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Department of Pulmonology Leiden University Medical Center

Istanbul May 2010. Getting the Message Across in Print - How to write a Scientific Article -. Klaus F. Rabe MD, PhD. Leiden University Medical Center. Department of Pulmonology Leiden University Medical Center. The Joys of Publishing.

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Department of Pulmonology Leiden University Medical Center

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  1. Istanbul May 2010 Getting the Message Across in Print - How to write a Scientific Article - Klaus F. Rabe MD, PhD Leiden University Medical Center Department of Pulmonology Leiden University Medical Center

  2. The Joys of Publishing • Why is my supervisor putting so much emphasis on publishing our data? • Where does my paper fit into the scientific journals arena? • What should I check before writing the paper? • How do I actually start writing my paper? • introduction • methods • results • discussion... • How do I handle reviewer’s comments? • How to cope with rejection, and how to celebrate acceptance?

  3. Why Such Emphasis on Publishing?

  4. Who Will be My Customer, When Writing Things Up? How do I stay clinically up-to-date? How do I know who else is doing really good work in my field? Clinicians Scientists

  5. What do I Need to Consider Before Writing the Paper? • The data • novel or confirmative? • strengths and weaknesses • no duplicate publication • The authors • only those who have done work or writing • statement of interest • The journal • specialty or general? • fast acceptance? • open access?

  6. Impact Factor for 2010 Total number of citations in all scientific journals during 2010, of papers from journal X published during 2008 and 2009 ____________________________________ Total number of papers published in journal X during 2008 and 2009

  7. Impact Factors of Journals in Our Field

  8. Impact Factors of General Medical Journals

  9. Where do I get Information on (my) Citations and Impact Factors? http://portal.isiknowledge.com • Citations: Web of Science • Impact factors: Journal Citation Reports

  10. Title, authors, institute Abstract Background/rationale Hypothesis/question Aim Endpoints Subjects (in-excl) Design Intervention Measurements Analysis (+ stat. power) Results Tables and figures Discussion Conclusion References The Essentials: a Checklist

  11. Title, authors, institute Abstract Background/rationale Hypothesis/question Aim Endpoints Subjects (in-excl) Design Intervention Measurements Analysis (+ stat. power) Results Tables and figures Discussion Conclusion References The Essentials: a Checklist

  12. Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Tables and figures References

  13. ABSTRACT Rationale Study-design Results Conclusion Hypothesis Methods with data Implication

  14. Introduction General The Why is My idea Hypothesis background specific this still to resolve it: or question about the dilemma unresolved? Sell it as the Aim disease obvious approach

  15. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction The Introduction funnels from something known, to something unknown, to the question the paper is asking The Introduction may end with the question or may go on to state the experimental approach used to answer the question

  16. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction The Funnel: A Known, B. Unknown, C. Question, D. Experimental Approach

  17. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction Function of the Introduction: Establish the context of the work being reported. This is accomplished by discussing the relevant Primary research Literature (with citations) and summarizing the current understanding of the problem you are investigating. State the purposeof the work in the form of the hypothesis, or problem you investigated Briefly explain your Rationale and approach and, whenever possible, the possible outcomes your study can reveal.

  18. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction Style of the Introduction: Use the active voice as much as possible. Some use of the first person is okay, do not overdo it. Some journals prefer the first person not to be used

  19. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction Begin your Introduction by clearly identifying the subject area of interest

  20. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction Establish the context by providing a brief and balanced review of the pertinent published literature that is available on the subject

  21. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction What literature should you look for in your review of what we know about the problem?

  22. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction Be sure to clearly state the purpose and /or hypothesis that you investigated

  23. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Introduction Provide a clear statement of the rationale for your approach to the problem studied

  24. How to Start Writing my Paragraphs? • Split the thinking from the writing! • Make a flow chart of paragraphs • Give each paragraph • a single label • a single message (5 words) • a bridge to the next paragraph • Add the references to each paragraph

  25. GINA 2006 • Busse NEJM 2001 • Rabe JACI 2004 1. Asthma Message: Chronic, requires regular therapy Bridge: High medical burden • Tattersfield AJRCCM 1999 • O’Byrne AJRCCM 2001 2. Exacerbations Message: prevalent, hazard Bridge: despite current therapy • Friedlander JACI 2005 • Johnston BMJ 1995 • Grünberg AJRCCM 2001 • Wark J Exp Med 2005 3. Mechanisms Message: viral, specific inflammation Bridge: better targets? 4. • Alcami Immol Today 2002 • Krenn J Virol 2005 • Turner Paediatric Ann 2005 Anti-viral Message: effective in animals Bridge: why not in asthma? 5. Hypothesis We postulated...... Our aim was to test this in........ Therefore, we did......

