Skills Building Workshop: PUBLISH OR PERISH

1. Skills Building Workshop: PUBLISH OR PERISH

2. Workshop Outline • Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS) • Writing a Manuscript • Submitting a Manuscript

3. Journal of the International AIDS Society

4. Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS) • Online • Peer-reviewed • Open access (free of charge to view) • Free of charge to publish Strengthening research capacity in low and middle income countries by providing: • Open access journal • Workshops on scientific writing • Manuscript Mentoring

5. JIAS Objectives Provide a forum for the publication of original, peer-reviewed articles that advance the field of HIV/AIDS in developing countries Encourage and facilitate publication from low and middle income countries Inform about research, analysis and opinion relevant to the delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in developing countries Improve the dissemination medical evidence from research conducted in a diversity of geographic, cultural, socioeconomic, and clinical settings

6. JIAS Publishes: Research Case report Case study Commentary Debate Review Methodology Meeting report

7. JIAS Topical Areas: • Policy; operations research; health economics • Social sciences; humanities • Behavioral sciences; epidemiology • Clinical sciences • Experimental sciences

8. JIAS Workshops and Mentoring Training workshops • To strengthen the conceptualization, manuscript development and peer-review skills of young investigators from resource-limited settings Online mentoring programme • To increase the quality and volume of HIV/AIDS research from resource-limited settings accepted at conferences and in scientific journals

10. Writing a Manuscript

11. Design and implementation of research Analysis of the data Study Design Everything should revolve around your hypothesis

12. The Structure Title/title page Abstract Introduction Methods/materials Results Discussion This is how it is read, not how it is written

13. Should be funnel-shaped, from general to specific Introduction: What question was studied? • General background • General research question • Previous research on the topic • Objective of study • Hypothesis

14. Methods/Materials: How was the question studied? • Should be detailed enough to allow replication • Full details on study design • Procedures, materials used, data collected, data analysis and statistical methods • Include research design limitations • May include different components, depending on the type of study • Past tense • No results yet!

15. Results: What were the findings? • Represent data in appropriate tables and figures • Main analysis results—Do not repeat data already presented • Statistical information • Relate results to methods, but do not describe them again • Do not discuss results!

16. Tables and Figures • Use only when helpful to convey information • Should be understandable without text • Choose type based on the kind of data you have

17. Source: UNAIDS/WHO, 2008 Tables and Figures • Different figures for different messages Change over time

18. Change over time?

19. Source: UNAIDS/WHO, 2006 • A bar graph would work for a different type of data: Ratios

20. Discussion: What do these findings mean? • Compare results to other work • Answer the question of the study—did the results prove or disprove your hypothesis? • Describe any limitations of the study • Conclusion • Next steps • Do not repeat results—summarize and conclude

21. Abstract • Brief summary of the manuscript—include all components • Content must be consistent with that of paper • Together, the title and abstract should stand on their own

22. Title/Title Page • Title: • Short and simple • Specific—describe the study • Advertisement of the manuscript • Study authors • Institution of each author

23. Tips • Follow the correct structure and concentrate on organization • Use simple and clear language—should be straightforward • Make sure you have enough data before you make a conclusion

24. Your Turn Please refer to the sample manuscripts on your handout • Group discussion

25. Submitting a Manuscript (to JIAS)

26. Online submission Initial decision by Editors-in-Chief and Executive Editor Reviewed by at least 2 selected experts Published in JIAS—open access Accept Revision Reject Revision reviewed Revision Mentoring JIAS Peer-Review Process

27. Common Reasons for Failure to Publish *Poorly written *Incorrect format *Poor structure *Objective not clear *Ineffective study design *Not enough data

28. Submitting Manuscripts to JIAS • Online at: http://www.jiasociety.org/manuscript • Read the Instructions for Authors page • Follow the steps on the submission checklist

30. Resources • AuthorAid • Mentoring, training, workshops, discussions, documents and presentations • http://www.authoraid.info • BioMed Central Tools for Authors • http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/authors/authortools • BioMed Central Tips • http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/ifora/report

32. Thank you! Any questions?

33. Evaluation • As your feedback is of most importance to assess the success of ICASA 2008, you will be invited shortly after the conference to complete an online survey (available in both English & French) - all data will be kept confidential • In order to participate in the evaluation process, please share your contact details in the form being circulated