Workshop on Medical Writing and Publication

Bangladesh Society of Medicine

Dhaka, Bangladesh

10–14 December 2011

Other Types of Writing for Medical Journals: A Brief Overview

Barbara Gastel, MD, MPH

Texas A&M University

bgastel@cvm.tamu.edu

Topics

• Review Articles

• Editorials

• Letters to the Editor

• Essays

• Some Other Types of Writing

An Analogy

• An issue of a journal: like a meal

• Reports of original research: main dishes

• Other types of article: other dishes

• Having a variety of dishes makes a meal nutritious, balanced, and appealing

Review Articles

Review Articles

• Definition of review article: an article summarizing and synthesizing the literature on a topic or question

• Popularity

• Audiences and uses– Physicians and other health professionals:– Students:– Researchers:

Main Types of Review Articles

• Descriptive– Traditional type of review article– Summarizes knowledge on various aspects of a topic

(for example, a disease)– Resembles a book chapter

• Evaluative: for example, systematic review article– Focuses on a relatively narrow question– Follows a specified protocol– Structure: similar to IMRAD format

A Few Pointers

• Consult the journal beforehand.• Review the literature in an organized way.• Seriously consider obtaining help from a librarian.• Keep good records.• Be selective in which articles to cite.• Integrate; do not merely catalog.• Perhaps identify areas for further research.• Write readably.• Consider including figures or tables.• Make sure that references are accurate.

Editorials

Editorials

• Main types– Perspective editorial: provides context for a

report of original research– Persuasive editorial: supports a specific point

of view

• Author: one of the editors or someone invited by the editors

• A related type of article: “sounding board” or such (unsolicited)

A Few Pointers

• Base opinions on evidence.

• In deciding what to say and how to say it, consider the backgrounds and attitudes of readers.

• Be focused.

• Make clear what the main points are.

• Structure the piece effectively.

• Write readably.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

• Functions:– “Post-publication peer review”– Other

• A resource: “Correspondence Course: Tips for Getting a Letter Published in JAMA” by Robert M. Golub (JAMA 2008;300:98-99)

A Few Pointers

• If commenting on an article, submit the letter promptly.

• Follow the journal’s instructions, for example regarding length.

• Focus on one point or a very few points.

• Organize the letter simply.

• Write clearly and concisely.

• Avoid sarcasm.

Essays

Essays

• May address, for example, aspects of being a physician

• Often are narratives

• Some guest-essay sections of journals:– “A Piece of My Mind” in JAMA– “On Being a Doctor” in Annals of Internal

Medicine

A Few Pointers

• Read the instructions, if any.

• Begin and end the essay strongly.

• Provide an insight. Don’t just complain.

• Show rather than tell.

• Balance the distinctive and the universal.

• Show drafts to others and get their feedback.

• Revise, revise, revise.

Other

Other Types of Articles That Sometimes Appear in Journals

• Case reports

• Book and other reviews

• Medical news articles

• Items to share with the public (for example, JAMA patient pages)

• Other