Useful Books Editors of biomedical journals
have to communicate and deal with a large number of reviewers since Peer
Review is an important aspect to ensure quality of the manuscripts
accepted for publication and standard of the journal. Hence the editors
themselves must be fully aware of the Peer Review Process. Many useful
books are available which cover most of these issues and provide
extremely useful information for the Editors. Peer Review in Health
Sciences by Fiona Godlee and Tom Jefferson published by BMJ Group is one
such book which the editors will find useful. It has contributions by
thirty authors most of whom are distinguished editors and they have
covered a wide range of topics on medical journalism with particular
reference to Peer Review process.8 Other resources on the Net While surfing the net, one may
also find many other sources of information which can be extremely
helpful for the editors of biomedical journals. References 1. Jawaid SA. Proceedings of
Workshops on Peer Review System at Karachi and Lahore organized by PMJA.
Pak J Med Sci 2002;18(4):328-33. * Managing Editor |
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