how to write a manuscript and get it published in european urology
Post on 24-Feb-2016
82 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
How to write a manuscript and get it published in European Urology
Common problems and potential solutions
Giacomo Novara, M.D., F.E.B.U.Assistant professor in urology
University of Padua, ItalyAssociate editor of European Urology
Giacomonovara@gmail.com
Common problems and potential solutions
• All the sections of the paper are common sites of problems!
• They are not equally relevant
Title
• Title too long, unclear, wordy, sensationalistic
Solution• Be concise, clear, informative; avoid jargon,
abbreviations, metaphors, creative words.• Think that the title is indexed
Abstracts
• Data presented in the abstracts are not identical to those presented in the full text paper; the format is not in line with the journal request
Solution• Write the abstract at the very end of the
process• Check instruction for authors; have a look at
some recent publication from the target journal
Introduction
• Too long, synthesis of all the available literature, repeating concepts well known, starting from Adam and Eve
• Solution: use a standardized similar format for most of you papers (at least at the beginning)
Introduction
• 1st paragraph: brief background in present tense to establish context, relevance, or nature of the problem, question, or purpose (what we know)
• 2nd paragraph: importance of the problem and unclear issues (what we do not know - gap in knowledge - why it is important to fill that gap)
• 3rd paragraph: rationale, hypothesis, main objective, or purpose (why the study was done - hypothesis for how you will fill that gap in knowledge).
Materials and methods
• Do not include study results (by definition, they go in the “Results” section)
• Do not include comments on patients characteristics, indications, inclusion and exclusion criteria (they go in the “Discussion” section)
http://www.equator-network.org
http://www.equator-network.org
Results
• Systematic duplication of data in text, tables, and figures
Solution: adopt a standardized format• “Table 1 summarizes…”• “Table 2 summarizes…”• “Figure 1 shows cancer-specific survival…”
Tables
• Poor quality (few data, badly readable)
Solution• Appropriate title; extensive use of legends;
spell abbreviations; report all the data (and do not repeat them in the text)
Tables
Figures
• Poor quality: bad definitions, poor readibility, not “standing alone”
Solutions:• Appropriate title; extensive use of legends;
spell abbreviations; embed tables with rough numbers
• High quality images
Figures
Discussion
• Often too long, adding new results, overemphasizing results and clinical implications, ignoring limitations
Solution: • Seek for assistance of an expert colleague• Length= 1/3 of the manuscript• Cite systematic reviews, if any
Conclusions
• Often unrelated to study purpose and data
Solution:• Be short, and in line with the main aim of
the study• Conclusion is a short answer to the question
proposed in the Introduction
References and bibliography
• Too many references, including very old one• Duplicated references or references in an
incorrect format or incorrect order
Solutions:• Read instruction for the authors• Use a reference software (many available – I
use EndNote)
Other issues
• Add continuous line numbering• Remember to recheck everything when a
rejected paper is resubmitted to another journal (and adapt to the new one)
top related