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How to Write a Medical Research Paper

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD . Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 201,780 times.

Writing a medical research paper is similar to writing other research papers in that you want to use reliable sources, write in a clear and organized style, and offer a strong argument for all conclusions you present. In some cases the research you discuss will be data you have actually collected to answer your research questions. Understanding proper formatting, citations, and style will help you write and informative and respected paper.

Researching Your Paper

Step 1 Decide on a topic.

  • Pick something that really interests you to make the research more fun.
  • Choose a topic that has unanswered questions and propose solutions.

Step 2 Determine what kind of research paper you are going to write.

  • Quantitative studies consist of original research performed by the writer. These research papers will need to include sections like Hypothesis (or Research Question), Previous Findings, Method, Limitations, Results, Discussion, and Application.
  • Synthesis papers review the research already published and analyze it. They find weaknesses and strengths in the research, apply it to a specific situation, and then indicate a direction for future research.

Step 3 Research your topic thoroughly.

  • Keep track of your sources. Write down all publication information necessary for citation: author, title of article, title of book or journal, publisher, edition, date published, volume number, issue number, page number, and anything else pertaining to your source. A program like Endnote can help you keep track of your sources.
  • Take detailed notes as you read. Paraphrase information in your own words or if you copy directly from the article or book, indicate that these are direct quotes by using quotation marks to prevent plagiarism.
  • Be sure to keep all of your notes with the correct source.
  • Your professor and librarians can also help you find good resources.

Step 4 Organize your notes.

  • Keep all of your notes in a physical folder or in a digitized form on the computer.
  • Start to form the basic outline of your paper using the notes you have collected.

Writing Your Paper

Step 1 Outline your paper.

  • Start with bullet points and then add in notes you've taken from references that support your ideas. [1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
  • A common way to format research papers is to follow the IMRAD format. This dictates the structure of your paper in the following order: I ntroduction, M ethods, R esults, a nd D iscussion. [2] X Research source
  • The outline is just the basic structure of your paper. Don't worry if you have to rearrange a few times to get it right.
  • Ask others to look over your outline and get feedback on the organization.
  • Know the audience you are writing for and adjust your style accordingly. [3] X Research source

Step 2 Know the required format.

  • Use a standard font type and size, such as Times New Roman 12 point font.
  • Double-space your paper.
  • If necessary, create a cover page. Most schools require a cover page of some sort. Include your main title, running title (often a shortened version of your main title), author's name, course name, and semester.

Step 3 Compile your results.

  • Break up information into sections and subsections and address one main point per section.
  • Include any figures or data tables that support your main ideas.
  • For a quantitative study, state the methods used to obtain results.

Step 4 Write the conclusion and discussion.

  • Clearly state and summarize the main points of your research paper.
  • Discuss how this research contributes to the field and why it is important. [4] X Research source
  • Highlight potential applications of the theory if appropriate.
  • Propose future directions that build upon the research you have presented. [5] X Research source
  • Keep the introduction and discussion short, and spend more time explaining the methods and results.

Step 5 Write the introduction.

  • State why the problem is important to address.
  • Discuss what is currently known and what is lacking in the field.
  • State the objective of your paper.
  • Keep the introduction short.

Step 6 Write the abstract.

  • Highlight the purpose of the paper and the main conclusions.
  • State why your conclusions are important.
  • Be concise in your summary of the paper.
  • Show that you have a solid study design and a high-quality data set.
  • Abstracts are usually one paragraph and between 250 – 500 words.

Step 7 Cite while you write.

  • Unless otherwise directed, use the American Medical Association (AMA) style guide to properly format citations.
  • Add citations at end of a sentence to indicate that you are using someone else's idea. Use these throughout your research paper as needed. They include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number.
  • Compile your reference list and add it to the end of your paper.
  • Use a citation program if you have access to one to simplify the process.

Step 8 Edit your research paper.

  • Continually revise your paper to make sure it is structured in a logical way.
  • Proofread your paper for spelling and grammatical errors.
  • Make sure you are following the proper formatting guidelines provided for the paper.
  • Have others read your paper to proofread and check for clarity. Revise as needed.

Expert Q&A

Chris M. Matsko, MD

  • Ask your professor for help if you are stuck or confused about any part of your research paper. They are familiar with the style and structure of papers and can provide you with more resources. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Refer to your professor's specific guidelines. Some instructors modify parts of a research paper to better fit their assignment. Others may request supplementary details, such as a synopsis for your research project . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Set aside blocks of time specifically for writing each day. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to write a medical research paper

  • Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is using someone else's work, words, or ideas and presenting them as your own. It is important to cite all sources in your research paper, both through internal citations and on your reference page. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

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Use Internal Citations

  • ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178846/
  • ↑ http://owl.excelsior.edu/research-and-citations/outlining/outlining-imrad/
  • ↑ http://china.elsevier.com/ElsevierDNN/Portals/7/How%20to%20write%20a%20world-class%20paper.pdf
  • ↑ http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/content/16/3/191
  • ↑ http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html#form

About This Article

Chris M. Matsko, MD

To write a medical research paper, research your topic thoroughly and compile your data. Next, organize your notes and create a strong outline that breaks up the information into sections and subsections, addressing one main point per section. Write the results and discussion sections first to go over your findings, then write the introduction to state your objective and provide background information. Finally, write the abstract, which concisely summarizes the article by highlighting the main points. For tips on formatting and using citations, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write and Publish Clinical Research in Medical School

A woman's hands typing her clinical research paper beside a notebook and papers.

From working hard on the USMLE® exams to holding leadership positions in a specialty’s academic society, there are many ways medical students can work towards matching into the residency of their choice. One such activity that looks great on residency applications is finding clinical research opportunities in medical school to write and publish papers. No one knows this better than Dr. Eve Bowers. 

An Otolaryngology resident at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Eve became an expert in writing, submitting, and publishing manuscripts during her final years in medical school. Check out Eve’s blog post below to get valuable insights on how to get published in medical school. 

As medical students, we’re told that research is important and that publications are “good”, and even “necessary to match ” into residency, but we often aren’t given the tools we need to turn ideas into manuscripts. This is especially true given our rigorous schedules. 

When I looked through my CV, I saw I had a few abstracts and presentations, but no manuscripts. I wanted to write, but publishing seemed like just checking another resume box. On top of that, I didn’t know where to begin. 

My writing journey started with a case report I nervously picked up during my surgery clerkship . Then, over ten months of typing, editing, and sending unanswered emails, I went from writing 0 to ten manuscripts. The process was sometimes painful but mostly gratifying (yes, research can be gratifying), and you can do it, too.

To make finding, starting, and publishing high-quality research articles a little bit easier and a lot more enjoyable, check out my five tips for publishing clinical research in medical school.

1. Build your network to find publication opportunities in medical school

When looking for projects, finding great mentors is often more useful than finding the perfect project. This is especially true when starting out. Use your time on clerkships to identify attending and resident mentors who you trust to support your budding author ambitions.

At this stage, residents especially are your friends . When you demonstrate follow-through and receptiveness to feedback, you will be given more research opportunities. Don’t be shy about asking mentors for tasks if you can juggle multiple projects, but don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s important to communicate honestly and be transparent about the amount of time you have.

2. Kickstarting your research during medical school: start small 

If you have no research experience, start with a case report. Volunteer to write an article about an interesting case you saw in the operating room or clinic. It’s much easier and more rewarding to write about patients you have experience with, and case reports are a great way to demonstrate your writing ability to more senior authors.

Pro tip : Try to figure out as much as you can independently by using published reports as blueprints before asking for help. Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to seek guidance when you need it! If you approach a mentor with a problem, come prepared with 2-3 realistic solutions or examples of how you tried to figure it out on your own.

3. Know the criteria for writing a clinical research paper 

Before you begin, ask your mentor where they would like to submit the completed work. Each journal has specific standards, styles, and submission criteria. For guidance, look to papers previously published in that journal. 

As far as annotations and citations are concerned, download and learn how to use Endnote or Zotero right now! You’ll save days of work formatting your references.

Additionally, consider creating folders and spreadsheets to keep track of projects. Set goals and timelines for yourself from the beginning, and block off dedicated time to conduct a literature review, analyze data, and write.

Pro tip : If you are the first author and overseeing a large team, improve communication and efficiency by making everyone’s roles and expectations very clear to the group via email.

4. Follow up with your mentor

Sometimes you’ll send your mentor a draft, but she won’t get back to you with edits and feedback in a reasonable timeframe. Surprisingly, many projects do not get past this point because of insufficient persistence. Here’s what to do if this happens:

  • Politely nudge your mentor with follow-up emails and schedule a meeting to discuss in person or via Zoom.
  • Set deadlines and give specific reasons why the paper needs to be submitted. Some reasons could include, “I need this submission for my residency application ” or “this is a requirement for my school.”
  • Ask your co-author resident and/or fellow to advocate for edits and submission.

Whatever happens, don’t give up at this point. You’ve put in the work, and persistence makes or breaks a successful student-author.

5. Write about the medical topics that you love

Writing is fun when you focus on subjects you’re really passionate about. You also don’t have to stay within your institution: feel free to branch out if you come across an interesting research opportunity at a different program. A little cold email can go a long way!

