Professor Andy H. Lee, PhD

School of Public HealthCurtin University

Perth, Australia

How to write a paper and publish in international

journal?

OutlineWhy publish in international journal?Types of articleLength of paperAuthorshipManuscript structureDrafting and write upJournal selection – where to publish?Submission processEditor’s perspectiveCritical issues; review process

Why publish in international journal?English is the dominant international scientific languageTo publicise your research and gain worldwide recognitionSponsor or funding agency obligationEnhance track record – get more grants?Promotion and academic expectationAssist in writing PhD thesis – requirement and guarantee pass?Personal satisfactionReal reason: benefit the wider community, improve human health and well being

Types of article

Letter – easiest, a good way to startResearch paperEditorial – current and timely?Commentary – important issue?Case study – new insight and innovative?Review – meta analysis/systematic review: must be critical and analytical, not just a list of studies

Length of paper

Easer to get shorter paper publishedLengthy paper likely introduces errorsIncurs fees and page charge Brief Report or Short CommunicationStart with a longer paper and trim it downMeet specification of selected journalOften 3000 words limit (use word count in MS Word Tools menu)

AuthorshipAuthorship must be earned – not a gift!Journals are strict on authorship criteria:

Substantial contributions to conception and design or analysis and interpretation of dataDrafting the manuscript or critical revision of intellectual content

Each author must approve manuscript before submissionDecision on order and roles of authors made when project startsPrepare a draft list of articles with titles, authors and timetableFirst author – student, junior researcher?

Manuscript structureTitleAbstract – 200 to 250 words, structured or summaryKeywords – about 5, choose when finishIntroduction – background, literature review, objectivesMethods – design, methodology, ethics, statisticsResults – descriptive summary, multivariate analysesDiscussion – relate results to literature, limitationsConclusion – important message, recommendationAcknowledgement – 1 to 2 sentencesReferences – 30 is usually maximumTables and figures

TitleMake a strong statementA colon allows you to include 2 ideasInclude as many key words as possibleWhat you have done, where and type of studyPhase as a question?Catch the imagination of lay press?Examples:

Coffee and prostate cancer: A case-control study in VietnamCoffee reduces prostate cancer risk in Vietnamese men: A case-control studyIs coffee protective against prostate cancer?

AbstractWrite after finish article – 200 to 250 wordsEnter into Medline (PubMed) if publishedDetermine who will read your full paperEnsure consistency with main textStructured abstract becomes more commonTypical headings are:

Background or Design and SettingObjectives or AimsMethods or Patient/Subjects and MethodsResultsConclusions

Key words

Usually 4 to 6 wordsFor searches in databasesWill determine if your paper is citedCheck keywords in selected journalCheck keywords for similar articlesUse terms from the MeSH list of Index Medicus

IntroductionBackground (set the scene) – history, importance, gaps in knowledge, why study this problem?Include main definitions and quote source – use standard one e.g. WHODefine abbreviations in first use (put in brackets)Literature review:

Critically assess strength and weakness of each paper citedMethods, sample size and selection, statistics, interpretation of results, limitations, contribution to knowledgeHow can your study build on previous studies?

End with aim, objective or research question – no more than 2 specific objectives

MethodsDescribe methods used in study

What methods or laboratory procedures available?Advantages and disadvantages of each – cite referencesBasis of your choice – cost, equipment, time constraintsHow will you monitor quality?How to control bias? Statistical analysis – univariate, multivariate, package e.g. SPSS

Questionnaire or instrumentSource – standard scale? permission granted?Translated version – check for cultural relevance?Modified or adapted – address validity and reliabilityDevelopment - pilot study, test-retest, focus groups

Methods (cont)

Patients/subjects/participantsHow is sample chosen – random, systematic, stratification, convenienceJustify and state program used to calculate sample sizeEpidemiological study - sample representative of population?Clinical trials – CONSORT statementRandomized controlled trial – registration number and protocol

Ethics approvalConform to international standard e.g. Helsinki declarationPermission from local animal or human research ethics committeeWritten informed consent from participants?Refusal or withdrawal without prejudiceConfidentiality of information and secure data storage

ResultsEnough data to address research question / objectiveGive response rate if desiredSample descriptive statistics from univariate analysisMultivariate model results Provide confidence intervals and p-values Add interesting tables and figures But do not repeat table data in main textTables

Title or legend – self explanatoryDenote symbols and abbreviationsEnsure numbers add up to total or explain missing cases

DiscussionStatement of principal findings – new discovery?Results consistent with literature? In what ways?If results different from others – due to sample selection or size? contrast methods of measurementMeaning and interpretation – strength of studyPossible biological mechanismImplications for clinical practice or health policyStudy limitations

Biases - self selection/report, recall, gender etcConfounding issuesAccuracy of instrument or procedureGeneralised to wider population/groups?

