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Clinical Writing for Interventional Cardiologists

Clinical Writing for Interventional Cardiologists. What you will learn. Introduction General principles for clinical writing Specific techniques Practical session: critical review of a published article Writing the Title and the Abstract Bibliographic search and writing the Introduction

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Clinical Writing for Interventional Cardiologists

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  1. Clinical Writing for Interventional Cardiologists

  2. What you will learn • Introduction • General principles for clinical writing • Specific techniques • Practical session: critical review of a published article • Writing the Title and the Abstract • Bibliographic search and writing the Introduction • Principles of statistics and writing the Methods • Practical session: writing the Abstract • Writing the Results • Writing the Discussion • Writing Tables and preparing Figures • Principles of peer-review • Principles of grant writing/regulatory submission • Clinical writing at a glance • Conclusions and take home messages

  3. IMRAD algorithm Introduction (± Aim) Methods Results And Discussion

  4. IMRAD algorithm Where are the title and the abstract? Introduction (± Aim) Methods Results And Discussion

  5. Title and Abstract The are the “business card“ of the whole paper…

  6. What you will learn • Writing the Title and the Abstract • goals of Title • goals of Abstract • effective tips

  7. Title What makes a good title? First you need to ask yourself what a title is for!

  8. Title The title is like the eyes of a woman

  9. Title The title is like the eyes of a woman They may mislead, but they are decisive in making the choice for having a glance at the article

  10. Title • A good title should: • Accurately, completely, and specifically identify the main topic • Be unambiguous • Be concise • Begin with an important word to attract intended readers • Include independent and dependent variables and species, if not human • Be a label suitable for indexing

  11. Title • Avoid: • Too scholarly or too “cute” titles • Acronyms • Roman numerals • Abbreviations • Noun clusters • Complement fixation laboratory technique • for adult rhesus monkey antigen isolation • Questions (sometimes they can be used in a “provocative” way) • Don’t use “jargon” or “phrases” • Keep word order simple

  12. Title • “Provocative” questions Agostoni et al, AJC 2006 • Versus Mauri et al, Circulation 2005

  13. Title • Subtitles • Try to minimize them Fajadet et al, Circulation 2006 Valgimigli et al, JAMA 2008

  14. Title • Write it first, as soon you develop your hypothesis • Try to state the “idea” behind the study in the title • Be specific but catchy • On the other end, do not make it too specific, or people might not read or cite it

  15. Title • Optimally: • Very brief summary of research • Omits “A study of,” “Investigations of,”… • Put subjects studied (eg octuagenarians) • Put limiting information • Avoid “cute” or abbreviations • May or may not give results • Topic – Effects of distal protection on the risk of periprocedural stroke during carotid stenting • Conclusive – Distal protection reduces periprocedural stroke during carotid stenting

  16. Title • Topic • Conclusive • BIMODAL DISTRIBUTION OF LATE LUMINAL LOSS • IN SIROLIMUS AND PACLITAXEL-ELUTING STENTS: • A DETAILED ANGIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS Agostoni et al, AJC 2007

  17. Title CONSORT for RCT STARD for diagnostic studies QUOROM and MOOSE for meta-analyses Report in the title the word “systematic review” or “meta-analysis”

  18. Title • A Randomized Comparison of Zotarolimus-Eluting Versus Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stents • Improved Event-Free Survival After Drug-Eluting Stenting in Patients with Unprotected Left Main Disease • Long-Term Clopidogrel Administration Prevents Late Drug-Eluting Stent Thrombosis • Abnormal TIMI Frame Count as a Predictor of Unfavorable Remodeling After Primary Angioplasty

  19. What you will learn • Writing the Title and the Abstract • goals of Title • goals of Abstract • effective tips

  20. Abstract What makes a good abstract? First you need to ask yourself what an abstract is for!

  21. Abstract The abstract is like the whole body of a woman It may mislead, but it is decisive in making the choice for reading the full-text of the article

  22. Abstract • A good abstract should: • State the principal objectives and scope of the investigation • Describe the methods employed • Summarize the results • State the principal conclusions

  23. Abstract • It's by far the most important part of the paper(because most people only read this…) • Write it before the rest of the paper, not after • Rewrite it after you finished the rest of the paper • Start with a rationale for the study: state why you did it, not what you did • Include as much detail of methods as possible • Include magnitudes of effects in the results

  24. Abstract • 7. End with the main conclusion: state why or how it's useful, not a rehash of what you found • 8. It should be within a few words of the prescribed length (usually between 200 and 300) • 9. Be as economical with words as possible, but do not compromise grammar • 10. Minimize abbreviations here • 11. Do not include references, figures, or tables

  25. Abstract IMRAD Introduction (± Aim) Methods Results and Discussion (Conclusions)

  26. Abstract Introduction (± Aim) 2-3 phrases Methods 2-3 phrases Results 3-5 phrases (And) Conclusions 1-3 phrases

  27. Abstract • Abstracts are short but time-consuming • Very information-dense, but simply formatted • Write “long” and pare down if needed • Analyze one sentence at a time • Each sentence has purpose • Each sentence logically follows another • Use plain English wherever you can • Use active voice when you can • State only your most important conclusion(s) • There is not good writing, only good rewriting

  28. Abstract - Introduction • What is the general topic you were investigating and why is it important? • Provide supporting information for title • Generally max 3 sentences • General information to specific

  29. Abstract - Aim • What are the specific questions you are addressing with this project? • Sometimes you need two sentences, but one is better

  30. Abstract - Methods • How did you do this experiment? • One or two sentences are needed for short abstracts (200 words). Three or four for longer (300 words). • Just to give general idea • No statistical analysis • No vendor info needed

  31. Abstract - Results • What did you find out? • Two sentences might be enough: state only you main point(s). • Include your most important data that influenced your conclusion: • mean values, standard deviations, p values, confidence intervals, number of samples you studied, etc.

  32. Abstract - Conclusions • Sometimes called Discussion or Interpretation • How did hypothesis turn out? • What is the big point that you want to take home? • One sentence may be enough • Be bold, yet not overconfident

  33. Abstract The more structured, the better SORT OUT II, JAMA 2008

  34. Abstract TAPAS 1 year, Lancet 2008

  35. Abstract The less structured, the worse ENDEAVOR II, Circulation 2006

  36. Tips Title drafting -keep focused and precise but catchy! Abstract drafting -every phrase is a battle, and the whole abstract is your war, win or loose! -follow the IMRAD approach -never tell lies, better (slightly) conceal the truth

  37. Expanded IMRAD algorithm IntroductionBackground Limitations of current evidence Study hypothesis MethodsDesign Patients Procedures Follow-up End-points Additional analyses Statistical analysis Results Baseline and procedural data Early outcomes Mid-to-long term outcomes Additional analyses DiscussionSummary of study findings Current research context Implications of the present study Avenues for further research Limitations of the present study Conclusions

  38. Expanded IMRAD algorithm IntroductionShort background (Limitations of current evidence) Study hypothesis MethodsDesign Patients Procedures Follow-up Main End-points Additional analyses Statistical analysis ResultsMost important baseline/procedural data Mainoutcomes Early Mid-to-long term outcomes Additional analyses Discussion(Rapid summary of study findings) Current research context Implications of the present study Avenues for further research Limitations of the present study Conclusions

  39. Take home messages Remember the KUQE approach!

  40. Take home messages Remember the KUQE approach! • Known • Unknown • Question • Experimental approach

  41. And now a brief break…

  42. For further slides on these topics please feel free to visit the metcardio.org website:http://www.metcardio.org/slides.html

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