If your goal is quantity, you can increase output by asking around about “productive” research mentors and sticking to topics related to clinical practice or medical education. However, my advice is to never let relatively quick publication opportunities compromise the quality of your work. Remember — every paper you write gets easier and more enjoyable, and your work will be truly important to advancing the field you care about. Good luck!

Eve Bowers who wrote 10 clinical research papers in medical school.

About the Author : Eve is an Otolaryngology Resident at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. She attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania. She is passionate about medical education, mentorship, and increasing minority and female leadership in surgical fields. For more tips and tricks, follow her on Twitter and Instagram !

For more information on residency applications, check out the AMBOSS Residency Applications Clerkship Survival Guide. 

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Writing a strong scientific paper in medicine and the biomedical sciences: a checklist and recommendations for early career researchers

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Scientific writing is an important skill in both academia and clinical practice. The skills for writing a strong scientific paper are necessary for researchers (comprising academic staff and health-care professionals). The process of a scientific research will be completed by reporting the obtained results in the form of a strong scholarly publication. Therefore, an insufficiency in scientific writing skills may lead to consequential rejections. This feature results in undesirable impact for their academic careers, promotions and credits. Although there are different types of papers, the original article is normally the outcome of experimental/epidemiological research. On the one hand, scientific writing is part of the curricula for many medical programs. On the other hand, not every physician may have adequate knowledge on formulating research results for publication adequately. Hence, the present review aimed to introduce the details of creating a strong original article for publication (especially for novice or early career researchers).

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A Practical Guide to Writing (and Understanding) a Scientific Paper: Clinical Studies

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Writing a Scientific Article

how to write a medical research paper

A brief guide to the science and art of writing manuscripts in biomedicine

Diego A. Forero, Sandra Lopez-Leon & George Perry

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Introduction

The writing and editing of scientific papers should be done in parallel with the collection and analysis of epidemiological data or during the performance of laboratory experiments, as it is an integral step of practical research. Indeed, a scholar paper is the figurative product of scientific investigations (Behzadi and Behzadi 2011 ; Singh and Mayer 2014 ). Moreover, the publication of scholarly papers is important from the standpoint of providing relevant information—both locally and internationally—that may influence clinical practice, while in academia, national and international academic metrics (in which the number and quality of papers determine the score and rank of the scientists) are relevant to fulfill employment criteria and to apply for scientific grants (Grech and Cuschieri 2018 ; Singer and Hollander 2009 ). Thus, scientific writing and the publication of quality peer-reviewed papers in prestigious academic journals are an important challenge for medical professionals and biomedical scientists (Ahlstrom 2017 ). Writing a strong scholarly paper is a multi-procedure task, which may be achieved in a right manner by using a balanced and well-designed framework or blueprint (Gemayel 2016 ; Tóth et al. 2020 ). All in all, time needs to be spent of writing a well-designed and thoughtful scientific proposal to support the research, which will subsequently end in the publication of a paper in a prestigious, peer-reviewed, indexed and scholarly journal with an impact factor (IF). A well-designed scientific project encompasses well-supported and strong hypotheses and up-to-date methodology, which may lead to the collection of remarkable (and reproducible!) data. When a study is based on a strong hypothesis, suitable methodology and our studies result in usable data, the next step is the analysis and interpretation of the said data to present a valuable conclusion at the end of our studies. These criteria give you an influent confidence to prepare a robust and prestigious scholarly paper (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Kallet 2004 ; Stenson et al. 2019 ). The aim of this review is to highlight all the necessary details for publication of a strong scientific writing of original article, which may especially be useful for novice or early career researchers.

Approaches for writing and formatting manuscripts before submission

In the presence of effective and appropriate items for writing a strong scientific paper, the author must know the key points and the main core of the study. Thus, preparing a blueprint for the paper will be much easier. The blueprint enables you to draft your work in a logical order (Gemayel 2016 ). In this regard, employment of a mass of charge, free or pay-per-use online and offline software tools can be particularly useful (Gemayel 2016 ; Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ; Behzadi et al. 2021 ; Ebrahim 2018 ; Issakhanian and Behzadi 2019 ; O'Connor and Holmquist 2009 ; Petkau et al. 2012 ; Singh and Mayer 2014 ; Tomasello et al. 2020 ). Today, there are a wide range of diverse software tools which can be used for design and organization of different parts of your manuscript in the correct form and order. Although traditionally, many scientist do not use these softwares to help formulate their paper and deliver their message in the manuscript, they can indeed facilitate some stages of the manuscript preparation process. Some of these online and offline software facilities are shown in Table 1 .

The first step of writing any scientific manuscript is the writing of the first draft. When writing the first draft, the authors do not need to push themselves to write it in it’s determined order (Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ; Gemayel 2016 ); however, the finalized manuscript should be organized and structured, according to the publisher’s expectations (Berman et al. 2000 ; Behzadi et al. 2016 ). Based on the contents of the manuscripts, there are different types of papers including original articles, review articles, systematic reviews, short communications, case reports, comments and letters to the editor (Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ; Gemayel 2016 ), but the present paper will only focus on the original articles structured in the IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion) structure. Materials and methods, results, discussion or introduction sections are all suitable target sections to begin writing the primary draft of the manuscript, although in most cases, the methods section is the one written first, as authors already have a clear sense and grasp on the methodologies utilized during their studies (Ebrahim 2018 ). The final sections of IMRAD papers which should be completed are the abstract (which is basically the mini-version of the paper) and conclusion (Liumbruno et al. 2013 ; Paróczai et al. 2021 ; Ranjbar et al. 2016 ). The authors should be aware that the final draft of the manuscript should clearly express: the reason of performing the study, the individuality (novelty and uniqueness) of the work, the methodology of the study, the specific outcomes examined in this work, the importance, meaning and worth of the study. The lack of any of the items in the manuscript will usually lead to the direct rejection of the manuscript from the journals. During the composition of the manuscript (which corresponds to any and all sections of the IMRAD), some basics of scientific writing should be taken into consideration: scientific language is characterized by short, crisp sentences, as the goal of the publication is to deliver the main message concisely and without confusion. It is a common misconception that scientific writing needs to be “colorful” and “artistic,” which may have the opposite effect on the clarity of the message. As the main goal of publishing is to deliver the message (i.e., the results) of our study, it is preferred that scientific or technical terms (once defined) are used uniformly, with avoiding synonyms. If young scientists have linguistic difficulties (i.e., English is not their first language), it is desirable to seek the help of professional proofreading services to ensure the correct grammar use and clarity. Traditionally, the passive voice was expected to be used in scientific communication, which was intended to strengthen the sense of generalization and universality of research; however, nowadays the active voice is preferred (symbolizing that authors take ownership and accountability of their work) and sentences in passive voice should take up < 10% of the paper (Berman et al. 2000 ; Behzadi et al. 2016 ).

Every scientist should be able to present and discuss their results in their own words, without copy–pasting sentences from other scientists or without referring to the work of others, if it was used in our paper. If an author copies or represents another authors’ intellectual property or words as their own (accidentally or more commonly on purpose) is called plagiarism. Scientific journals use plagiarism checker softwares to cross-check the level of similarity between the submitted works and scientific papers or other materials already published; over a certain threshold of similarity, journals take action to address this issue. Plagiarism is highly unethical and frowned upon in the scientific community, and it is strictly forbidden by all relevant scientific publishers, and if one is caught with plagiarism, the scientific paper is usually rejected immediately (if this occurs during the submission process) or is retracted. There are some freely available online software tools (e.g., iThenticate® ( http://www.ithenticate.com/ ) and SMALL SEO TOOLS ( https://smallseotoolz.net/plagiarism-checker ) for authors to screen their works for similarities with other sources; nevertheless, it is also unethical to use these tools to determine the “acceptable” level of similarity (i.e., cheating) before submitting a paper.

The structure of an IMRAD article includes the title, author’s(s’) name(s), author’s(s’) affiliation(s), author’s(s’) ORCID iD(s) ( https://orcid.org/ ), abstract, keywords, introduction, methods (or materials and methods), results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements, conflict of interest and references (Behzadi and Behzadi 2011 ; Singh and Mayer 2014 ). The acronym of ORCID (with a hard pronunciation of C ( https://orcid.org/blog/2013/01/07/how-should-orcid-be-pronounced )) (abbreviation of Open Researcher & Contributor ID) is considered as unique international identifier for researchers (Haak et al. 2012 ; Hoogenboom and Manske 2012 ). The ORCID iD is composed of 16 digits and introduced in the format of https URI ( https://support.orcid.org/hc/en-us/articles/360006897674 ). It is recommended for the authors to register their ORCID iD. The ORCID is important for manuscript submissions, manuscript citations, looking at the works of other researchers among other things (Haak et al. 2012 ; Hoogenboom and Manske 2012 ).

The contents of the IMRAD-structured manuscripts

Although the IMRAD format seems to be a cul-de-sac structure, it can be a suitable mold for both beginners and professional writers and authors. Each manuscript should contain a title page which includes the main and running (shortened) titles, authors’ names, authors’ affiliations (such as research place, e-mail, and academic degree), authors’ ORCID iDs, fund and financial supports (if any), conflicts of interest, corresponding author’s(s’) information, manuscript’s word count and number of figures, tables and graphs (Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ).

