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BASICS << Different Publication Types
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Different Publication Types
Published 14 November 2008, written by Julie Adkins
Medical publications in peer-reviewed journals play a pivotal role in the dissemination of new scientific and clinical data, enabling information to be directed at specific target audiences. This article provides a brief overview of some of the different publications and the types of data to which they are most suited.
Primary papers
The purpose of a primary paper is to report the complete results of an original piece of scientific research or a group of data from related studies (for example, safety data or data from a specific patient group such as the elderly or children). A primary paper is usually authored by the key trialists, and undergoes peer review by a journal’s editorial board. The time from first submission to publication (lead time) for primary papers can be prolonged, approaching 6 months for some journals; however, many journals now have a rapid publication pathway for ‘pivotal’ papers considered to be of significant scientific interest.
Only one primary paper per set of data can be published, and, as a general rule, the vast majority of journals will not consider a manuscript that is under consideration by another journal at the same time. However, according to the ICJME1, ‘this does not preclude the journal considering a paper that has been rejected by another journal, or a complete report that follows publication of a preliminary report, such as an abstract or poster displayed at a professional meeting. Nor does it prevent journals considering a paper that has been presented at a scientific meeting but not published in full or that is being considered for publication in a proceedings or similar format.’ For complete transparency, the ICJME also stipulates that the trial registration number should be included within the manuscript.
Publication of a paper that overlaps substantially with one already published i.e. duplicate publication is not allowed, although recycling and publication of the same article in different languages and for a different audience may be permissible if the relevant journal editors agree. The ‘salami slicing’ of data from a single study, or from small studies with overlapping results, to create several manuscripts for publication in different journals should be avoided. In this situation, a single, informative, concise paper is better than two or more less ‘weighty’ papers. Exceptions to this are large clinical or epidemiological studies that evaluate different, well-defined issues.
Reviews
A review may cover the management of a whole disease area, everything on a single product, or focus on a specific aspect of a product or disease area. Review articles can also be used to review the findings of primary publications in support of specific communication messages or to highlight an unmet need in a specific treatment area, setting the scene prior to drug launch. Overall, reviews are an excellent way of generating extra ‘noise’ about a product throughout its lifecycle.
Reviews may be invited (journal editor approaches an opinion leader) or unsolicited (uninvited). For unsolicited reviews it is advisable for the author to contact the journal to gauge their interest in the subject area; this also helps to clarify whether a similar review is already in the journal’s pipeline.
The ideal review should be topical and up-to-date, balanced, authoritative and readable. Many journals demand complete transparency about the choice of material included and request that the search strategy, selection criteria used for the material covered, and the criteria used to include or exclude studies are described in the review. Reviews with the highest credibility are those written by a key opinion leader.
Case reports
A case report is used to describe a specific patient case, detailing what happened to the patient, the time course of events and why a particular management pathway was chosen. It is important to note that not all journals will consider case reports and they can be difficult to get published. However, the more original a case, the more likely it is to be published so it is usually worth conducting a literature search to gauge its level of originality. On the other hand, the case should not be a one-off but one that the reader might encounter, and should provide guidance on how to recognise and manage a similar problem.
Letters to the editor
Letters to the editor are short pieces of correspondence (typically <500 words) in response to previously published articles in the same journal and serve as an important medium for debate in the medical literature. They are not usually subject to peer review. In some cases, a letter to the editor may initiate a series of exchanges that continue for several issues. Free-standing letters that express an opinion and are unlinked to any previous publication are also considered by some journals. If a letter relates to a recently published article then rapid submission is essential (within 1-2 weeks of the original publication for a weekly journal). Although publication is not guaranteed, a letter to the editor, if accepted. has the potential for more rapid publication than other publication formats.
Editorials
An editorial is usually a commissioned article that provides commentary and analysis on a topic discussed in the same issue of the journal, allowing a key investigator or opinion leader to present their viewpoint.
Journal supplements
A supplement is a collection of papers that deals with related issues or topics and may be published as a separate issue of the journal or as part of a regular issue. Supplements are usually funded by sources other than the journal’s publisher, with sponsored satellite symposia at congresses a common source of content. As well as being broadly educational, supplements also provide a useful way of publishing many messages on one drug within a single document. However, although peer reviewed, supplements generally carry less credibility than review papers published in peer reviewed journals.
Congress abstracts
Abstracts allow the presentation of the latest and often preliminary preclinical and clinical data at scientific congresses. Usually short narratives (typically 250 words), abstracts are often printed in a supplement to the official journal for the society organising the meeting or alternatively may be published in a stand-alone book. To increase the chance of acceptance, it is essential that the relevant style guidelines are closely followed when writing an abstract, particularly with respect to word count. For acceptance, congresses often require a declaration that the abstract/data have not be presented at a previous meeting.
1 International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) – Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals. Available from: http://www.icmje.org
About the author:
Julie Adkins (E: juliec.adkins@googlemail.com) is a freelance medical writer and consultant, with many years of experience in publication planning and medical communications.
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Feedback: Do you have any comments about this article? Contact the Editor, Mary Greenacre.
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