  26. What do I Need to Consider Before Writing the Paper? • The data • novel or confirmative? • strengths and weaknesses • no duplicate publication • The authors • only those who have done work or writing • statement of interest • The journal • specialty or general? • fast acceptance? • open access?

  27. Conflict of Interest: What is it? • Competing interest • normal and healthy, daily human experience • objectives, wishes, desires A result I like Scientific result

  28. Conflict of Interest: What is it? • Competing interest • normal and healthy, hourly human experience • objectives, wishes, desires A better result Scientific result

  29. Conflict of Interest: What is it? • Competing interest • normal and healthy, hourly human experience • objectives, wishes, desires A better publication Scientific result

  30. Conflict of Interest: What is it? • Competing interest • normal and healthy, hourly human experience • objectives, wishes, desires Admiration Scientific result

  31. Conflict of Interest: What is it? • Competing interest • normal and healthy, hourly human experience • objectives, wishes, desires A better carreer Scientific result

  32. Conflict of Interest: For Whom? • Investigators • Authors • Institutes • Sponsors • Editors • Reviewers • Readers

  33. Conflict of Interest: How Common is it?Investigators % Bekelman et al. JAMA 2003;289:454-465, Bhandari et al. Can Med Ass J 2004;170:477-480

  34. Conflict of Interest: How Common is it?Study- and Institutional Level % Bekelman et al. JAMA 2003;289:454-465, Stelfox et al. NEJM 1998;338:101-106

  35. Conflict of Interest: Does it have Impact?Odds Ratio 3.60 (2.6-4.9) Bekelman et al. JAMA 2003;289:454-465

  36. Personal academic links rivalry sympathy/antipathy consulting advisory board speaking attending symposium stocks/shares any links with tobacco industry Institutional study funding partnerships stocks/shares any ties with tobacco industry What is Meant by Disclosure?

  37. Methods Design Subjects Measurements Intervention Analysis what incl, excl parameters dose transformations when subgroups units compliance stat tests how often ethics validity adverse effects stat power

  38. Results Baseline Main question Secondary Unexpected (sub)groups figures / tables questions observations cross-sectional data in text idem very short table 1 readable

  39. Discussion Interpretation Red line Comparison with Weakness/strength Clinical Conclusion main result(s) earlier studies design/methods Mechanisms interpretation with message what is different bias, stat-power: what is solved? medical Implication implication what is new! be honest and what is not? relevance Suggestion

  40. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion The function of the Discussion is to interpret your results in light of what was already known about the subject of the investigation, and to explain our new understanding of the problem after taking your results into consideration

  41. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion Fundamental questions to answer include: 1.) Do your results provide answers to your testable hypotheses? If so, how do you interpret your findings? 2.) Do your findings agree with what others have shown? If not, do they suggest an alternative explanation or perhaps a unforeseen design flaw in your experiment (or theirs?)

  42. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion Fundamental questions to answer include: 3.) Given your conclusions, what is our new understanding of the problem you investigated and outlined in the Introduction? 4.) If warranted, what would be the next step in your study, e.g., what experiments would you do next?

  43. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion Style: Use the active voice whenever possible. Watch out for wordy phrases; be concise and make your points clearly. Use of the first person is okay, but too much use of the first person may actually be distracting

  44. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion Relate your work to the findings of other studies, including previous studies you may have done and those of other investigators

  45. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion Strength and Weakness of the study: Not a very popular part of the discussion… BUT: Necessary to report and discuss what the strengths and shortcomings of your study are

  46. How to Write a Scientific ArticleThe Discussion Conclusion(s): The discussion should end up with one or more conclusions. Authors are sometimes very cautious:Our findings suggest, or Our preliminary results indicate that, etc. Always try to find a very positive finding and state this clearly

  47. Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion Tables and figures References

  48. The Revision: Reviewer’s Comments • Take your reviewer seriously • Take your reviewer seriously • Make a point-by-point list of replies, with headings referring to the issue of concern • Be honest, concise, and accurate • Try to accommodate most points in the manuscript, and tell the reviewer where you did • Tell the editor if and why you could not comply with some of the reviewer’s requests

  49. 10 0.1 0.5 1 20 30 Factors Influencing Publication of Research Results Follow Up of Applications Submitted to Two Institutional Review boards Significant Results (Yes, No) Clinical Trial (Yes, No) Sample Size (>100, <100) External Funding (Yes, No) Sites (>1, 1) No. of Study Groups (>1, 1) PI Sex (M, F) PI Degree (MD, not MD) PI Rank (Professor, not Professor) MEDPH Odds Ratio Dickersin K et al., JAMA 1992;267:374-378

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