As the title is the first section of your paper which is seen by the readers, it is important for the authors to take time on appropriately formulating it. The nature of title may attract or dismiss the readers (Tullu and Karande 2017 ). In this regard, a title should be the mirror of the paper’s content; hence, a proper title should be attractive, tempting, specific, relevant, simple, readable, clear, brief, concise and comprehensive. Avoid jargons, acronyms, opinions and the introduction of bias . Short and single-sentenced titles have a “magic power” on the readers. Additionally, the use of important and influent keywords could affect the readers and could be easy searchable by the search engines (Cuschieri et al. 2019 ). This can help to increase the citation of a paper. Due to this fact, it is recommended to consider a number of titles for your manuscript and finally select the most appropriate one, which reflects the contents of the paper the best. The number of titles’ and running titles’ characters is limited in a wide range of journals (Cuschieri et al. 2019 ).

The abstract is the vitrine of a manuscript, which should be sequential, arranged, structured and summarized with great effort and special care. This section is the second most important part of a manuscript after title (Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ). The abstract should be written very carefully, deliberately and comprehensively in perfect English, because a well-written abstract invites the readers (the editors, reviewers, and readers who may cite the paper in the future) to read the paper entirely from A to Z and a rough one discourages readers (the editors and reviewers) from even handling the manuscript (Cuschieri et al. 2019 ). Whether we like it or not, the abstract is the only part of the manuscript that will be read for the most part; thus, the authors should make an effort to show the impressiveness and quality of the paper in this section.

The abstract as an independent structured section of a manuscript stands alone and is the appetizer of your work (Jirge 2017 ). So as mentioned, this part of paper should be written accurately, briefly, clearly, and to be facile and informative. For this section, the word count is often limited (150 to 250/300 words) and includes a format of introduction/background/, aim/goal/objective, methods, results and conclusions. The introduction or background refers to primary observations and the importance of the work, goal/aim/objective should represent the hypothesis of the study (i.e., why did you do what you did?), the methods should cover the experimental procedures (how did you do what you did?), the results should consider the significant and original findings, and finally, the clear message should be reported as the conclusion. It is recommended to use verbs in third person (unless specified by the Journal’s instructions). Moreover, the verbs depicting the facts which already have been recognized should be used in present tense while those verbs describing the outcomes gained by the current work should be used in past tense. For beginners in scientific publishing, it is a common mistake to start the writing of the manuscript with the abstract (which—in fact—should be the finalizing step, after the full text of the paper has already been finished and revised). In fact, abstract ideally is the copy-pasted version of the main messages of the manuscript, until the word limit (defined by the journal) has been reached. Another common mistake by inexperienced authors is forgetting to include/integrate changes in the abstract to reflect the amendments made in the bulk text of the paper. All in all, even a paper with very good contents and significant results may could be rejected because of a poor and weak abstract (Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ).

Keywords are the key point words and terms of the manuscript which come right after abstract section. The keywords are used for searching papers in the related fields by internet search engines. It is recommended to employ 3 to 10 keywords in this section. The keywords should be selected from the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) service, NCBI ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/ ). An appropriate title should involve the most number of keywords (Behzadi and Gajdács 2020 ; Jirge 2017 ).

Introduction section should be framed up to four paragraphs (up to 15% of the paper’s content). This section should be progressed gradually from general to specific information and gaps (in a funnel-formed fashion). In another words, the current condition of the problem and the previous studies should be briefly presented in the first paragraph. More explanation should be brought in discussion section, where the results of the paper should be discussed in light of the other findings in the literature (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ). In this regard, the original articles and some key references should be cited to have a clarified description. The second paragraph should clarify the lack of knowledge regarding the problem at present, the current status of the scientific issue and explain shortly the necessity and the importance of the present investigation. Subsequently, the relevance of this work should be described to fill the current gaps relating to the problem. The questions (hypothesis/purpose) of the study comprising “Why did you do?/What did you do?/So What?” should be clarified as the main goal in the last paragraph (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Burian et al. 2010 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ). A concise and focused introduction lets the readers to have an influent understanding and evaluation for the performance of the study. The importance of the work presented should never be exaggerated, if the readers feel that they have been misled in some form that may damage the credibility of the authors’ reputation. It is recommended to use standard abbreviations in this section by writing the complete word, expression or phrase for the first time and mentioning the related abbreviation within parenthesis in this section. Obviously, the abbreviations will be used in the following sentences throughout the manuscript. The authors should also adhere to international conventions related to writing certain concepts, e.g., taxonomic names or chemical formulas. In brief, the introduction section contains four key points including: previous studies, importance of the subject, the presence of serious gap(s) in current knowledge regarding the subject, the hypothesis of the work (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ). Previously, it was recommended by majority of journals to use verbs in past tense and their passive forms; however, this shows a changing trend, as more and more journals recommend the use of the active voice.

Materials and methods

As the materials and methods section constitutes the skeleton of a paper (being indicative of the quality of the data), this section is known as the keystone of the research. A poor, flawed or incorrect methodology may result in the direct rejection of manuscripts, especially in high IF journals, because it cannot link the introduction section into the results section (Haralambides 2018 ; Meo 2018 ). In other words, the methods are used to test the study’s hypothesis and the readers judge the validity of a research by the released information in this section. This part of manuscript belongs to specialists and researchers; thus, the application of subheadings in a determined and relevant manner will support the readers to follow information in a right order at the earliest. The presentation of the methodologies in a correct and logical order in this section clarifies the direction of the methods used, which can be useful for those who want to replicate these procedures (Haralambides 2018 ; Juhász et al. 2021 ; Meo 2018 ). An effective, accurate, comprehensive and sufficient description guarantees the clarity and transparency of the work and satisfies the skeptical reviewers and readers regarding the basis of the research. The following questions should be answered in this section: “What was done?” and “How was it done?” and “Why was it done?”

The cornerstones of the methods section including defining the type of study, materials (e.g., concentration, dose, generic and manufacturer names of chemicals, antibiotics), participants (e.g., humans, animals, microorganisms), demographic data (e.g., age, gender, race, time, duration, place), the need for and the existence of an ethical approval or waiver (in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and its revisions) for humans and animals, experimental designs (e.g., sampling methods, time and duration of the study, place), protocols, procedures, rationale, criteria, devices/tools/techniques (together with their manufacturers and country of origin), calibration plots, measurement parameters, calculations, statistical methods, tests and analyses, statistical software tools and version among many other things should be described here in methods section (Haralambides 2016 ; Stájer et al. 2020 ). If the details of protocols make this section extremely long, mention them in brief and cite the related papers (if they are already published). If the applied protocol was modified by the researcher, the protocol should be mentioned as modified protocol with the related address. Moreover, it is recommended to use flow charts (preferably standard flow charts) and tables to shorten this section, because “a picture paints a thousand words” (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ).

The used online guidelines in accordance with the type of study should be mentioned in the methods section. In this regard, some of these online check lists, including the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement ( http://www.consort-statement.org/ ) (to improve the reporting randomized trials), the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement ( http://www.prisma-statement.org/ ) (to improve the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses), the STARD (Standards for Reporting Diagnostic accuracy studies) statement ( http://www.equator-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/STARD-2015-checklist.pdf ) (to improve the reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies), the STORBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) statement ( https://www.strobe-statement.org/index.php?id=strobe-home ) (to improve the reporting of observational studies in Epidemiology), should be mentioned and highlighted in medical articles. Normally, the methods section begins with mentioning of exclusion (depicting safe selection) and inclusion (depicting no bias has happened) criteria (regarding the populations studied) and continues by the description of procedures and data collection. This section usually ends by the description of statistical data analyses. As mentioned in a previous section, older recommendations in “Instructions for authors” suggested the use of verbs in past tense, in 3rd person and passive forms, whereas novel guidelines suggest more text written in the active voice (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ).

The results including negative and positive outcomes should be reported clearly in this section with no interpretation (Audisio et al. 2009 ; Behzadi et al. 2013 ). The most original information of an IMRAD paper originates from the results section. Indeed, the reported findings are the main core of the study which answers to the research question (hypothesis) “what was found?” The results section should answer all points brought up in the methods section. Categorization of findings by subheadings from the major to minor results, chronologically or by any logical order, facilitates readers to comprehend the results in an effective and influent manner (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ).

Representing the motive of experiments, the related experimental setups, and the gained outcomes supports the quality and clarity of your results, because these components create logical and influent communications between obtained data, observations and measurements. The results section should represent all types of data (major to minor), variables (dependent and independent), variables effects and even accidental findings. The statistical analyses should be represented at the end of results section. The statistical significance should be represented by an exact amount of p value ( p  < 0.05 is usually recognized and set as the threshold for statistical significance, while p  > 0.05 depicts no statistical significance). Moreover, the mentioning of the 95% confidence intervals and related statistical parameters is also needed, especially in epidemiological studies (Mišak et al. 2005 ).

It is recommended to use tables, figures, graphs and charts in this section to give an influent representation of results to the readers. Using well-structured tables deeply impresses the readers. Usually the limitation of the number of figures, graphs, tables and charts is represented in the section of instructions for authors of the journal. Remember that well-designed tables and figures act as clean mirrors which transfer a clear and sharp illustration of your work and your efforts in preparing the manuscript. Thus, a well-designed graph, table, charts or figure should be understood easily; in other words, they should be represented as self-explanatory compartments. Avoid repeating the represented data in figures, tables, charts and graphs within the text. Citing figures, graphs, charts and tables in right positions within the text increases the impact and quality of your manuscript (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ). Showing the highest and lowest amounts in tables by bolding or highlighting them is very effective. Normally, the legends are placed under graphs and figures and above the tables. It is recommended to begin the figure legends with conclusion and finish it by important technical key points.

