Manuscript WritingManuscript Writingfor epidemiological studiesfor epidemiological studies

Useful resourcesUseful resources For style and grammarFor style and grammar

Elements of style, by Strunk W. and White E.B., 1979Elements of style, by Strunk W. and White E.B., 1979 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_dahttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_da

ngmod.htmlngmod.html (for dangling modifiers) (for dangling modifiers)

Bedford Handbook for Writers, HackerBedford Handbook for Writers, Hacker Writing Research Papers: An Easy Guide for non-Writing Research Papers: An Easy Guide for non-

Native-English Speakers, by Stapleton’s, 1987Native-English Speakers, by Stapleton’s, 1987 Books on Scientific writingBooks on Scientific writing

How to write and publish a scientific paper, Day, R. How to write and publish a scientific paper, Day, R. 19951995

Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research papers, Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research papers, Zeiger M, 1991Zeiger M, 1991

From Research to Manuscript, A Guide to Scientific From Research to Manuscript, A Guide to Scientific Writing, Katz MJ, 2009, (available online at UCLA: Writing, Katz MJ, 2009, (available online at UCLA: http://www.springerlink.com/content/p31tn6/)http://www.springerlink.com/content/p31tn6/)

Manuscript SectionsManuscript Sections TitleTitle Author affiliationsAuthor affiliations AbstractAbstract IntroductionIntroduction (Materials and) Methods(Materials and) Methods ResultsResults DiscussionDiscussion Acknowledgements/FundingAcknowledgements/Funding ReferencesReferences TablesTables

Order in which you writeOrder in which you write

MethodsMethods ResultsResults IntroductionIntroduction DiscussionDiscussion AbstractAbstract

Strengthening the reporting of observational Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE)studies in epidemiology (STROBE)

Is a checklist of items that should be Is a checklist of items that should be addressed in articles reporting on 3 main addressed in articles reporting on 3 main study designs of analytical epidemiology.study designs of analytical epidemiology.

www.strobe-statement.orgwww.strobe-statement.org

Title and title pageTitle and title page Needs to be attention grabbingNeeds to be attention grabbing Few words that can adequately describe the Few words that can adequately describe the

contents of the papercontents of the paper Often times in epidemiological studies, we Often times in epidemiological studies, we

indicate the study’s design or the name of the indicate the study’s design or the name of the studystudy

Title page includes:Title page includes: Author affiliationsAuthor affiliations Corresponding authorCorresponding author Running titleRunning title KeywordsKeywords List of abbreviationsList of abbreviations

Example of a title page (prior to publication)Example of a title page (prior to publication)

Title

Authors

Affiliations

Example of a title page, con’t.Example of a title page, con’t.

AbstractAbstract A summary of the manuscript, giving the A summary of the manuscript, giving the

reader a "preview" of what's to come. reader a "preview" of what's to come. Allows readers to quickly scan the large Allows readers to quickly scan the large

scientific literature, and decide which scientific literature, and decide which articles they want to read in depth. The articles they want to read in depth. The abstract should be a little less technical abstract should be a little less technical than the article itself.than the article itself.

Often 200-300 words, dependent on the Often 200-300 words, dependent on the journaljournal

An Abstract should…An Abstract should… Not have additional information beyond what is in the Not have additional information beyond what is in the

manuscript.manuscript. State the principal objectives and scope of the State the principal objectives and scope of the

investigationinvestigation Describe methods employedDescribe methods employed Summarize the resultsSummarize the results State principal conclusionsState principal conclusions Provide a balanced summary of what was done and Provide a balanced summary of what was done and

found.found. Common MistakesCommon Mistakes

Too much background or methods informationToo much background or methods information Figures or imagesFigures or images References to other literature, figures or imagesReferences to other literature, figures or images Abbreviations or acronymsAbbreviations or acronyms

Structured vs. unstructured abstractStructured vs. unstructured abstract

IntroductionIntroduction

The introduction summarizes the relevant The introduction summarizes the relevant literature so the reader will understand literature so the reader will understand why you are interested in the question you why you are interested in the question you asked.asked.

Introduction should always Introduction should always Provide the background/rationale and Provide the background/rationale and

objectivesobjectives Review pertinent literatureReview pertinent literature Briefly state the method of the investigationBriefly state the method of the investigation

Material and MethodsMaterial and Methods Study DesignStudy Design

Cross-section, case-control, cohortCross-section, case-control, cohort SettingSetting

Location(s), relevant dates: period of recruitment, Location(s), relevant dates: period of recruitment, exposure, follow-up, and data collection.exposure, follow-up, and data collection.

ParticipantsParticipants Eligibility criteriaEligibility criteria Methods of selectionMethods of selection For case-control study: case ascertainment, control For case-control study: case ascertainment, control

selection, rational for case and control choiceselection, rational for case and control choice For cohort study: methods of follow-upFor cohort study: methods of follow-up Participation ratesParticipation rates

Material and MethodsMaterial and Methods

VariablesVariables Define outcome, exposure, potential confounders, Define outcome, exposure, potential confounders,

and effect modifiersand effect modifiers Datasource/ measurement, data collection, Datasource/ measurement, data collection,

laboratory methodslaboratory methods Provide details regarding source of data and methods Provide details regarding source of data and methods

of assessment.of assessment. BiasBias

Describe any efforts to address potential sources of Describe any efforts to address potential sources of biasbias

Study sizeStudy size

Example of materials and methods sectionExample of materials and methods section

Study size

Recruitment rates

Data collection

IRB info

Statistical methodsStatistical methods Explain how variables were handled in the Explain how variables were handled in the

analysis, i.e. continuous, categorical, if so what analysis, i.e. continuous, categorical, if so what were the categories.were the categories.

