medical writing

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Scientific Writing
TablePart-2
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• Please dont consider any of these suggestions to
  be substitutes for carefully thinking about your
  specific situation.

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Outline Table

• General considerations
• Building a table
• Title
• Headings
• Exercise

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Table/text ratio

• If a typical paper in the journal has an
  estimated text length of 3300 words accompanied
  by 4 tables, the ratio of tables to text is 4/3.3
  thousand or 1.2 tables per one thousand words of
  text.
• If your paper has a text of about 4800 words,
  round this figure down to 4000. Then 4 x 1.2 4.8
  tables in round numbers, 5 tables.

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Table/text ratio

• A useful general rule is no more than I table (or
  illustration) per 1000 words of text.
• Because the average page of text in a manuscript
  with double spaced text and with l-inch (or
  3-centimeter) margins usually runs to between 200
  and 250 words, the rule can be stated roughly as
  no more than I table (or illustration) per 4
  pages of manuscript text.
• Some journals may accept a larger number of
  tables in relation to text length, but many will
  not because of the resulting difficulties in
  avoiding confusing page layouts.

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Level of Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and
the Risk of Death from Cardiovascular Causes in
Women.
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Estimated Hazard Ratios for the Time to the First
Cardiovascular Event or Death Associated with an
Exposure Increase of 10 µg per Cubic Meter in the
Level of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).
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Changes in Glycated Hemoglobin and Fasting Plasma
Glucose Levels during the 13-Week Study Period.
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Plasma Aspartate Aminotransferase and Alanine
Aminotransferase Concentrations during the Run-in
Period, the Treatment Period and the
Post-Treatment Follow-up Period
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• PARTS OF A TABLE

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PARTS OF A TABLE
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PARTS OF A TABLE
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TABLE COMPONENTS
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The tables

• All tables are basically structured the same way,
  with four main parts
• title,
• column headings,
• body, and
• footnotes.

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The tables title

• The title of a table, like the title of a figure,
  states
• the topic or
• the point

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The tables title

• The details included in a title depend on the
  type of table.
• For tables that give background information, the
  title should state the topic of the information
  listed in the body of the table (that is, the
  variables) and also the animal or population, the
  material described, or both.
• The form is Y in Z or Y of Z.

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The tables title Y in Z or Y of Z.

• For example, in the title of Table 1 , Clinical
  Characteristics of the Infants, clinical
  characteristics is the topic (Y) and the
  infants (that is, the infants in the study) is
  the population described (Z).

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The tables title

• In the title Phospholipid Composition of Cardiac
  Lymph from Normal Dogs,
• phospholipid composition is the topic (Y),
• cardiac lymph is the material described (Z),
• normal dogs are the animals (Z).

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The tables title

• For tables that present data from experiments
  that have only dependent variables, similar
  titles are appropriate.
• For example, in the title Dimensions of Cell
  Bodies in the Tracheal Ganglia of Ferrets,
• dimensions is the topic (dependent variable)
  (Y),
• cell bodies in the tracheal ganglia is the
  material described (Z), and
• ferrets are the animals (Z).

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The tables title

• For tables that present data from experiments
  that have both independent and dependent
  variables, the title should state
• the independent variable(s) (X),
• the dependent variable(s) (Y),
• the animal or population, the material described,
  or both (Z).
• It is not necessary to mention the controls in
  the title.
• Two standard forms for these titles are
• Effect of X on Y in Z
• Y during X in Z.

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Find variables and pattern!
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The tables title Effect of X on Y in Z

• For example, in the title Effects of
  Methacholine on Electrical Properties and Ion
  Fluxes in Tracheal Epithelium From Cats and
  Ferrets,
• methacholine is the independent variable,
• electrical properties and ion fluxes are the
  dependent variables,
• tracheal epithelium is the material, and
• cats and ferrets are the animals. (See also the
  title for Table 2.)

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Find variables and pattern!
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The tables title Y during X in Z.

• In the title Plasma Variables Before and After
  Protein Loss in Lambs,
• plasma variables are the dependent variables,
• before and after is used instead of during,
• protein loss is the independent variable, and
• lambs are the animals. (See also Table 3.)

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stating the point

• Even better than stating the topic in the title
  of the table is stating the point (narrowing down
  the TS).
• When the title states the point, the reader knows
  exactly what to look for in the table.
• For example, in the title Increase in Helicity
  of Abortifacient Proteins in the Presence of
  Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, increase in helicity
  is the point.
• It is not usual due to multiple variables in
  tables

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category term

• To keep titles brief, use a category term instead
  of listing all the dependent variables.
• For example, in Table 3, hemodynamic variables
  is the category term for all the dependent
  variables in the table.

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category term

• To ensure that the title relates clearly to the
  table, use the same key terms in the title as in
  the column headings, or use a category term in
  the title instead of two or more column headings.
  ?