Discussion and conclusion

This section represents the interpretations of results. In other words, discussion describes what these results do mean by the help of mechanistic interpretations of causes and effects. This argument should be achieved sharp and strong in a logical manner (Gajdács 2020 ; Rasko et al. 2016 ). The interpretations should be supported by relevant references and evidences. Usually, the first paragraph of discussion involves the key points of results. The represented data in results section should not be repeated within the discussion section. Magnification and exaggeration of data should never occur! “A good wine needs no bush.” Care about the quality of discussion section, because this part of the manuscript is determinative item for the acceptance of the paper (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ).

Avoid representing new data in discussion, which were not mentioned in the results section. The following paragraphs should represent the novelty, differences and/or similarities of the obtained findings. Unusual and findings not predicted should be highlighted (Gajdács 2020 ; Rasko et al. 2016 ). It is important to interpret the obtained results by the strong references and evidences. Remember that citation of strong and relevant references enforces your evaluations and increases the quality of your points of view (Mack 2018 ; Shakeel et al. 2021 ). The probable weaknesses or strengths of the project should be discussed. This critical view of the results supports the discussion of the manuscript. The discussion section is finished by the final paragraph of conclusion. A critical paragraph in which the potential significance of obtained findings should be represented in brief (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ). The bring/take-home message of the study in conclusion section should be highlighted. For writing a conclusion, it is recommended to use non-technical language in perfect English as it should be done in abstract section (Alexandrov 2004 ). It is suggested to use verbs in present tense and passive forms, if not otherwise mandated by the journal’s instructions. In accordance with policy of journals, the conclusion section could be the last part of discussion or presented within a separate section after discussion section (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ).

Acknowledgements

This section is placed right after discussion and/or conclusion section. The unsaid contributors with pale activities who cannot be recognized as the manuscripts’ authors should be mentioned in acknowledgement section. Financial sponsors, coordinators, colleagues, laboratory staff and technical supporters, scientific writing proof readers, institutions and organizations should be appreciated in this section. The names listed in acknowledgements section will be indexed by some databases like US National Library Medicine (NLM) ( https://www.nlm.nih.gov/ ) (Ahlstrom 2017 ).

Conflict of interest

If the authors have any concerns regarding moral or financial interests, they should declare it unambiguously, because the related interests may lead to biases and suspicions of misconducts (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ). This section usually comes right after acknowledgements and before references.

Application of relevant and pertinent references supports the manuscript’s scientific documentary. Moreover, utilization of related references with high citation helps the quality of the manuscript. For searching references, it is recommended to use search engines like Google Scholar ( https://scholar.google.com/ ), databases such as MEDLINE ( https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/medline.html ) and NCBI ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ ) and Web sites including SCOPUS ( https://www.scopus.com/ ), etc.; in this regard, the keywords are used for a successful and effective search. Each journal has its own bibliographic system; hence, it is recommended to use reference management software tools, e.g., EndNote®. The most common bibliographic styles are APA American Psychological Association, Harvard and Vancouver. Nevertheless, the authors should aware of retracted articles and making sure not to use them as references (Ahlstrom 2017 ; Behzadi 2021 ; Lilleyman 1995 ; Tahaei et al. 2021 ). Depending on the journal, there are different limitations for the number of references. It is recommended to read carefully the instructions for authors section of the journal.

Conclusions for future biology

From the societal standpoint, the publication of scientific results may lead to important advances in technology and innovation. In medicine, patient care—and the biomedical sciences in general—the publication of scientific research may also lead to substantial benefits to advancing the medical practice, as evidence-based medicine (EBM) is based on the available scientific data at the present time. Additionally, academic institutions and many academic centers require young medical professionals to be active in the scientific scene for promotions and many employment prospects. Although scientific writing is part of the curricula for many medical programs, not every physician may have adequate knowledge on formulating research results for publication adequately. The present review aimed to briefly and concisely summarize the details of creating a favorable original article to aid early career researchers in the submission to peer-reviewed journal and subsequent publication. Although not all concepts have been discussed in detail, the paper allows for current and future authors to grasp the basic ideas regarding scientific writing and the authors hope to encourage everyone to take the “leap of faith” into scientific research in medicine and to submit their first article to international journals.

Data accessibility

Not applicable.

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Payam Behzadi would like to thank the Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Tehran, Iran, for approving the organization of the workshop on “How to write a scientific paper?” Márió Gajdács would also like to acknowledge the support of ESCMID’s “30 under 30” Award.

Open access funding provided by University of Szeged. Márió Gajdács was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship (BO/00144/20/5) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the New National Excellence Programme (ÚNKP-20-5-SZTE-330) of the Ministry of Human Resources.

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Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 37541-374, Iran

Payam Behzadi

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Márió Gajdács

Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Eötvös utca 6., 6720, Hungary

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Behzadi, P., Gajdács, M. Writing a strong scientific paper in medicine and the biomedical sciences: a checklist and recommendations for early career researchers. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 72 , 395–407 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-021-00095-z

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Received : 08 April 2021

Accepted : 16 July 2021

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Issue Date : December 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s42977-021-00095-z

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  • The role of pharmacokinetics in drug development.
  • The impact of pharmacogenomics on personalized medicine.
  • The role of pharmacology in the treatment of diseases.
  • The impact of drug resistance on the treatment of infectious diseases.
  • The role of pharmacology in the management of pain.
  • The impact of drug abuse on public health.
  • The role of pharmacology in the prevention of drug interactions.
  • The impact of drug development on patient care.
  • The role of pharmacology in the study of drug action.

10. Veterinary Medicine:

  • The impact of zoonotic diseases on public health.
  • The role of veterinary medicine in the prevention of animal diseases.
  • The impact of veterinary medicine on food safety.
  • The role of veterinary medicine in the treatment of animal diseases.
  • The impact of veterinary public health on human health.
  • The role of veterinary medicine in the prevention of zoonotic diseases.
  • The impact of animal health on public health.
  • The role of veterinary medicine in the promotion of animal welfare.
  • The impact of veterinary medicine on animal behavior.
  • The role of veterinary medicine in the study of animal physiology.

11. Neurology:

  • The impact of neurodegenerative diseases on public health.
  • The role of neurology in the treatment of neurological disorders.
  • The impact of neurological research on patient care.
  • The role of neurology in the study of the nervous system.
  • The impact of neurological disorders on quality of life.
  • The role of neurology in the diagnosis of neurological disorders.
  • The impact of neurological diseases on mental health.
  • The role of neurology in the prevention of neurological diseases.
  • The impact of neurological disorders on cognitive function.
  • The role of neurology in the study of brain function.

12. Oncology:

  • The impact of cancer on public health.
  • The role of oncology in the treatment of cancer.
  • The impact of oncological research on patient care.
  • The role of oncology in the study of cancer.
  • The impact of cancer on quality of life.
  • The role of oncology in the diagnosis of cancer.
  • The impact of cancer on mental health.
  • The role of oncology in the prevention of cancer.
  • The impact of cancer on physical health.
  • The role of oncology in the study of cancer biology.

13. Cardiology:

  • The impact of heart disease on public health.
  • The role of cardiology in the treatment of heart disease.
  • The impact of cardiological research on patient care.
  • The role of cardiology in the study of the cardiovascular system.
  • The impact of heart disease on quality of life.
  • The role of cardiology in the diagnosis of heart disease.
  • The impact of heart disease on mental health.
  • The role of cardiology in the prevention of heart disease.
  • The impact of heart disease on physical health.
  • The role of cardiology in the study of heart function.

14. Endocrinology:

  • The impact of endocrine disorders on public health.
  • The role of endocrinology in the treatment of endocrine disorders.
  • The impact of endocrinological research on patient care.
  • The role of endocrinology in the study of the endocrine system.
  • The impact of endocrine disorders on quality of life.
  • The role of endocrinology in the diagnosis of endocrine disorders.
  • The impact of endocrine disorders on mental health.
  • The role of endocrinology in the prevention of endocrine disorders.
  • The impact of endocrine disorders on physical health.
  • The role of endocrinology in the study of hormone function.

15. Gastroenterology:

  • The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on public health.
  • The role of gastroenterology in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
  • The impact of gastroenterological research on patient care.
  • The role of gastroenterology in the study of the gastrointestinal system.
  • The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on quality of life.
  • The role of gastroenterology in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders.
  • The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on mental health.
  • The role of gastroenterology in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders.
  • The impact of gastrointestinal disorders on physical health.
  • The role of gastroenterology in the study of digestive function.

16. Dermatology:

  • The impact of skin disorders on public health.
  • The role of dermatology in the treatment of skin disorders.
  • The impact of dermatological research on patient care.
  • The role of dermatology in the study of the skin.
  • The impact of skin disorders on quality of life.
  • The role of dermatology in the diagnosis of skin disorders.
  • The impact of skin disorders on mental health.
  • The role of dermatology in the prevention of skin disorders.
  • The impact of skin disorders on physical appearance.
  • The role of dermatology in the study of skin health.

