How editors like their papers

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How editors like their papers Marcus
Müllner Associate editor BMJ Department of
Emergency Medicine University of Vienna
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Some simple points

• Have the right question
• Have a suitable method to answer it
• Interpret your findings adequately
• Find the right journal
• Consult the journals guidelines

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Find the right journal

• Dont select it because of its impact factor
• Dont select it because of its reputation
• Select it because of the audience
• Who will be interested in your paper?
• Doctors - all or a particular group
• Researcher
• Policy makers
• Public

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Consult the journals guidelines

• General points
• Journal categories
• Length
• Format
• References
• Specific points
• Conflict of Interest
• CONSORT
• QUOROM

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The ideal paper - a personal view

• Short
• IMRAD
• Clearly written and presented
• Complete
• Try to avoid silly errors

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The ideal Title - a personal view

• Informative
• subject matter
• study design
• study population
• Information clearly presented
• NO unnecessary detail

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The ideal Abstract - a personal view

• Short
• Structured
• Matches content of paper
• Conclusions only for results presented

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The ideal Introduction - a personal view

• Short
• Catch the readers attention immediately
• Tell the story so far
• Are there controversies?
• Aim of the study

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The Method section
Should be given in such detail to enable the
qualified reader to repeat the experiment
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The Method section - a personal view

• Sufficiently long
• Subheadings
• Population
• Ethical considerations
• Definitions
• Technical description
• Statistical methods
• Clear presentation

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The Result section - a personal view

• Clear presentation
• Short
• Subheadings, if suitable
• Careful data presentation
• redundancy
• spurious accuracy

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The structured Discussion - a suggestion

• Statement of principal findings
• Strengths and weaknesses of this study
• Strengths and weaknesses in relation to
• other studies
• Meaning of the study
• Unanswered questions and future research

Doherty M BMJ 19993181225
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Figures and Tables should

• Add information
• Save space
• Self-explanatory
• Not overloaded with numbers
• or ink

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The text in general - the prose style

• Clarity
• Fluency
• Accuracy
• Economy
• Grace

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Summary

• There is not one best way but many
• The choice depends on
• Journal
• Topic
• Audience