CÁCH VIẾT BÀI BÁO KHOA HỌC (SCIENTIFIC PAPER WRITING) Scientific Writing Workshop

1. CÁCH VIẾT BÀI BÁO KHOA HỌC (SCIENTIFIC PAPER WRITING) Scientific Writing Workshop HCM City, Vietnam, 26-27 Nov. 2011 Organised by the Univerity of Medicine & Pharmacy, HCMC. Endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME)

2. CÁCH VIẾT BÀI BÁO KHOA HỌC Scientific Writing Workshop HCM City, Vietnam, 26-27 Nov. 2011 - Professor Datuk Dr. L.M. Looi Professor of Pathology, University of Malaya, & Editor-in-Chief, Malaysian Journal of Pathology - Professor Wilfred CG Peh Singapore Medical Journal, National University of Singapore - Professor JF Lapeña Jr. M.A., M.D., F.P.C.S Univerity of Phillipines Manila, The Health Sciences Center - Professor Dr. John T. Arokiasamy International Medical University, Malaysia Editorial Advisor, Medical Journal of Malaysia 2

3. WHY WRITE? WHY PUBLISH? Writing is a way of life in Science: • Search for knowledge & understanding • Ideas & hypothesis testing • Factual observations • Accurate records • Challenge & Debate

4. THE PURPOSE OF PUBLICATION • A scientific experiment is not completed until results are published • Inform peers of discoveries • Allow other workers to verify findings • Join the realm of scientists and scholars 4

5. Wrong reasons for writing ? • Publish or perish • Ego-booster • Padding CV 5

6. How to write? A good paper has content, structure and style Basic Structure : IMRAD Introduction : Why did we start? Method (Materials & Methods): What did we do? R esults : What did we find? And Discussion : What does it mean? 6

7. How to write? BASIC STRUCTURE • Other components: – title, title page – abstract, keywords – tables, graphs, figures – acknowledgements – appendices – references 7

8. Scientific Writing Style • Factual, literal & unemotional vs metaphorical & poetic • Precise vs ambiguous • Concise vs repetitive • Formal vs conversational 8

9. TYPES OF PAPERS Authors should: – be clear about type of paper they are planning to write – construct manuscript – according to guidelines for the specific paper type 9

10. American Journal of Roentgenology 10

11. 11

12. Title, Abstract, Keywords The Title - It should be short, clear, informative, precise and specific. - It should have maximum information with minimum words - It should attract readers with similar interests to read the document - The title is reviewed after the document being prepared is completed

13. The Title • “Gastrointestinal manifestations of Dengue infection in adults” • Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Coping in Cancer Patients: A Prospective Study MJM Dec 2008

14. Title • May describe the subject of the article: “Pattern of lung cancer in Malaysia” • May describe the focus in a field of study: “The relationship of obesity and exercise in Diabetes Mellitus” • May describe the outcome of an experiment: “Aflatoxin induces liver cancer in rats”

15. Title page • Title • Author(s) – initials and name(s); degree; address • Corresponding author with address

17. Abstract This is most widely read Sometimes referred to as the summary Located at the beginning of the article It must be easily understood to one who is not reading the whole article Conveys scope of the study Provides as much information as possible in a limited space

18. Uses of Abstract • Helps decide if the paper is worth reading • Helps readers keep up to date with new developments • Available in on-line databases

19. Writing the Abstract • Structured vs Unstructured • Structured Abstract outlines: • Purpose (Aims os ojective)/Background • Methods of the work • Important findings (Results) • Conclusion

20. UNSTRUCTURED ABSTRACT

21. STRUCTURED ABSTRACT

22. Writing the Abstract • Use simple language • Objective and factual • Avoid abbreviations, references • Maximum length is 250 words • Followed by 3 to 10 keywords

24. Keywords Inserted at the end of the abstract Helps compilation of index and cross referencing Helps literature search

25. Keywords Based on the focus of the study Captures main topics of the article 3 to 10 words Terms from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms) list in Index Medicus are used