17. Pulmonology:

  • The impact of respiratory disorders on public health.
  • The role of pulmonology in the treatment of respiratory disorders.
  • The impact of pulmonological research on patient care.
  • The role of pulmonology in the study of the respiratory system.
  • The impact of respiratory disorders on quality of life.
  • The role of pulmonology in the diagnosis of respiratory disorders.
  • The impact of respiratory disorders on mental health.
  • The role of pulmonology in the prevention of respiratory disorders.
  • The impact of respiratory disorders on physical health.
  • The role of pulmonology in the study of lung function.

18. Pediatrics:

  • The impact of childhood diseases on public health.
  • The role of pediatrics in the treatment of childhood diseases.
  • The impact of pediatric research on patient care.
  • The role of pediatrics in the study of childhood diseases.
  • The impact of childhood diseases on quality of life.
  • The role of pediatrics in the diagnosis of childhood diseases.
  • The impact of childhood diseases on mental health.
  • The role of pediatrics in the prevention of childhood diseases.
  • The impact of childhood diseases on physical health.
  • The role of pediatrics in the study of child health.

19. Geriatrics:

  • The impact of aging on public health.
  • The role of geriatrics in the treatment of age-related diseases.
  • The impact of geriatric research on patient care.
  • The role of geriatrics in the study of aging.
  • The impact of aging on quality of life.
  • The role of geriatrics in the diagnosis of age-related diseases.
  • The impact of aging on mental health.
  • The role of geriatrics in the prevention of age-related diseases.
  • The impact of aging on physical health.
  • The role of geriatrics in the study of the aging process.

20. Psychiatry:

  • The impact of mental disorders on public health.
  • The role of psychiatry in the treatment of mental disorders.
  • The impact of psychiatric research on patient care.
  • The role of psychiatry in the study of mental disorders.
  • The impact of mental disorders on quality of life.
  • The role of psychiatry in the diagnosis of mental disorders.
  • The impact of mental disorders on social interactions.
  • The role of psychiatry in the prevention of mental disorders.
  • The impact of mental disorders on physical health.
  • The role of psychiatry in the study of mental health.

The field of medical research is vast and diverse, offering a multitude of topics for exploration. The choice of a research topic is a critical step in the research process, and it can significantly influence the direction of your research and the impact of your findings. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose a topic that not only interests you but also aligns with your academic and career goals. This comprehensive list of medical research paper topics provides a starting point for your research journey. Remember, the best research topic is one that is original, manageable, and meaningful.

More Medical Research Paper Topics

  • Anatomy and Physiology Research Paper Topics
  • Biomedical Research Paper Topics
  • Clinical Research Paper Topics
  • Disease Research Paper Topics
  • Epidemiology Research Paper Topics
  • Exercise Physiology Research Paper Topics
  • Health Disparities Research Paper Topics
  • Healthcare Research Paper Topics
  • Kinesiology Research Paper Topics
  • Mental Health Research Paper Topics
  • Pharmacology Research Paper Topics
  • Phlebotomy Research Paper Topics
  • Physical Fitness Research Paper Topics
  • Radiology Research Paper Topics
  • Veterinary Medicine Research Paper Topics

Introduction to Medical Research

Medical research is a broad and multifaceted field that encompasses a wide range of topics and disciplines. It is the backbone of modern healthcare and plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for people around the world. Medical research is the driving force behind new discoveries, innovative treatments, and the development of policies that shape public health.

At its core, medical research seeks to understand the complexities of the human body, the diseases that afflict it, and the various external factors that influence health. It is a field that is constantly evolving, with new technologies and methodologies continually pushing the boundaries of what we know about health and disease.

One of the key aspects of medical research is its interdisciplinary nature. It draws upon a variety of fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, and even social sciences. This interdisciplinary approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of health and disease, as it considers not only the biological aspects but also the social, environmental, and psychological factors that influence health.

For instance, research in anatomy and physiology delves into the structure and function of the human body, providing the foundation for understanding health and disease. Studies in diseases and epidemiology, on the other hand, focus on the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Health and fitness research explores the impact of lifestyle choices on health, while health disparities research examines the inequalities in health outcomes and healthcare that exist among different population groups.

Research in healthcare and kinesiology often intersects, examining how healthcare services and physical activity can improve health outcomes. Mental health research is a rapidly growing field, addressing a wide range of mental health disorders and the impact they have on overall health. Pharmacology research is vital for the development of new drugs and therapies, while veterinary medicine research not only improves the health of animals but can also provide insights into human health through comparative medicine.

Choosing a topic for a medical research paper can be a daunting task given the breadth and depth of the field. However, it also offers a wealth of opportunities to delve into a topic that is not only interesting but can also contribute to the betterment of health and healthcare.

How to Choose Medical Research Paper Topics

Choosing a topic for your medical research paper is a critical step in your academic journey. The topic you select will guide your research direction, influence your motivation, and determine the depth of your understanding of the subject matter. Therefore, it’s essential to choose wisely and consider various factors before making a decision. Here are ten comprehensive tips to help you select the right medical research paper topic:

  • Identify Your Interests: The first step in choosing a research topic is to consider your interests within the field of medicine. Are you fascinated by neurology, passionate about public health, or intrigued by the complexities of surgery? Identifying your interests can help you narrow down potential topics. When you choose a topic you’re passionate about, the research process becomes less of a task and more of an exploration. You’ll find yourself more engaged, and the enthusiasm will reflect in the quality of your research.
  • Consider the Scope: The scope of your topic is an important factor to consider. A topic that’s too broad can make your research overwhelming, as you may have to sift through an enormous amount of information and struggle to cover all aspects within the constraints of your paper. On the other hand, a topic that’s too narrow might not provide enough material for a comprehensive study. Strive for a balance where your topic is specific enough to manage but broad enough to explore in depth.
  • Check for Resources: Before finalizing a topic, ensure there are sufficient resources available for your research. These resources could include books, scholarly articles, reputable online sources, and expert interviews. Conduct a preliminary literature review to gauge the availability of sources. A lack of resources can lead to a weak paper, while an abundance of resources can provide multiple perspectives and strengthen your research.
  • Relevance to Current Times: Choosing a topic that is relevant to current medical issues or ongoing research can make your paper more engaging and significant. It allows you to contribute to the existing body of knowledge and possibly influence future research or policy. Whether it’s a new treatment method, an emerging disease, or a controversial medical practice, current topics can spark interest and debate.
  • Consult with Your Instructor: Your instructor or advisor can be a valuable resource when choosing a topic. They can provide guidance, help you refine a broad topic, expand a narrow one, and provide feedback on your initial ideas. They can also point you towards resources or research areas you might not have considered.
  • Consider the Target Audience: Always keep your target audience in mind when choosing a research topic. The topic should be interesting and accessible to them. If you’re writing for a class, consider what you’ve already discussed and what themes your instructor has emphasized. If you’re writing for publication, consider the interests and level of expertise of the readers of the journal.
  • Practicality: Consider the practical aspects of your research. If your research involves primary data collection, consider the feasibility of the methods you plan to use. Do you have access to the necessary equipment or population? Is your study ethical and approved by an ethics committee? Practical considerations can significantly influence your choice of topic.
  • Originality: While it’s important to build upon existing research, strive to bring a unique perspective to your topic. This could involve studying a well-researched topic from a new angle, exploring a less-studied area of medical research, or proposing a new hypothesis. Originality can make your research stand out and contribute to the advancement of your field.
  • Alignment with Course Objectives: Your research topic should align with the objectives of your course or curriculum. This ensures that your research paper will not only be interesting but also academically beneficial. It can demonstrate your understanding ofthe course material and your ability to apply it in a real-world context.
  • Future Career Relevance: If you have a clear idea of your future career path, consider choosing a topic that could be beneficial in your professional life. This could mean researching a topic related to a field you’d like to specialize in, a current issue in your future profession, or a novel area of study that could give you a competitive edge in your career.

In addition to these tips, it’s also important to consider the timeline of your research. Some topics may require more time to research than others, especially if they involve complex experiments or hard-to-reach populations. Make sure you choose a topic that you can reasonably research and write about within your given timeframe.

Also, consider the potential impact of your research. While it’s not always possible to predict how influential a research paper will be, you can consider whether the topic has the potential to affect policy, influence clinical practice, or lead to new research questions. Choosing a topic with potential impact can be particularly important if you plan to pursue a career in academia or research.

Remember, choosing a research topic is not a decision to be taken lightly. It’s the foundation of your research paper and can significantly influence your enjoyment of the writing process, your grade, and even your future career. Take your time, consider your options, and choose a topic that you are passionate about, meets practical considerations, and has the potential to contribute to the field of medical science.

Finally, be flexible. Research is a dynamic process, and it’s okay to refine or even change your topic as you delve deeper into your research. The most important thing is to stay curious, open-minded, and dedicated to uncovering new knowledge. With the right topic, research can be a rewarding journey of discovery.

