Writing a scientific paper

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Writing a scientific paper

• Shaukat Ali Jawaid
• Managing Editor
• Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences
• pjms.com.pk

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SIMRAD

• S Summary (Structured Abstract)
• I Introduction (Your research question)
• M Material and Methods (Subject,Patient)
• R Results
• A Analysis (of your data)
• D - Discussion

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Structured Abstract

• Objective Background
• Design
• Setting
• Main outcome measures
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions
• Key words

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Organizing the manuscript

• Why and what did you do- Objective and
  Introduction
• How did you do Material and Methods
• What did you find Results
• What does your results mean its relevance -
  Discussion
• What is the message- Conclusions

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Essential Components

• Title Keep it brief, relevant and stimulating
• Structured Abstract ( 150 words)
• Introduction Know how to KISS?
• State purpose of article, summarize rationale for
  study or observation
• Give strictly relevant references
• Do not include data

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Methods

• Describe how you conducted the study
• How subjects were selected, assigned to different
  groups
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Name software used, describe how data was
  analyzed
• Accurate and clear account of methods should
  enable other researchers to replicate your study

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Medical Writing

• A paper will sink or swim on the strength of its
  methods section

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Results and Analysis

• Your results should focus on objectives set out
  in introduction
• Data should illustrate whether or not you have
  achieved your objectives
• Computer software available for analysis
• Point significant differences and explain why
  your observations are important
• Add photographs, illustrations, diagrams
• Avoid duplicating information in text which
  appears in tables

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Discussion

• Describe your major findings
• Critical comparison with findings of similar
  studies
• Include only relevant references
• Difference and similarities are both important
• Describe what your work has added to the
  knowledge on the subject

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Conclusions

• It should simply restate results
• Do not answer the study question
• Mention limitations of study
• Call for more study on the subject

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Funding, Ethical clearance

• Declare source of funding if any
• Ensure clearance from the Ethics Committee

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Selection of a Journal

• Anomalous origin of left main coronary artery
  from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA)
• Case report not uncommon condition for Paed.
  Caradiologists.Cardiology Journal wont accept,
  no new message.
• In our set up cardiologists, paediatrician
  generally unaware of conditions, message include
  it in DD, infants with heart failure. Accept for
  publication- Prof. Masood Sadiq

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Acceptance rate

• BMJ 7
• Many other prestigious Js. 10-15
• Pak J Med Sci Primary 25
• After revision another 30

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Rejection

• Rejection of a paper is just like amputation
• though painful but at times
• IT IS LIFE SAVING
• Barrier to spread of wrong information/message

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Rejection of a paper

• Few things are more dispiriting to a medical
  editor than having to reject a paper based on a
  good idea but with irremediable flaws in the
  methods used
• Dr. Stephen Lock
• Editor BMJ 1979

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Common reasons for rejection

• Study did not examine important scientific issue
• Study was not original-some one already done some
  work on same topic
• Study did not test authors hypothesis
• Authors should have used different study design
• Authors forced to compromise on
  protocol-practical difficulties while recruiting
  subjects

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Common reasons for rejection

• Too small sample size
• Inadequately or uncontrolled study
• Incorrect, inappropriate statistical analysis
• Unjustified conclusions drawn from data
• Conflict of interest-author might benefit from
  publication of study
• Paper badly written, presented and is
  incomprehensible

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An ideal manuscript

• Original
• Prospective
• Ethical
• Accurate
• Relevant
• Interesting

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How to write references

• Name of author, title of paper, name of the
  Journal, Year, Vol. No. and page numbers
• Jawaid SA, Jawaid M. Diabetic Foot Ulcers some
  bitter facts and harsh realities. (Editorial) Pak
  J Med Sci 200622(2)97-100
• Endnote software to write references

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For beginners

• Writing a case report is ideal
• Describe management of an odd case

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Be careful

• Avoid SALAMI chopping one paper into many
• Avoid IMALAS first paper 20 cases, second 30
  cases including earlier twenty and so on

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A Good Article

• It has a definite structure, makes its point and
  then shuts up
• Dr. Stepen Lod

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Dont be repetitive

• It irritates the Editor and Reviewers
• Only 10 of published papers will stand the test
  of time
• Some papers are never cited again
• Self edit, read aloud and
• Ask a friend

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• Good News - most papers do get published
• Bad News No body reads them
• Two third of published papers in medicine are
  never cited even once

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Manuscripts received from Iran

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Manuscripts Published from Iran

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Thank You