27. Writing the Introduction What am I going to say? • Introduce a specific topic • Provide background information about what has already been done by others, supported by a limited number of relevant references • Inform about the purpose of the paper, what it will address, and how it relates to previous work 3S: Short, Sharp, Swift

28. Writing the Introduction The 3 paragraph rule: • What is the problem? (1st paragraph) - Describe the problem to be investigated • Why is it important? (2nd paragraph) - Review relevant research to provide rationale; show the gap • What solution do you propose? (3rd paragraph) - Briefly describe your ideas: hypothesis(es), aim; research question(s)…

29. 1st paragraph

30. 2nd paragraph

31. 3rd paragraph

32. Writing the Introduction Common errors: • Overlong and rambling introduction section • Extensive listing of references • Extensive critique of others’ work • Important previous work missing • Objectives not clearly stated • Inclusion of data or conclusions from the work being reported

33. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS Also known as – Subjects and methods – Patients and methods – Methodology – Methods

34. • Most important part of paper • Flaws in this section will lead to rejection

35. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS Purpose of M&M • Describe study in sufficient detail • Other competent researchers are able to repeat the study • Details are important

36. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS Components of M&M • What was done? • How was it done? • How was it done? • How was the data analysed? • Do not include data obtained during course of study (Results)

37. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS • Usually the first section to be written during manuscript preparation • Description of how study was conducted - Use past tense

38. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS MATERIALS • How subjects were recruited – patients, animals, controls • Define – source population – inclusion criteria – exclusion criteria • Animals – genus, species, strain – genus, species, strain – age, gender, nutrition, physiological and pathological status

41. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS METHODS • Reproducibility is vital – complete details of new methods – precision of measurements – appropriate statistical analysis • Apparatus/equipment • – model, manufacturer, protocol • • Drugs/chemicals,reagents • – exact dosages, mode of administration, generic name, formula • • Treatment details

42. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS METHODS Statistical evaluation • Which test used? • Why it was chosen • On what data? • To determine what? • Enough detail so results can be independently verified • Ideally: use standard statistical methods

43. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS MATERIALS AND METHODS Common problems • Inappropriate subject population • Bias not controlled for • Insufficient number of subjects • No inclusion/exclusion criteria • Insufficient details of methodology i.e. not specific methodology i.e. not specific • Wrong statistical test used

44. WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS MATERIALS AND METHODS Common problems • Inappropriate subject population • Bias not controlled for • Insufficient number of subjects • No inclusion/exclusion criteria • Insufficient details of methodology i.e. not specific methodology i.e. not specific • Wrong statistical test used

45. WRITING THE RESULTS I ntroduction : Why did you start? M ethod : What did you do? R esults : What did you find? A nd D iscussion : What does it mean? What did you find? – The “Meat” of the paper – Data should relate to Materials and Methods • Common error: Data provided but no methodology • Methods described but no findings – Present findings in logical sequence

46. WRITING THE RESULTS Organisation is important • Organise data either in chronological order according to the Methods or in order of most to least important • Summarise the findings and point readers to the relevant data in the text, tables or graphs • Present the data in the text, or in a table, or in a figure. Never present the same data in more than one way

47. WRITING THE RESULTS Write logically & accurately • Short and sweet; no long descriptions • Accuracy is important – Do numbers add up? – Are titles of tables and legends adequate and accurate? – Do arrows point to the right feature? – Statistical statements • Effective use of tables and illustrations

48. WRITING THE RESULTS Common faults • Illogical sequence of data presentation • Too much raw data • Poor grouping of data • Inaccurate data • Repetition of data • Inappropriate presentation of data • Results do not match materials & methods • Attempts to interpret and draw conclusions

49. Presentation of Statistical Results • - Results: must answer the main research hypotheses or research questions • - Present results in a clear, simple and concise way • - Present data in a summarized form • - Keep objectives in mind • - Avoid discussing results in the “Results” section. • Significant results supported by e.g. p-value. • Confidence interval

50. Statistical Presentation • Decimals and digits • P = 0.00254321 or p = 0.003 or p < 0.003 • Units are important • Explain why a certain analysis is done • Care with using numbers when comparing groups: Rates are important • Computing % - total n is important to mention