How to write a paper for a Journal

In many ways this is the most important part of the paper as clearly with the increasing use of search engines it is the part of the paper which is the most read. An abstract should be a very carefully prepared concise piece of prose simply describing the purpose of the study and the methods used, with a sentence outlining the results and where this fits into our knowledge. For the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery the abstract need not be structured interpretation of the results. A simple description of how however, the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics stresses on a they fit into the current state of knowledge is usually all structured abstract. Three or more key words and level of that is required. Although “further research is required” evidence may be added if specifically asked by particular should usually be avoided, if a specific particular further journal. A guide to the level of evidence is usually available research question is raised by these results it should be in the instructions to the authors. When preparing material for presentation authors should The references should be appropriately set out and should consider how relevant and original their study is, whether be up-to-date and inclusive without bias. This is often not aspects of it are controversial and if it confirms or disproves easy. Thus for instance the sentence “The Ilizarov technique previously accepted findings. The limitations of the study can be used to treat ununited tibial fractures” needs only should be outlined at the end of the discussion, with one or two appropriate references. It should be borne in indications of the strengths and weaknesses of the mind that many reviewers will undertake a limited literature investigation. Ultimately the reviewers of the paper or the Editorial Board The title of the paper is extremely important and may will have to consider whether the information within each include a sub-title. It is clearly essential to ensure that the element of the paper has been concisely and appropriately title adequately reflects the investigation. Care should be set out and whether this piece of work will advance taken when using the word “prospective” as it is often knowledge or change practice. inappropriately used to describe a retrospective study of prospectively gathered data. Particular attention should be given to preparation of the Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: identified.


How to write a paper for a Journal
James Scott B efore considering preparing a paper for presentation or tests or outcome scores and whether they were blinded. to the Journal prospective authors should read the A case control study requires a careful description of how Journal very carefully and regularly in order to the controls were chosen, with an appropriate description become familiar with the contents, style and all aspects of of how they matched the study group. the presentation of the material. Authors must read the Guide to Authors carefully and visit the website where some The numbers of patients studied must be clearly separated aspects of the presentation of, particularly clinical material, from the number of operations, with indication of bilateral are highlighted.
cases. Care must be taken when using percentages. Those patients who are lost to follow-up or have died must be Each element of the paper should be considered carefully identified with indication of why they could not be traced and separately to be sure that it has a beginning and an and why they left the study. Are the results relating to those ending and that each sentence follows logically. Thus the lost to follow-up included in any of the data? Is this introduction initially simply requires a sentence indicating appropriate? the background to the study with no more than three or four references. This should be followed by a sentence A clear description of the period of time during which the describing what investigation was undertaken, what study was undertaken is required with an indication as to question was asked or what hypothesis tested. The design why this was chosen. The outcome after spinal of the study should subsequently be described in simple decompressive surgery may be known in the immediate terms with an outline of the basic method.
postoperative period but 30 years or more may be needed to assess the outcome after the treatment of congenital The materials (or patients) and methods section requires a dislocation of the hip. simple statement of how many patients made up the study group, why this number of patients was chosen and Life tables and survival analysis with Kaplan-Meyer tables whether a power study was undertaken in order to indicate and confident intervals are required for the presentation how many patients would be required to answer the of long-term outcome. question with statistical significance.
Finally, at the end of this section a statement needs to be How were the patients chosen and what were the inclusion made with regard to ethical approval for the study and and exclusion criteria? If the study required randomization, informed consent. how was this achieved? What tests were used? What outcome scores were chosen and why? Have these tests The statistics section needs simply to identify the statistical and scores been validated? If new tests or scores are being methods with P-values and confidence intervals and the proposed have the appropriate validation studies with interand intra-observer errors been undertaken? It should be remembered that many outcome scores, such as the Mayo Elbow performance score, have not been validated but are in common usage. Care should be taken if scores have been modified with clear identification of how and by whom. Appropriate references for the tests and scores are required. What measurements were undertaken and are the units in which they are recorded appropriate? It is important to identify who undertook the measurements In this section the numbers of patients, tests, outcome scores, length of follow-up etc, should match those described in the materials and method section.
The discussion should only relate to the central question of the study and not stray into consideration of other related issues. The results should support the conclusion. It is important not to include significant bias into the Scott J: How to write a paper for a Journal abstract. In many ways this is the most important part of the paper as clearly with the increasing use of search engines it is the part of the paper which is the most read. An abstract should be a very carefully prepared concise piece of prose simply describing the purpose of the study and the methods used, with a sentence outlining the results and where this fits into our knowledge. For the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery the abstract need not be structured interpretation of the results. A simple description of how however, the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics stresses on a they fit into the current state of knowledge is usually all structured abstract. Three or more key words and level of that is required. Although "further research is required" evidence may be added if specifically asked by particular should usually be avoided, if a specific particular further journal. A guide to the level of evidence is usually available research question is raised by these results it should be in the instructions to the authors.
When preparing material for presentation authors should The references should be appropriately set out and should consider how relevant and original their study is, whether be up-to-date and inclusive without bias. This is often not aspects of it are controversial and if it confirms or disproves easy. Thus for instance the sentence "The Ilizarov technique previously accepted findings. The limitations of the study can be used to treat ununited tibial fractures" needs only should be outlined at the end of the discussion, with one or two appropriate references. It should be borne in indications of the strengths and weaknesses of the mind that many reviewers will undertake a limited literature investigation.
Ultimately the reviewers of the paper or the Editorial Board The title of the paper is extremely important and may will have to consider whether the information within each include a sub-title. It is clearly essential to ensure that the element of the paper has been concisely and appropriately title adequately reflects the investigation. Care should be set out and whether this piece of work will advance taken when using the word "prospective" as it is often knowledge or change practice. inappropriately used to describe a retrospective study of prospectively gathered data. Particular attention should be given to preparation of the Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: identified. search.
None declared.