How to Write a Medical Research Paper

Writing a medical research paper is a comprehensive task that demands a profound understanding of the subject matter, a systematic approach, and a lucid writing style. This process can be quite daunting, especially for those who are new to it. However, with the right guidance and a well-structured plan, it can be a rewarding experience. Here are ten detailed tips to guide you through the process:

  • Understand the Assignment Thoroughly: The first step in writing a medical research paper is to fully comprehend the assignment. What is the specific question you’re being asked to address? What is the scope of the research paper? What are the formatting requirements? Are there any specific sources you need to use? Understanding the assignment in its entirety will help you focus your research and ensure you meet all the requirements. It’s crucial to clarify any doubts with your professor or advisor at this stage to avoid any misunderstandings later on.
  • Choose a Suitable Topic: If you have the freedom to choose your own topic, select one that genuinely interests you. Your passion for the subject will come through in your writing, making the process more enjoyable and less of a chore. Make sure the topic is relevant to your field of study and is something you can manage within the given timeframe and word limit. A well-chosen topic can make the difference between a paper that is a joy to research and write and one that is a burdensome chore.
  • Conduct Thorough Research: The next step is to conduct comprehensive research. Use reputable sources such as academic journals, textbooks, and government health websites to gather information. Make sure to use the most recent data and research available, as the medical field is constantly evolving and it’s important to stay up-to-date. Keep track of your sources as you go along for easy referencing later. This will also save you a lot of time when you are compiling your bibliography.
  • Create an Outline: An outline is a roadmap for your research paper. It should include an introduction, a body with several points or arguments, and a conclusion. Each point should be supported by evidence from your research. An outline will help structure your thoughts and ideas, making your writing process smoother and more organized. It also allows you to see the flow of your arguments and make sure that everything is in a logical order.
  • Write a Strong Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement is the backbone of your research paper. It should clearly state the main idea or argument of your paper. It should be concise, specific, and arguable. The thesis statement will guide your writing and keep your argument focused. Spend some time crafting a strong thesis statement. It’s worth the effort as it will give direction to your research and writing.
  • Start Writing: Once you have your outline and thesis statement, you can start writing. Begin with a draft. Don’t worry about making it perfect the first time around. Just get your ideas down on paper. You can revise and improve it later. Remember, writing is a process. It’s okay to have multiple drafts. The important thing is to start writing.
  • Use Clear, Concise Language: Medical research papers should be written in a clear, concise, and formal style. Avoid jargon and complex sentences. Make sure your ideas are expressed clearly and logically. Remember, your goal is to communicate your research and ideas, not to impress with big words or complex sentences.
  • Cite Your Sources: Always cite your sources. This gives credit to the original authors and allows readers to follow up on your research. Be sure to use the citation style required by your professor or the journal you are submitting to. Proper citation is not just about avoiding plagiarism. It also lends credibility to yourpaper and demonstrates the breadth of your research.
  • Revise and Edit: Once you’ve finished your draft, take the time to revise and edit. This is where you refine your arguments, clarify your thoughts, and polish your language. Look for any inconsistencies, grammatical errors, or areas that could be clarified or improved. Consider having a peer or mentor review your paper. They can provide valuable feedback and catch errors you might have missed. Remember, good writing is rewriting. Don’t be afraid to make changes, and don’t be discouraged if your first draft isn’t perfect.
  • Proofread: Finally, proofread your paper. Check for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Make sure all citations and references are correct. Proofreading is a crucial step in the writing process. Even the most well-researched and well-written paper can lose credibility if it’s full of errors. Consider using a proofreading tool or ask someone else to proofread your paper. A fresh pair of eyes can often catch mistakes you might have overlooked.

In addition to these tips, remember to take breaks during your writing process. Writing a medical research paper is a significant undertaking, and it’s important to avoid burnout. Take time to rest and refresh your mind. This will help you maintain your focus and energy levels.

Also, keep in mind that writing a research paper is not just about the end product. It’s also about the process. It’s an opportunity to learn more about a topic you’re interested in, to improve your research and writing skills, and to contribute to your field of study. Approach it with curiosity and enthusiasm, and you’ll find that writing a medical research paper can be a rewarding experience.

Writing a medical research paper is a systematic process that requires careful planning, thorough research, and meticulous writing. By following these tips, you can produce a paper that is informative, insightful, and contributes to your field of study. Remember, every writer faces challenges along the way, so don’t be discouraged if you encounter difficulties. With persistence and dedication, you can write a successful medical research paper.

iResearchNet’s Writing Services

Navigating the complex world of academic writing can be a daunting task, especially when you’re dealing with intricate topics in the field of medical research. That’s where iResearchNet comes in. As a leading provider of academic writing services, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our services are designed to help you produce high-quality, well-researched, and professionally formatted papers that meet the rigorous standards of academic writing. Here’s a detailed look at the features that set our services apart:

  • Expert Degree-Holding Writers: Our team is composed of writers who hold advanced degrees in their respective fields. This means that when you order a medical research paper from us, it will be written by someone who has a deep understanding of the topic. Our writers are not just experts in their fields; they’re also skilled at translating complex ideas into clear, engaging prose.
  • Custom Written Works: Every paper we produce is custom-written to meet your specific needs. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we work closely with you to understand your assignment, your research goals, and your writing style. This allows us to create a paper that is uniquely yours.
  • In-Depth Research: Our writers are skilled researchers who know how to dig deep into academic sources to find the most relevant and up-to-date information. They understand the importance of using reliable sources and citing them correctly. When you order a paper from us, you can be confident that it will be backed by solid research.
  • Custom Formatting: Whether your assignment requires APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard formatting, our writers are well-versed in all major citation styles. They will ensure that your paper is formatted correctly, with all sources cited accurately and consistently.
  • Top Quality: At iResearchNet, we pride ourselves on the quality of our work. We have a rigorous quality control process to ensure that every paper we produce meets the highest standards of academic writing. This includes checking for clarity, coherence, and correctness in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Customized Solutions: We understand that every student’s needs are unique. That’s why we offer customized solutions to meet your specific requirements. Whether you need help with a particular section of your paper, or you want us to handle the entire project, we’re here to help.
  • Flexible Pricing: We believe that high-quality academic writing services should be accessible to all students. That’s why we offer flexible pricing options to fit different budgets. We’re committed to providing you with the best value for your money.
  • Short Deadlines up to 3 Hours: We understand that time is of the essence when it comes to academic assignments. That’s why we offer fast turnaround times, with the ability to handle short deadlines of up to 3 hours for urgent orders.
  • Timely Delivery: We know how important it is to submit your assignments on time. That’s why we guarantee timely delivery of all our papers. We work diligently to ensure that your paper is completed within the agreed timeframe.
  • 24/7 Support: Our customer support team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and address your concerns. Whether you want to check on the progress of your paper, make changes to your order, or simply ask a question, we’re here to help.
  • Absolute Privacy: We take your privacy seriously. All your personal information and order details are kept confidential. We use secure encryption to protect your data and we never share your information with third parties.
  • Easy Order Tracking: With our easy order tracking system, you can keep track of your order’s progress at any time. From the moment you place your order to the final delivery, you’ll have a clear view of each step in the process. This transparency ensures that you’re never left in the dark about the status of your order. You can check the progress of your paper, see the estimated completion time, and even communicate with your writer if needed. This feature is designed to give you peace of mind and make the process as stress-free as possible.
  • Money Back Guarantee: Your satisfaction is our top priority. If, for any reason, you’re not completely satisfied with the paper we deliver, we offer a money-back guarantee. We’re committed to providing top-quality academic writing services, and if we fall short of your expectations, we believe it’s only fair that you get your money back. This policy is part of our commitment to upholding high standards of service and ensuring that our customers feel confident when choosing iResearchNet.

In conclusion, iResearchNet is more than just a writing service. We’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to helping you succeed in your academic journey. Our comprehensive suite of services, from expert writing to in-depth research, custom formatting, and beyond, is designed to provide you with the tools and support you need to produce outstanding medical research papers. So why wait? Let iResearchNet help you achieve your academic goals today.

Take the Next Step Towards Academic Success

As you embark on your journey to explore the vast field of medical research, remember that you’re not alone. iResearchNet is here to provide you with the resources, guidance, and expert assistance you need to excel. Whether you’re just starting out with selecting a topic or you’re in the thick of writing your research paper, our services are designed to streamline the process and ensure your success.

Choosing a topic and writing a research paper can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With iResearchNet, you have a team of expert degree-holding writers at your disposal, ready to provide you with a custom-written research paper that meets your specific needs. Our commitment to quality, timely delivery, and absolute privacy means you can place your order with confidence, knowing that you’re in good hands.

But don’t just take our word for it. Experience the iResearchNet difference for yourself. Explore our comprehensive list of medical research paper topics, take advantage of our expert advice, and when you’re ready, place your order for a custom-written research paper. With our flexible pricing and money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

So why wait? Take the next step towards academic success. Choose iResearchNet for your medical research paper needs today. We’re excited to work with you and help you achieve your academic goals. Order now and let’s get started on your journey to success!

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How to Write a Medical Abstract for Publication

how to write a medical research paper

Preparing Your Study, Review, or Article for Publication in Medical Journals

The majority of social, behavioral, biological, and clinical journals follow the conventional structured abstract form with the following four major headings (or variations of these headings):

OBJECTIVE   (Purpose; Aim; Goal) : Tells reader the purpose of your research and the questions it intends to answer

METHODS   (Setting; Study Design; Participants) : Explains the methods and process so that other researchers can assess, review, and replicate your study.