Describe all statistical methodsDescribe all statistical methods How one controlled for confoundingHow one controlled for confounding Methods for stratified analyses or interactionsMethods for stratified analyses or interactions How missing data was addressedHow missing data was addressed Sensitivity analysesSensitivity analyses

Study specific:Study specific: Cross-sectional study: analytical methods to account Cross-sectional study: analytical methods to account

for sampling strategyfor sampling strategy Case-control study: how cases and controls were Case-control study: how cases and controls were

matched (if applicable)matched (if applicable) Cohort study: how loss to follow-up was addressed.Cohort study: how loss to follow-up was addressed.

Adjustment variables Statistical model

ResultsResults In paragraph format, a summary of your main findings In paragraph format, a summary of your main findings

presented tables and figures.presented tables and figures. Results not presented in tables or figures can also be Results not presented in tables or figures can also be

mentioned in this section.mentioned in this section. If this is the first time presenting information regarding the If this is the first time presenting information regarding the

study, one may want to present numbers of individuals at study, one may want to present numbers of individuals at each stage of the study.each stage of the study.

Section should include:Section should include: Characteristics of study participants (usually Table 1)Characteristics of study participants (usually Table 1) Number of missingNumber of missing Main results (Usually table 2)Main results (Usually table 2) Additional analyses, such as stratified analyses, effect Additional analyses, such as stratified analyses, effect

modification, interactions, sensitivity analyses (additional tables)modification, interactions, sensitivity analyses (additional tables)

Tables and FiguresTables and Figures

Should be after the Discussion or Should be after the Discussion or Reference sectionReference section

Tables and figures should stand alone.Tables and figures should stand alone. About 6 tables max, sometimes this About 6 tables max, sometimes this

depends on the journal.depends on the journal. Use a consistent footnoting style Use a consistent footnoting style

(footnotes may be specific to journals)(footnotes may be specific to journals) Define abbreviations, even if they have Define abbreviations, even if they have

been defined in the manuscript.been defined in the manuscript.

DiscussionDiscussion This is your moment to shine and show your This is your moment to shine and show your

knowledge of the prior literature.knowledge of the prior literature. Summarize key results in reference to study Summarize key results in reference to study

objectivesobjectives Usually numbers from results should not be in the Usually numbers from results should not be in the

discussion sectiondiscussion section Do not restate the resultsDo not restate the results

InterpretationInterpretation Give a cautious overall interpretation of results Give a cautious overall interpretation of results

considering the objectives, limitations, results from considering the objectives, limitations, results from similar studies, and other relevant evidence.similar studies, and other relevant evidence.

Mention the significance of the paper.Mention the significance of the paper.

Discussion, con’t.Discussion, con’t. Limitations of the study and study findingsLimitations of the study and study findings

Potential biasPotential bias Potential imprecisionPotential imprecision

Whenever discussing your limitations try to put a positive Whenever discussing your limitations try to put a positive spin on what you have to say.spin on what you have to say.

For instance, “Measures of height and weight were self-report, For instance, “Measures of height and weight were self-report, likely resulting in nondifferential misclassification. Nonetheless, likely resulting in nondifferential misclassification. Nonetheless, such misclassification was not an important cause of concern as such misclassification was not an important cause of concern as some found self-reported height and weight to be reasonably some found self-reported height and weight to be reasonably accurate (CITATION)” accurate (CITATION)”

Study strengthsStudy strengths ConclusionsConclusions

Of the studyOf the study Future directionsFuture directions Potential public health implications.Potential public health implications.

Acknowledgements/FundingAcknowledgements/Funding

List funding sources for the study and List funding sources for the study and authorsauthors

Thank the participants of the study for their Thank the participants of the study for their time, commitment, and participation.time, commitment, and participation.

Reference sectionReference section Use products like Procite, Reference Manager, Use products like Procite, Reference Manager,

or Endnote for citations. or Endnote for citations. Reference style is dependent on the journal. Reference style is dependent on the journal. Order of references can be presented in Order of references can be presented in

alphabetical order or by order of presentation.alphabetical order or by order of presentation. Formatting for a specific journal can be done Formatting for a specific journal can be done

using one of these programs. Many programs using one of these programs. Many programs have the journal styles pre-set.have the journal styles pre-set.

However, ALWAYS check to make sure the However, ALWAYS check to make sure the formatting is done correctly, sometimes the formatting is done correctly, sometimes the journal info may have been imported incorrectly journal info may have been imported incorrectly or the journal format style may be different than or the journal format style may be different than the one in the program.the one in the program.

General rulesGeneral rules Spell-check, try to avoid typos and errors.Spell-check, try to avoid typos and errors. Use correct and standard nomenclatureUse correct and standard nomenclature When using abbreviations always define When using abbreviations always define

the abbreviations the first time they are the abbreviations the first time they are used.used. For example, upper aerodigestive tract For example, upper aerodigestive tract

(UADT)(UADT) ConsistencyConsistency Number your pagesNumber your pages

Final adviceFinal advice

Rewrite, rewrite, rewriteRewrite, rewrite, rewrite Proofread, proofread, proofreadProofread, proofread, proofread Check all your numbers for accuracy and Check all your numbers for accuracy and

consistencyconsistency