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category term

• For example "Effects of inhalational anaesthetic
  X on systemic haemodynamics") in the title rather
  than repeating several column headings (for
  example, "Effects of inhalational anaesthetic X
  on arterial blood pressure, central venous
  pressure, cardiac output, and systemic vascular
  resistance".

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category term

• For example, in Table 1, infants in the title
  corresponds with infant in the first column
  heading, and clinical characteristics is a
  category term for the remaining column headings
  (sex, birth weight, gestational age, age at
  study, postconceptual age, diagnosis).

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BUITDING A TABTE Title

• Example consider a table summarizing in three
  groups of columns the admission diagnosis and
  roentgenographic and autopsy findings in 20 fatal
  cases of pulmonary embolism.
• Its column headings identify the nature of the
  findings as
• "Admission Diagnosis",
• "Chest Film", and
• "Autopsy",
• and its row headings run down from "patient l "
  to "patient20".

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BUITDING A TABTE Title

• ANSWER
• The table title can be simply "cases of Fatal
  Pulmonary Embolism" rather than
• "Twenty cases of Fatal Pulmonary Embolism
  Admission Diagnosis, chest Film, and Autopsy
  Findings".

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Category term?
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Find a category term Y in Z or Y of Z.
Clinical and biochemical variables for all
subjects and for those with an iGFR lt or 60
ml/min per 1.73 m2
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Find a category term
Test characteristics for various markers of renal
function for detecting moderate chronic kidney
disease (iGFR cut-off of lt 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2)
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Find category term
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The tables title

• Keep the title brief, and ensure that it relates
  clearly to the content of the table.
• The title should be sufficiently descriptive to
  tell the reader what will appear in the table.
• "Results of the Study" is not good enough.

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The tables title

• Keep the title brief, and ensure that it relates
  clearly to the content of the table.
• The title should be sufficiently descriptive to
  tell the reader what will appear in the table.
• "Results of the Study" is not good enough.

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The tables title

• However, the title should not provide detailed
  background information or summarize or interpret
  the results these explanations are best given
  in the text.
• When several related tables are presented
  together, the context of the study should be
  included in the first, but it need not be
  repeated in the others if such repetition becomes
  tedious or requires too much space.

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Relations of Tables

• Check the relation of the remaining tables to
  the text to be sure that their sequence is
  correctly tied into the text sequence then
  number the tables accordingly. Next consider the
  tables as a sequence, with appropriate relations
  to one another.

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Relations of Tables

• In many clinical papers the title of the first
  table may adequately identify the main subject of
  the paper, with shorter titles for the following
  tables.
• Example The first table, for example, in a
  review of 25 cases of puncture wound of the
  heart, might be titled "puncture wound of the
  Heart clinical Features".
• The second table might then be simply "operative
  Findings and Postoperative course".
• !

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Relations of Tables

• A look-at the tables by themselves in the
  proposed sequence will help you judge whether the
  table, are understandable on their own (and they
  should be) and however their titles are related
  to one another.

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The tables title

• The rules on which words in a table title should
  be capitalized will vary from journal to journal.
  Look at the tables in the publication in which
  you are interested and style your table titles
  the same way.

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Which title is more satisfactory?Topic-point-vari
able

• Characteristics of patients
• But usual in base line characteristics table!
• Baseline characteristics of patients
• ok
• Comparison between group one and two
• Not ok
• Predictors of quality of life
• Not ok
• Baseline Characteristics of the Subjects and
  Outcome at 6 Months
• ok

the independent variable(s) (X), the dependent
variable(s) (Y), the animal or population, the
material described, or both (Z).
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The tables title
the independent variable(s) (X), the dependent
variable(s) (Y), the animal or population, the
material described, or both (Z).
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The tables title
Use identical key terms in the title and column
headings, or use a category term.
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Better title?
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Exercise Checklist

• Title
• Need refer back to the text group Vs given
  name
• Topic or point
• the independent variable(s) (X),
• the dependent variable(s) (Y),
• the animal or population, the material described,
  or both (Z).
• category term

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Column Headings

• Column headings consist of
• headings that identify the items listed in the
  columns below them,
• subheadings as necessary, and
• units of measurement as necessary.
• Column headings should be brief.

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Headings

• There are two main groups of headings,
  corresponding to the two main groups of
  information in the body of the table
• the items for which data are given, in one or
  more columns on the left side of the table, and
• the data, in one or more columns on the right.
• In tables for experiments that have both
  independent and dependent variables, the
  independent variable(s) are in the column(s) on
  the left and the dependent variable(s) are in the
  column(s) on the right, as in Tables 2,3,4 and 5.

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Headings

• For example, in Table 3, the column labeled
  Ventilatory condition is the independent
  variable and the remaining columns are the
  dependent variables.

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Headings

• In Table 4, the columns labeled Incubation
  conditions and Sample describe the independent
  variable and the remaining columns are the
  dependent variable.