RESULTS (Findings; Outcomes) : Summarizes the most important findings of your study

CONCLUSIONS   (Discussion; Implications; Further Recommendations) : Summarizes the interpretation and implications of these results and presents recommendations for further research

Sample Health/Medical Abstract

how to write a medical research paper

Structured Abstracts Guidelines *

  • Total Word Count: ~200-300 words (depending on the journal)
  • Content: The abstract should reflect only the contents of the original paper (no cited work)

*   Always follow the formatting guidelines of the journal to which you are submitting your paper.

Useful Terms and Phrases by Abstract Section

Objective:  state your precise research purpose or question (1-2 sentences).

  • Begin with “To”: “We aimed to…” or “The objective of this study was to…” using a verb that accurately captures the action of your study.
  • Connect the verb to an object phrase to capture the central elements and purpose of the study, hypothesis , or research problem . Include details about the setting, demographics, and the problem or intervention you are investigating.

METHODS : Explain the tools and steps of your research (1-3 sentences)

  • Use the past tense if the study has been conducted; use the present tense if the study is in progress.
  • Include details about the study design, sample groups and sizes, variables, procedures, outcome measures, controls, and methods of analysis.

  RESULTS : Summarize the data you obtained (3-6 sentences)

  • Use the past tense when describing the actions or outcomes of the research.
  • Include results that answer the research question and that were derived from the stated methods; examine data by qualitative or quantitative means.
  • State whether the research question or hypothesis was proven or disproven.

CONCLUSIONS : Describe the key findings (2-5 sentences)

  • Use the present tense to discuss the findings and implications of the study results.
  • Explain the implications of these results for medicine, science, or society.
  • Discuss any major limitations of the study and suggest further actions or research that should be undertaken.

Before submitting your abstract to medical journals, be sure to receive proofreading services from Wordvice, including journal manuscript editing and paper proofreading , to enhance your writing impact and fix any remaining errors.

Related Resources

  • 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays  (Oxford Royale Academy)
  • 100+ Strong Verbs That Will Make Your Research Writing Amazing  (Wordvice)
  • Essential Academic Writing Words and Phrases  (My English Teacher.eu)
  • Academic Vocabulary, Useful Phrases for Academic Writing and Research Paper Writing  (Research Gate)
  • How to Compose a Journal Submission Cover Letter  (Wordvice/YouTube)
  • How to Write the Best Journal Submission Cover Letter  (Wordvice)

How to write a good scientific review article

Affiliation.

  • 1 The FEBS Journal Editorial Office, Cambridge, UK.
  • PMID: 35792782
  • DOI: 10.1111/febs.16565

Literature reviews are valuable resources for the scientific community. With research accelerating at an unprecedented speed in recent years and more and more original papers being published, review articles have become increasingly important as a means to keep up to date with developments in a particular area of research. A good review article provides readers with an in-depth understanding of a field and highlights key gaps and challenges to address with future research. Writing a review article also helps to expand the writer's knowledge of their specialist area and to develop their analytical and communication skills, amongst other benefits. Thus, the importance of building review-writing into a scientific career cannot be overstated. In this instalment of The FEBS Journal's Words of Advice series, I provide detailed guidance on planning and writing an informative and engaging literature review.

© 2022 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

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Write it down, then throw it away: Research confirms a simple method for reducing anger

by Nagoya University

After being insulted, writing down your feelings on paper then getting rid of it reduces anger

A research group in Japan has discovered that writing down one's reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then shredding it or throwing it away reduces feelings of anger.

"We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent," lead researcher Nobuyuki Kawai said. "However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely."

This research is important because controlling anger at home and in the workplace can reduce negative consequences in our jobs and personal lives. Unfortunately, many anger management techniques proposed by specialists lack empirical research support. They can also be difficult to recall when angry.

The results of this study, published in Scientific Reports , are the culmination of years of previous research on the association between the written word and anger reduction. It builds on work showing how interactions with physical objects can control a person's mood.

For their project, Kawai and his graduate student Yuta Kanaya, both at the Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, asked participants to write brief opinions about important social problems, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed. They then told them that a doctoral student at Nagoya University would evaluate their writing.

However, the doctoral students doing the evaluation were plants. Regardless of what the participants wrote, the evaluators scored them low on intelligence, interest, friendliness, logic, and rationality. To really drive home the point, the doctoral students also wrote the same insulting comment: "I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university."

After handing out these negative comments , the researchers asked the participants to write their thoughts on the feedback, focusing on what triggered their emotions. Finally, one group of participants was told to either dispose of the paper they wrote in a trash can or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to destroy the document in a shredder or put it in a plastic box.

The students were then asked to rate their anger after the insult and after either disposing of or keeping the paper. As expected, all participants reported a higher level of anger after receiving insulting comments. However, the anger levels of the individuals who discarded their paper in the trash can or shredded it returned to their initial state after disposing of the paper. Meanwhile, the participants who held on to a hard copy of the insult experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

Kawai imagines using his research to help businesspeople who find themselves in stressful situations. "This technique could be applied in the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away when one feels angry in a business situation," he explained.

Along with its practical benefits, this discovery may shed light on the origins of the Japanese cultural tradition known as "hakidashisara" ("hakidashi" refers to the purging or spitting out of something, and "sara" refers to a dish or plate) at the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, just outside of Nagoya. Hakidashisara is an annual festival where people smash small disks representing things that make them angry. Their findings may explain the feeling of relief that participants report after leaving the festival.

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How to write an original research paper (and get it published)

The purpose of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) is more than just archiving data from librarian research. Our goal is to present research findings to end users in the most useful way. The “Knowledge Transfer” model, in its simplest form, has three components: creating the knowledge (doing the research), translating and transferring it to the user, and incorporating the knowledge into use. The JMLA is in the middle part, transferring and translating to the user. We, the JMLA, must obtain the information and knowledge from researchers and then work with them to present it in the most useable form. That means the information must be in a standard acceptable format and be easily readable.

There is a standard, preferred way to write an original research paper. For format, we follow the IMRAD structure. The acronym, IMRAD, stands for I ntroduction, M ethods, R esults A nd D iscussion. IMRAD has dominated academic, scientific, and public health journals since the second half of the twentieth century. It is recommended in the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” [ 1 ]. The IMRAD structure helps to eliminate unnecessary detail and allows relevant information to be presented clearly in a logical sequence [ 2 , 3 ].

Here are descriptions of the IMRAD sections, along with our comments and suggestions. If you use this guide for submission to another journal, be sure to check the publisher's prescribed formats.

The Introduction sets the stage for your presentation. It has three parts: what is known, what is unknown, and what your burning question, hypothesis, or aim is. Keep this section short, and write for a general audience (clear, concise, and as nontechnical as you can be). How would you explain to a distant colleague why and how you did the study? Take your readers through the three steps ending with your specific question. Emphasize how your study fills in the gaps (the unknown), and explicitly state your research question. Do not answer the research question. Remember to leave details, descriptions, speculations, and criticisms of other studies for the Discussion .

The Methods section gives a clear overview of what you did. Give enough information that your readers can evaluate the persuasiveness of your study. Describe the steps you took, as in a recipe, but be wary of too much detail. If you are doing qualitative research, explain how you picked your subjects to be representative.

You may want to break it into smaller sections with subheadings, for example, context: when, where, authority or approval, sample selection, data collection (how), follow-up, method of analysis. Cite a reference for commonly used methods or previously used methods rather than explaining all the details. Flow diagrams and tables can simplify explanations of methods.

You may use first person voice when describing your methods.

The Results section summarizes what the data show. Point out relationships, and describe trends. Avoid simply repeating the numbers that are already available in the tables and figures. Data should be restricted to tables as much as possible. Be the friendly narrator, and summarize the tables; do not write the data again in the text. For example, if you had a demographic table with a row of ages, and age was not significantly different among groups, your text could say, “The median age of all subjects was 47 years. There was no significant difference between groups (Table).” This is preferable to, “The mean age of group 1 was 48.6 (7.5) years and group 2 was 46.3 (5.8) years, a nonsignificant difference.”

Break the Results section into subsections, with headings if needed. Complement the information that is already in the tables and figures. And remember to repeat and highlight in the text only the most important numbers. Use the active voice in the Results section, and make it lively. Information about what you did belongs in the Methods section, not here. And reserve comments on the meaning of your results for the Discussion section.

Other tips to help you with the Results section:

  • ▪ If you need to cite the number in the text (not just in the table), and the total in the group is less than 50, do not include percentage. Write “7 of 34,” not “7 (21%).”
  • ▪ Do not forget, if you have multiple comparisons, you probably need adjustment. Ask your statistician if you are not sure.

The Discussion section gives you the most freedom. Most authors begin with a brief reiteration of what they did. Every author should restate the key findings and answer the question noted in the Introduction . Focus on what your data prove, not what you hoped they would prove. Start with “We found that…” (or something similar), and explain what the data mean. Anticipate your readers' questions, and explain why your results are of interest.

Then compare your results with other people's results. This is where that literature review you did comes in handy. Discuss how your findings support or challenge other studies.

