Expert advice on publishing an article in a medical journal
Having collaborated with many scientists and physicians to publish their academic papers, I've gathered some valuable insights into the process. Most scientists and physicians manage busy labs, clinics, or practices but also aspire to contribute to furthering their field of study, enhancing their profile, making discoveries, conducting studies, sharing exciting cases, or exploring new uses for existing medications.
Here are the most critical factors for preparing your findings for publication in a medical science journal:
1. Uncover the State of Current Medical Knowledge
Even if you're well-versed in your specialty, start each submission with a robust knowledge base on the article's subjects by conducting a literature review of similar studies and relevant background. This foundation will help you position your research effectively and answer critical questions:
1. Is the article advancing the field or solidifying others' findings?
2. Can you focus on new, critical aspects previously unexplored?
3. What exemplary references can serve as models for your article?
In addition, a thorough literature review makes writing more focused and streamlined.
2. Target the Right Journal
Select a journal relevant to your topic. The impact factor (IF) is a scientometric index calculated by Clarivate, reflecting the yearly mean number of citations of articles published in the last two years in each journal.
It's used as a proxy for the journal's importance and prestige. However, not all research is suited for high-impact journals. Sometimes, aiming for journals with lower impact factors is better for getting published.
Here's a link to my blog with the list of the top 50 medical journals with impact factor:
The Top 50 Medical Journals with Impact Factors and Readership
3. Understand the Journal's Requirements
Research the journal's requirements before drafting your manuscript. Ensure the article fits within the publication's scope and mission. Be aware of potential publication fees, copyright, and language considerations.
Each journal has specific requirements for information and content, including the length and formatting of abstracts, tables, graphs, and references, which can be pretty tedious to follow. Examples of submission guidelines:
Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Tailoring your manuscript to these requirements from the start can save significant rework and time later.
4. Begin with Complete Data Sets
While initial drafts are possible without the complete data, having the entire dataset from the outset is ideal. It allows you to tell a compelling story about your findings and saves time and a lot of back and forth during the writing process.
With complete data, you can present a comprehensive and coherent narrative that can make for a compelling story about new insights and discoveries.
5. Get the References Right
When starting your literature review or developing your first draft, create a robust reference library using software like Endnote or Zotero. These tools allow for easy editing of any draft and help manage references based on the targeted journal's formatting requirements. Starting with a solid reference management system is much easier than fixing references at the end.
Example of Endnote reference types
6. Establish Robust Quality Control
Even if you work with an external medical writer, your name is on the paper as the author. Please ensure that all your in-depth knowledge of the topic and deep understanding of the research finds its way into the final article. It is essential to take time for final reviews and edits and add the depth only you can provide as an expert. If multiple authors are involved, please make sure that all authors have the opportunity to comment and agree on crucial manuscript changes to avoid conflicting directions or versioning issues.
Following these recommendations can enhance your chances of publishing a successful article in a scientific or medical academic journal.
