Professor Michael Gelfand (1912 - 1985) University of Zimbabwe

1. Submitting  Medical Papers for Publication(How to avoid getting kicked in the stomach)andReviewing Medical Papers (How to kick others in the stomach politely) Views from the victim and the mugger

2. Professor Michael Gelfand(1912 - 1985) University of Zimbabwe

3. KICK ME

4. Overview and Goals • How to avoid kicks –writing a decent paper • How to respond when kicked - responding to reviewers • How to kick otherswithout being a bully – reviewing

5. Defense Against the Dark Arts • Title - 3 routes • Describe the Battle • Declare Victory • Declare you Won the War • Authors ? • Does everyone qualify? • Have you left anyone out? • Order? Seen it? Never forge a signature

6. Defense Against the Dark Arts • Abstract • Only thing most people read • Data • Introduction • Why did the study? Not a literature review • Have to sell the idea (why should I care?)

7. Defense Against the Dark Arts • Methods • IRB and informed consent • How you did the study • How you analyzed the data • Results • What you found. Tell a story • Emphasize the positive • Don’t repeat data

8. Defense Against the Dark Arts • Discussion • So What ? • Tell a story, avoid bias - you’ve seen the same movie (the data) • Not a literature review (but think) • Avoid Industry style • The function of statistics is to tell you if findings are statistically significant • Conclusion • Based on your data • How much speculation can you get away with ?

9. Defense Against the Dark Arts • References • Primary source often but not always • Reasonable number, avoid narcissism, Refman • Do you cite the journal submitting to? Style? • Tables • Self Standing. Careful with Abbreviations • Data in Tables and text must match • Reasonable number • Figures • Reasonable number • Abbreviations • Quality • Measures of spread

10. Defense Against the Dark Arts • Which Journal ? • Aim high or low? • Appropriate? • Instructions • Cover Letter • responsibilities of the author • Not a book • Don’t bug the Editortoo much • Success = new, interesting, important and valid

11. “We thus confirmed …” (New) No story (Interesting) Story and data do not match Kisses of Death

12. Kisses of Death • Reader can’t understand what you did • Fails the “So what test” (can’t understand why you did it) (Important) • Salami publication • Invalid – Design, Analysis (Valid)

13. Bad Form • Sloppy. Missing pages, illegible pages, wrong version, typos etc Very Bad Form • Submitting to 2 journals at once, • blindsided authors GOING TO JAIL FORM • Duplicate publication • Making up data

14. In the beginning …… So what? One sentence telegraphs the next I bought a dog and a cat. There have been many burglaries in my neighborhood. I work all day One paragraph telegraphs the next Imaginary Headings Proffread Telling a story

15. If rejected take your kicks (usually) If revising do it point by point. Do what they asked (usually) Show you did what they asked. Don’t whine, grovel or bite Proffread Defense Against Dementors how to respond when attacked ? With grace

16. How to Kick Others in the Stomach and Have Them and You Feel Good About it. (With grace) • Responsibilities of a Reviewer • Conflict of interest • Confidentiality • Do it. Constructive • Comments to Editor • Novel? Important? Interesting? Journal suitability? • Valid? • Comments to Authors • Good Manners, this is not an attack • General • Blow by blow • How detailed ?

17. Bad Kicking Form • Not doing the review • Doing it late • No comments for author • Making it difficult with comments to the author for the editor to reject the paper • Getting personal • Handwritten review to authors • Playing God • Shooting from the hip • Not taking some responsibility for the quality

18. STOP

19. SUMMARY • How to avoid kicks –writing a decent paper SWEAT, THINK, ORGANIZE, PRACTICE • How to respond when kicked - responding to reviewers SWEAT, THINK, ORGANIZE, PRACTICE • How to kick otherswithout being a bully – reviewing others SWEAT, THINK, ORGANIZE, PRACTICE