You do not need every article from your literature review listed in your paper or reference list, unless you are writing a narrative review or systematic review. Your manuscript is not intended to be an exhaustive review of the topic. Do not provide a long review of the literature—discuss only previous work that is directly pertinent to your findings. Contrary to some beliefs, having a long list in the References section does not mean the paper is more scholarly; it does suggest the author is trying to look scholarly. (If your article is a systematic review, the citation list might be long.)

Do not overreach your results. Finding a perceived knowledge need, for example, does not necessarily mean that library colleges must immediately overhaul their curricula and that it will improve health care and save lives and money (unless your data show that, in which case give us a chance to publish it!). You can say “has the potential to,” though.

Always note limitations that matter, not generic limitations.

Point out unanswered questions and future directions. Give the big-picture implications of your findings, and tell your readers why they should care. End with the main findings of your study, and do not travel too far from your data. Remember to give a final take-home message along with implications.

Notice that this format does not include a separate Conclusion section. The conclusion is built into the Discussion . For example, here is the last paragraph of the Discussion section in a recent NEJM article:

In conclusion, our trial did not show the hypothesized benefit [of the intervention] in patients…who were at high risk for complications.

However, a separate Conclusion section is usually appropriate for abstracts. Systematic reviews should have an Interpretation section.

Other parts of your research paper independent of IMRAD include:

Tables and figures are the foundation for your story. They are the story. Editors, reviewers, and readers usually look at titles, abstracts, and tables and figures first. Figures and tables should stand alone and tell a complete story. Your readers should not need to refer back to the main text.

Abstracts can be free-form or structured with subheadings. Always follow the format indicated by the publisher; the JMLA uses structured abstracts for research articles. The main parts of an abstract may include introduction (background, question or hypothesis), methods, results, conclusions, and implications. So begin your abstract with the background of your study, followed by the question asked. Next, give a quick summary of the methods used in your study. Key results come next with limited raw data if any, followed by the conclusion, which answers the questions asked (the take-home message).

  • ▪ Recommended order for writing a manuscript is first to start with your tables and figures. They tell your story. You can write your sections in any order. Many recommend writing your Result s, followed by Methods, Introduction, Discussion , and Abstract.
  • ▪ We suggest authors read their manuscripts out loud to a group of librarians. Look for evidence of MEGO, “My Eyes Glaze Over” (attributed to Washington Post publisher Ben Bradlee and others). Modify as necessary.
  • ▪ Every single paragraph should be lucid.
  • ▪ Every paragraph should answer your readers' question, “Why are you telling me this?”

The JMLA welcomes all sizes of research manuscripts: definitive studies, preliminary studies, critical descriptive studies, and test-of-concept studies. We welcome brief reports and research letters. But the JMLA is more than a research journal. We also welcome case studies, commentaries, letters to the editor about articles, and subject reviews.

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Medical Research Paper: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

    Include your main title, running title (often a shortened version of your main title), author's name, course name, and semester. 3. Compile your results. Divide the paper into logical sections determined by the type of paper you are writing.

  2. PDF How to write and publish a paper

    Report results fully & honestly, as pre-specified. Text (story), Tables (evidence), Figures (highlights) Report primary outcomes first. Give confidence intervals for main results. Report essential summary statistics. Leave out non-essential tables and figures; these can be included as supplementary files. Don't start discussion here.

  3. How to Write Your First Research Paper

    After you get enough feedback and decide on the journal you will submit to, the process of real writing begins. Copy your outline into a separate file and expand on each of the points, adding data and elaborating on the details. When you create the first draft, do not succumb to the temptation of editing.

  4. How To Write And Publish A Scientific Manuscript

    A clinician should continuously strive to increase knowledge by reviewing and critiquing papers, thoughtfully considering how to integrate new data into practice. This is the essence of evidence-based medicine (EBM).[1] When new clinical queries arise, one should seek answers in the published literature. The ability to read a scientific or medical manuscript remains vitally important ...

  5. PDF How to write a world-class paper

    covered in a piece of writing so the reader can decide whether or not to read on. Often used in review articles and conference reports Informative abstracts summarize the article based on the paper structure (problem, methods, case studies, conclusions), but without section headings Structured abstracts follow headings required by the journal.

  6. Successful Scientific Writing and Publishing: A Step-by-Step Approach

    Disseminating new knowledge via writing and publishing is vital both to authors and to the field of public health . On an individual level, publishing is associated with professional development and career advancement . Publications share new research, results, and methods in a trusted format and advance scientific knowledge and practice (1,7).

  7. Toolkit: How to write a great paper

    A clear format will ensure that your research paper is understood by your readers. Follow: 1. Context — your introduction. 2. Content — your results. 3. Conclusion — your discussion. Plan ...

  8. How to Write Better Medical Papers

    Michael Hanna, PhD, is an independent Medical Writer and Research Consultant from New York City. He has over a decade of experience consulting on study design, conducting literature reviews, performing statistical analysis, and writing and editing scientific papers across the spectrum of medical specialties.

  9. How to Write and Publish Clinical Research in Medical School

    To make finding, starting, and publishing high-quality research articles a little bit easier and a lot more enjoyable, check out my five tips for publishing clinical research in medical school. 1. Build your network to find publication opportunities in medical school. When looking for projects, finding great mentors is often more useful than ...

  10. How to write a first-class paper

    In each paragraph, the first sentence defines the context, the body contains the new idea and the final sentence offers a conclusion. For the whole paper, the introduction sets the context, the ...

  11. Effective Writing for Health Care

    In this specialized track of Effective Writing for Health Care, you will learn strategies and develop skills to craft a compelling clinical or basic science article. Learn from distinguished Harvard Medical School faculty, editors and reviewers at the New England Journal of Medicine and published clinicians, clinical investigators and researchers about: The art of persuasion What it takes to ...

  12. How to Write a Medical Research Paper? Step-by-Step Guide ...

    In this video we will teach you how to write a medical research paper for publishing in a high impact journal. We will go through an example medical research...

  13. How to Write a Clinical Paper: Basics, Tips, Traps

    Learning how to properly write and submit a manuscript should be a goal for all medical students, residents, clinicians and researchers. The aim of the current paper, published in 3 parts, is to enable the readers to write and publish their work effectively. Keywords: clinicalpaper; scientificarticle; writingskills. Celsius.

  14. Writing a strong scientific paper in medicine and the biomedical

    Scientific writing is an important skill in both academia and clinical practice. The skills for writing a strong scientific paper are necessary for researchers (comprising academic staff and health-care professionals). The process of a scientific research will be completed by reporting the obtained results in the form of a strong scholarly publication. Therefore, an insufficiency in scientific ...

  15. PDF Structure of a medical research paper: key content elements, writing

    Structure of a medical research paper: key content elements, writing tips and examples of reporting guidelines from the EQUATOR website ... Title Indicate the focus of the paper and include important relevant 'keywords' to allow identification of the study through electronic searches. ... * Key content column lists basic general content of ...

  16. Chapter 23

    Chapter 2 Time Management When Planning and Conducting Medical Research; Chapter 3 Computer Skills Required for Medical Research; Chapter 4 Computer Skills Required for Medical Research: Social Media; Chapter 5 Finding and Using Information in Your Research; Chapter 6 Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature

  17. How to Write a Scientific Paper: Practical Guidelines

    The present article, essentially based on TA Lang's guide for writing a scientific paper [ 1 ], will summarize the steps involved in the process of writing a scientific report and in increasing the likelihood of its acceptance. Figure 1. The Edwin Smith Papyrus (≈3000 BCE) Figure 2.

  18. How to Write a Medical Research Paper

    In this video, Mr Richard Villar teaches healthcare professionals how to write a medical research paper based on his experiences and observations and a publi...

  19. Medical Research Paper Topics

    Writing a medical research paper is a comprehensive task that demands a profound understanding of the subject matter, a systematic approach, and a lucid writing style. This process can be quite daunting, especially for those who are new to it. However, with the right guidance and a well-structured plan, it can be a rewarding experience.

  20. How to Write a Medical Abstract for Publication

    OBJECTIVE: State your precise research purpose or question (1-2 sentences) Begin with "To": "We aimed to…" or "The objective of this study was to…" using a verb that accurately captures the action of your study. Connect the verb to an object phrase to capture the central elements and purpose of the study, hypothesis, or research ...

  21. Writing for publication in a medical journal

    The essence of writing for publication in the medical field is distilled into a dozen precepts to guide the anxious author. These precepts focus on the attitude of the writer, rather than the mechanics of writing. A medical author must strive to be the following: Original, honest, innovative, organized, careful, clear, modest, fair-minded ...

  22. How to write a good scientific review article

    A good review article provides readers with an in-depth understanding of a field and highlights key gaps and challenges to address with future research. Writing a review article also helps to expand the writer's knowledge of their specialist area and to develop their analytical and communication skills, amongst other benefits. Thus, the ...

  23. Write it down, then throw it away: Research confirms a simple method

    Credit: Yuta Kanaya. A research group in Japan has discovered that writing down one's reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then shredding it or throwing it away reduces feelings ...

  24. How to write an original research paper (and get it published)

    The purpose of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) is more than just archiving data from librarian research. Our goal is to present research findings to end users in the most useful way. The "Knowledge Transfer" model, in its simplest form, has three components: creating the knowledge (doing the research), translating and transferring it to the user, and incorporating the ...