A Case For The Mentors: To Be A Case or Not To Be A Case That IS The Question!

1. A Case For The Mentors:To Be A Case or Not To Be A CaseThat IS The Question! Jacqueline C. Resnick, Director Office of Research Development The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development USAFP Scientific Assembly Portland Oregon March 2008

2. MAKING THE CASE!IQuestions you have as mentorsIITemplates You Can Use-*the outline * National Navel Medical Center elementsIIIUnderstanding…* The Introduction *The Research Case *Stages and formatIVTo Be A Case…I start it You complete itVSharing The Conclusion

3. Basic Case Report TemplateRemember, when writing up a case report: 1) Refrain from using any identifying data (e.g. date of birth, date of service, patient name/initials or medical record number) 2) Do not use case when referring to a person – a case is an instance of disease, a patient is a person.

4. TITLE Descriptive title of the case “keep it tight, folks, no 100 word titles, please” clever, but informational

5. INTRODUCTION • Be brief • Why the case is important and why is it being reported

6. Significance/Uniqueness of Case • Using the literature, establish any previous work that is related to your research question. • Is this the first case ever reported, or how many have been reported previously. • Is there educational or research value? • Is there a next step… climbing the mountain! • Does your case represent????

7. THE CASE THAT MAKES IT • Adds something new to the literature • Asks a research question • Stimulates you to think of: • New questions • New ways to…. • Goes beyond descriptions to implications

8. CONCLUSIONS • This should be brief, three – five sentences. • Reiterate the importance of your case. (implications) THIS IS THE HOME RUN! THIS IS THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE Reference www.spectrum-health.org/casereports

9. NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER RESEARCH AND CASE REPORT COMPETITION Elements of a good Case Report Title that clearly identifies the case Case presentation Case history and presenting situation Differential diagnosis and investigations Treatments and treatment options Clinical outcomes Discussion Review of relevant literature Unique features of the current case Implications for clinical practice Teaching points Scientific observations or hypotheses Additional Factors for ranking Case Reports Relevance to Navy Relevance to NNMC Permission from the patient or his agent (Mandatory)

10. SETTING THE STAGE This makes or breaks a case What is the topic? What is the purpose? What does the case really illustrate? How does this add to the world out there?

11. THE RESEARCH CASEA way of Communicating Something “unique” and important impacting on health: A rare or unreported feature A rare or unreported condition A rare or unreported complication A rare or unreported intervention A Mentor’s Advice is Key – Have a MENTOR! Getting published is based on scientific arguments well presented. Grand Rounds vs Research Case