Submitting  Medical Papers for PublicationSubmitting  Medical Papers for Publication

(How to avoid getting kicked in the stomach)(How to avoid getting kicked in the stomach)

andand

Reviewing Medical Papers Reviewing Medical Papers

(How to kick others in the stomach politely)(How to kick others in the stomach politely)      

         Views from the victim and the mugger Views from the victim and the mugger     

Professor Michael Gelfand(1912 - 1985)

University of Zimbabwe

KICK ME

Overview and Goals Overview and Goals

• How to avoid kicks

–writing a decent paper

• How to respond when kicked

- responding to reviewers

• How to kick others without being a bully

– reviewing

Defense Against the Dark Arts 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

Defense Against the Dark ArtsDefense 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?)

Defense Against the Dark ArtsDefense 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

Defense Against the Dark ArtsDefense 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 ?

Defense Against the Dark ArtsDefense 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

Defense Against the Dark ArtsDefense 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 Editor too much • Success = new, interesting,

important and valid

Kisses of DeathKisses of Death

• “We thus confirmed …”(New)

• No story (Interesting)

• Story and data do not match

Kisses of DeathKisses 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)

Bad FormBad 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

Telling a story Telling a story

• In the beginning ……

• So what?

• One sentence telegraphs the nextI 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

Defense Against Dementors Defense Against Dementors how to respond when attackedhow to respond when attacked ? ? With graceWith grace

• 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

How to Kick Others in the Stomach and Have How to Kick Others in the Stomach and Have Them and You Feel Good About it. (With grace) 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 ?

Bad Kicking FormBad 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

STOP

SUMMARY 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 others without being a bully – reviewing others

SWEAT, THINK, ORGANIZE, PRACTICE