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Column and row heading should use terms that
appear in the text

• Readers enter a table through column and row
  headings thus, familiar terms in headings (terms
  also used in the text) are usually more effective
  than unfamiliar terms.

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Column and row heading should use terms that
appear in the text

• A common source of confusion is the inconsistent
  use of terms for study groups anywhere in the
  text.
• For example, authors may speak of a study's
• participants,
• patients,
• survivors,
• individuals,
• subjects,
• volunteers, and so on.

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Column and row heading should use terms that
appear in the text

• They may speak of the
• treatment,
• intervention, or
• active group, and of the
• placebo,
• control,
• untreated, or
• inactive group.
• Consistency is usually more important than the
  specific term chosen.

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Headings

• The headings within a table should be
  informative.
• Avoid using terms such as group A, group B, group
  C, etc. This makes readers constantly refer back
  to the text to remind themselves what group A
  means.

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Headings

• Instead, use a brief phrase that summarizes group
  A's characteristics (e.g., cirrhotic,
  steroid-dependent), which can be described in
  greater detail in the text.
• Column headings, including the one that describes
  what will appear in the rows, should be easy to
  distinguish (e.g., italicized).

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Headings

• The column headings should reflect the
  comparisons of primary interest.
• If, for example, the purpose of the table is to
  show how a particular measurement changed over
  time, then the different times (baseline, week 1,
  and week 6) should be the column headings.
• If the primary comparison is between groups
  (smokers and nonsmokers), then the groups will be
  the column headings.

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Headings

• Each type of information should have its own
  vertical column, and each column should have its
  own heading.
• Do not combine two types of information in one
  column. For example, under a column headed
  Drug, only the names of the drugs should
  appear, not both the drugs and the doses.
• Do not omit the heading that states the name of
  the first column on the left.!

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Headings

• The first column heading almost always contains a
  description of what appears in each row.
• As much as possible, put units in parentheses
  immediately after the row descriptions.
• The meaning of every item in a table should be
  obvious the reader should not have to refer back
  to the text (logic).

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Headings

• The Problem?

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Headings

• For example, in Table 3, the first column on the
  left (the independent variable) needs a heading
  (Ventilation condition) just as the other
  columns (the dependent variables) do.

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Headings

• Do not omit the column heading that states the
  name of the dependent variable for example,
  Recovery () in Table 5, even in simple tables
  that have only one dependent variable that is
  named in the title.
• It is clearest for the reader if the dependent
  variable is named both in the title and in the
  column headings.!?

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Headings

• For example, in a table titled Effects of
  Enzymes on Antibody Reactivity, the column
  headings should not be merely Enzyme, 4E4,
  3F11, 4D4, 4D8.
• The last four headings, which are names of
  antibodies, should be subheadings under Antibody
  Reactivity ( of control), because the data in
  the columns are antibody reactivity, not types of
  antibodies.

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Headings

• In addition to the column headings and columns
  for the independent and dependent variables, a
  third column heading and column can be given
  sample size (n) (see Table 2, Number of
  explants).

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size of subject

• Some journals prefer that the size of subject
  populations be included in the title, others that
  this information be listed under the column
  heading.

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Subheadings

• When necessary, subheadings can be used to
  subdivide a heading into two or more categories.
  For example, in the column heading
• the dependent variable and the unit of
  measurement are in the main heading and two sites
  in which this variable was measured are in the
  subheadings. (See also Tables 2, 4, and 5.)
• Note that terms in column headings and
  subheadings are singular, not plural (for
  example, Recovery, not Recoveries).

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lf necessary, number columns or rows to help
integrate the text and the table.

• A table can sometimes require extensive
  explanations in the text, and extensive
  explanations in the text sometimes require
  frequent reference to a table.
• In such cases, it can be helpful to number the
  column or row heads to help readers find their
  place in the table faster (Table 20.24 see also
  the discussion of age adjustment in Chapter 12).

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lf necessary, number columns or rows to help
integrate the text and the table.
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Column Headings

• Each column heading for numerical data should
  include the unit of measure for the data. That
  unit should apply to all data under the heading.
• Another unit of measure (and corresponding data)
  should not be used farther down in the column.

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Column Headings

• Rather than forcing the reader to take note of a
  second kind of unit in a single column,
  restructure the table to accommodate the second
  kind of unit and its accompanying data in another
  column.
• Example

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Column Headings

• If groups of columns logically belong together,
  label them with a grouped-column heading and
  place a heading straddle-rule over the column
  headings to which it applies.

The straddle rule will eliminate any uncertainty
about which column headings are included under
the grouped-column heading.
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Exercise Checklist

• Title
• Informative without text group Vs given name
• Topic or point
• the independent variable(s) (X),
• the dependent variable(s) (Y),
• the animal or population, the material described,
  or both (Z).
• category term
• Headings
• Dependent and independent variables
• Similar to the text
• Informative

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• Thank you