Medical Dissertations ▶ Medical Writing Process
Medical Journal Paper Writing medical dissertation
Medical journal paper writing is amongst the most horrifying tasks, involving complex procedures, technical jargons and hell lot of scientific regulations that you have to abide by. Haven’t you, being a doctor or practitioner, gone entwined in these stuffs? Come out of the scientific arena and pay some focus to the writing formalities as well if you aim to land up to a prestigious journal’s page.

Here’s me and my Thinking pie,( pie ) guiding you from start to finish in your Medical Journal Paper Writing. We will help you “Transform the Science of surgeons to Information of readers!”
medical dissertation

So, let’s get started with the hardening writing process!

Preparing for the Write-Up
Look for what information is gathered
Anything Interesting?
No
Yes!
Please go back and look out for something that interests you.
Is it Unique?
Has it been researched before?
Have you studied the latest results in that field?
Is the study feasible?
Will the proposed results contribute the society?
Jump onto the WEB
(Ah! I know you are smart enough to understand- It’s the INTERNET) and come out with your answers.
If “Yes” were your
frequent answers,you
can inject the idea into your
brain and kick start your
research.
Now, as you begin, the three questions that you must have answers to are:
"How to write?"
"What to write?"
"Where to submit"
?
The “How” can be resolved by choosing the best format of presentation out of:
Full Length Methodology Research (Original Article)

Review Report

Case Study

Correspondence Letter
Consult your supervisor
and peers for advice on
the type of manuscript,
if self-evaluation of the
work doesn’t seem to
help.
?
“What to write?” depends majorly on your target audience and their level of understanding. Your information and writing style will alter if you target specialists and/or multidisciplinary
researchers.
?
The decision for “Where to submit?” is critical in the early phase since your first draft must be
written in the style and format of the specific journal researchers.
The Long Writing Phase
Introduction
(Reason to
start) Methods
(Process of
research) Results
(Findings of
the study) And Discussion
(Relevance
of the
work)
 IMRAD
structure Adopt the IMRAD
structure, being the key
development in scientific
publication since 1950!
Title Abstract Keywords Acknowledg
-ements References TAKAR
So, throughout the research writing process, IMRAD TAKAR would be your new buddy!!
TITLE
Correctly represent content
Clear
Concise
Informative
Contain Keywords
Grabs attention of the reader
Should not be misleading
No abbreviation should be used
Avoid distracting long titles
Remove redundancies such as:
In Title: “Preliminary observations on the nature of Etanercept in patie
-nts withAnkylosing Spondylitis”, redundant phrases like “the nature
of”, “preliminary observation on” should be removed.
The correct form will then be: “Effect of Etanercept in
patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis”.
Another Example, a title “Comparative Analysis of Propofol – Ketamine and PropofolFentanyl in minor Surgery”
does not specify the content of the study, dosage and duration,group of patients, efficiency and sequence of happenings.

More appealing and appropriate title should be- “Comparative Evaluation of efficiency of Propofol – Ketamine and
Propofol – Fentanyl combination as sole anaesthetic agents in patients undergoing minor ambulatory gynecological
operations”.
Here's my pie giving some
useful tips for key sections
to facilitate the task of
Medical Research Paper
writing.
AUTHOR
Author’s Full name
Designation
Degree
Affiliation and
Email address
Pie advises to also add
details of corresponding
author, with name,
designation and email ID
on the title page.
ABSTRACT
a) Indicative (descriptive)
100-150 words
Briefly outline the topics covered in your study
Often used in review reports and conference papers

b) Informative
Less than 200 words
Summarizes the article basing the paper structure, i.e., purpose, methods,
results and conclusions
Often used for strictly-structured documents like experiment or survey

c) Structured
200-250 words
Paper details presented under specific headings as prescribed by the journal
Often prescribed by medical journals
Check the format
type that fits your
target journal and
do accordingly!
Abstract is your
Selling Tool!
Use effectively!
Wise people come up with Good Abstracts, which are:
Succinct
Brief and Precise
Upright in support to your paper
Free from Technical terms
Easy to read and understand
Hardly equipped with abbreviations
Drafted without citations
KEYWORDS
Add 3-10 specific keywords to enable more readers
to your manuscript, when indexed. For medical
journal paper, use commonly established terms
and abbreviations like DNA.
Prefer to use the terms as listed under Medical
Subject Headings (MeSH) by National Library of
Medicine.
You have
nicknames? Well!
Give your Abstract
some relatable names to
be called with.
INTRODUCTION
Intro provides general overview the study, the context of your manuscript to
convince your readers that your work will help in advancing the knowledge
base of that particular field of research.
Role of an Introduction chapter:
To generate interest in readers
To elaborate on the scope, goals and purpose of your study
To specify the directions as a navigation guide to the paper
To provide a context for the main research problem
To indicate your findings and conclusions
Must have some
more thinking pie…
umm…now, here are
the tips:
Briefing is the in-thing! Your introduction is not a
long History lesson. If given, follow the word limit or stick to
1-2 paragraphs for each major portion of your research.
Cite not more than 2-3 relevant and unavoidable
references. Do not list down anything and everything
that you get, somewhere related to your study.
Reviewing and citing of contradictory and conflicting
studies by competitors is important.
Define any non-generalised abbreviation or jargon.
Keep the flow of sections correct and logical. Ensure
not to juggle up all the sections.
METHODS
The hulk - Methods chapter!!!

With sufficient information, it must offer clear understanding for readers to
follow and reproduce the experiment for their study.
The prominent elements of the Methods chapter are:
A detailed research design describing the steps towards answers to research
problems
Identify and define the data collection tool and sample population if survey is
the chosen technique
Precisely specify the details of drugs and chemical used, including generic
names, doses and route of administration.
Describe the instrumentation including the psychometric qualities of the
measurement tools like its validity, reliability and objectivity.
Precisely state the data analysis procedure with assumptions, time frame,
scope and limitation.
“Detailed with scientific accuracy & instilled with the ability to write at a level
appropriate to the target audience is what makes a good medical journal paper.”
RESULT
Logical Sequence
Summarization of important observations
Inclusion of tables, charts and illustrations for better understanding
Justification of results of statistical tests
Stating limitations of the method adopted
Duplication of data from tables and figures
Use of excessive graphics where data can be
summarized with text
Stating your personal opinions upon the
findings
DISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSIONS:-    Most influential section! Make it strong and you will gather huge chunk of applause.
Go beyond the results and highlight critical issues. Discussion should correspond to the
results and not reiterate the same
Ensure not to deviate from the main topic
Describe similarities and conflicts with other relevant studies
Discuss the scope and need for future research
Link conclusions with goals of your study with quantifiable descriptions
Confront and convince your readers that you are good and even better than the previous studies.
TIPS by…yes!
One advice by thinking pie (medical dissertation ) that should be followed throughout the Writing phase:
medical dissertation
Know about the so-common RARE trap, you must stray from.

a) Repetition
b) Ambiguity
c) Redundancy
d) Exaggeration

A well conducted and concluded research must give a “clear message” to the readers that answers the questions raised before.

Before closing, a BIG Thanks to the Thinking Pie who gave brilliant ideas and tips. Start eating one!