Publishing in Medical Journals Richard Saitz md, mph

Publishing in Medical Journals

• Richard Saitz MD, MPH

• Section of General Internal Medicine, BMC

• Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology, BUSM and BUSPH

• Associate Director, Office of Clinical Research

My background in publishing

• As a researcher

• 120 journal articles (not editorials, case reports, reviews of other articles)

• As a writer

• Book chapters, books
• Article summaries and comment (JW)

• As a peer reviewer

• For several dozen journals
• NB easy to get started and good experience

My background in publishing

• As an editor

• Journal Watch (‘97-‘10)
• Physicians’ First Watch (‘06-)
• Mass Med Soc
• Alcohol, Other Drugs & Health (‘04-)
• Principles of Addiction Medicine
• Evidence-Based Medicine (‘10-)
• BMJ Group
• Addiction Science & Clinical Practice (‘11-)
• BioMed Central

Why publish?

• Forces you to organize thoughts

• Product worthy of publication

• To impact science

• To impact clinical care

• Recognition and satisfaction

• Promotion

Publish what?

• Primary research article

• Synthesis research article (systematic review, simulations)

• Review article

• Case report (and review)

• Letter

Choose the journal

• What is the journal aim? What do they usually publish? Ask a knowledgeable colleague…

• Is your paper of interest to their audience (generalist v. specialist)?

• Journal prestige and impact?

• Often cited in press? Web hits? Other impact?
• Impact factor
• # citations this year/articles in prior 2 years
• NEJM-47.05; Annals Int Med 16.2; JAIDS 4.21

• Open access journals

• Should you aim high?

• Is your paper hot?

Submitting

• Instructions. Follow them. For the correct paper type. They (e.g. word limits) apply to your paper.

• Authorship

• The abstract

• Paper structure

• Use reporting guidelines

• EQUATOR, CONSORT

• Writing style (clear, brief, consistent)

• Caution re: plagiarism, duplicate publication

• Proofread!

• Reviewer suggestions

Plagiarism and duplicate publication

• Plagiarism detectors

• www.turnitin.com
• www.ithenticate.com
• www.doccop.com
• eTBLAST ( http://etest.vbi.vt.edu/etblast3/
• http://www.plagiarismchecker.com/
• and the freeware which is listed in this Wikipedia article
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism_detection.

• Editors search google, google scholar, CRISP/NIH Reporter, Medline, other databases.

Abstract and paper

• Abstract

• A good one is critical. Structured. Clear. Concise. Minimize jargon and abbreviations. Conclusions related, in fact based on, results.

• Paper

• Introduction, methods, results, conclusions, references
• Justify and state hypothesis/aim, method appropriate to aim, results related to aim, conclusions related to aim…

Rejection without review

• JAMA, BMJ – two-thirds

• Why?

• Wrong journal/audience
• Low impact
• Not original
• Methods fatally flawed/results don’t support conclusions
• Bad abstract

Sent for review

• By associate editor (who can also reject)

• 1-3 reviewers, maybe statistical; from suggestions or lists or search

• takes 1-3 months
• Blinded vs unblinded review

• Associate editor reviews and takes peer reviews into account

• Makes recommendation to editor or editorial board member panel

Decision: what is it?

• “We regret to inform you that your paper is not acceptable for publication in its present form.”

• A. Rejection
• B. Revise and resubmit (major, minor)
• C. Accepted with minor revision
• D. Accepted

(major or minor) “Revise and Resubmit”

• Good news.

• No guarantee (revision may shed light on fatal flaws)

• Put the reviews in a drawer

• Do what they ask…with grace—respectful disagreement iis fine but don’t argue

• Reviewers may disagree: editor guides, or you choose

• Cover letter: Follow instructions (format) and answer every query

• Make changes in paper (long explanations not usually helpful)

Acceptance

• You aren’t finished

• Proofs-read carefully and return quickly (examples)

• Submission to PubMed Central (and review of formatting)

• Tell the press (respect embargo)

• Response to letters…

Rejection after review

• Consider major comments and revise

• Appeals-not usually fruitful

• Submit elsewhere

Summary

• Publishing is a good thing

• It involves art and science—best to get guidance from someone with experience who will invest time in your writing product

• Journal articles take years (to do studies, and then to write numerous drafts and then requested revisions)

• Try it! But don’t underestimate…