Conclusion

Quick summary of most important findingInclude most important statisticDon’t add anything newPerhaps recommend change in medical or health practiceMay state unanswered questionsAlmost always recommend more research – give hints for future direction

Acknowledgement

Thank your sponsors, co-workers, hospitals, participants or patientsMention grant number from funding agencyInformation for locating additional data or software – give web site addressReport any conflict of interest (e.g. commercial funding) or none declaredAny disclaimer – findings and conclusions are the opinions of the authors and not of the funding agency

References

Usually 30 is maximumFollow selected journal reference formatUse ENDNOTE to ensure accuracy and ability to change reference formatInclude:

1 or 2 classic referencesSeveral current year references – up to dateReference from the submitting journal – relevancePublished work from your group

Increase journal and your own citation rate

Drafting and write up

Try to finish first draft in one sessionAdd finishing touches and keep revising until satisfiedCycle of write up:1. Discuss with co-authors and colleagues2. Present in seminar or conference3. Circulate draft paper to others for comments4. Add more references5. Rewrite based on feedback6. CheckingDon’t take too l-o-n-g to write up or someone may publish before youPractice makes perfect!

Journal selection – where to publish?

Target group of potential journalsCheck impact factor on ISI Web of Knowledge’s Journal Citation Reports (via library) – both Science and Social ScienceHigher the ranking – more difficult and competitiveIncrease your citation and reach maximum audienceSelf assessment – study and findings worth publishing in top journal?

Journal selection (cont)

Read aim and scope of selected journal (s)Browse table of contents of current and past volumesHas the journal published similar or related studies?Cite recent/relevant articles from this journal – shows relevance to readership, important for impact factor calculation

Submission processBe familiar with ‘Instructions to Author’ of the selected journalConform with journal format and stylistic requirementsPay attention to spacing, word limit, abstract, reference style (Vancouver, Harvard, APA etc)Online web submission often takes one hour to completeFollow instructions exactly – typically tables at end of manuscript, graph/figures as separate filesNeed good submission letter

Submission process (cont)

Letter of submission:Highlight main findings and importanceSell your study and yourselfHow your paper fit into and enhance this journal?Appeal to the journal readershipMay need to justify role of each authorState funding support and ethics approval

Editor’s perspectiveReceive far more papers than can publishTop journals – high rejection rateAlign with journal aims and scope?Results new or important? Large sample size? Methods valid?Subject matter too local or parochial?Unique findings for international readers?Consistent with journal format?Busy schedule – browse submission letter and abstract (must be stimulating)Citations to improve impact factor?

Critical issues

Spell and grammar checkerAutomatic and worthwhileUse either American or English version – depend on selected journalDoes not correct words already correctly spelled (e.g. form versus from, diary versus dairy)

Using Vietnamese to English translatorBe very careful May alter meaning and context though correct grammaticallyMUST PROOF READ ENTIRE PAPERClarify if in doubt

Critical issues (cont)

Immediate rejection can be due to:Unwise choice of suggested reviewersLack of ethics approvalDiscrepancy between objectives and resultsImagined (forged) dataPlagiarism – very serious offense!Simultaneous submissions – never ever try!Overlapping/duplicated/redundant publications Ignoring similar studies and related literaturePaper too longLocal issue or cannot generalise small scale study

Review processUnderwent peer review – 50% success!Do not annoy Editor – wait at least 4 monthsIf invited to revise – study referee (editor, associate editor, reviewers) reports Point-by-point response:

Need detailed but concise and balanced response to every criticismBest to agree if possibleAddress concerns and indicate changes made in revisionClearly state reason(s) if otherwiseBe respectful and thankful to reviewers’ comments

Review process (cont)

Highlight changes in revised manuscript before resubmissionIf rejected – analyse what went wrong?Address reviewer criticisms and fix problems?Revise and rewriteRepeat journal selection cycleAttach previous review and explanation if necessary – editors appreciate your candourExperience and practise will improve chance of acceptance

Additional InformationUniform Requirement for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journal: Writing and editing for biomedical publication

www.icmje.orgOverlapping (duplicate, redundant) publications – see Section IIIENDNOTE software for managing references

www.endnote.comCONSORT statement for reporting clinical trials

www.consort-statement.orgMedical Subject Headings Classification (MeSH) for keywords

www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh

Good Luck!