Preparing Articles for Publication: A Guide for the Writer Who Must Meet Multiple Objectives
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0092-8615/99
1999
Copyright 0 1999 Drug Information Association Inc.
PREPARING ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION: A GUIDE FOR THE WRITER WHO MUST MEET MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES STEPHANIE PHILLIPS,PHD President, Project House, INC., Hackensack, New Jersey
An industry-generated scientific article must satisfy the requirements of several interested parties: the company researchers; their marketing, medical, and legal departments; the author(s); and the journal. The writer drajiing the manuscript should start with a clear understanding of each group S expectations. Insights from the researchers help the writer sort out the most important data. and a list of key communications objectives from marketing helps focus the introduction and the discussion. At the outset, the writer should speak with the authors for their interpretation of the findings and for source references. The writer should prepare a referenced outline for approval by the researchers, the marketing department, and the authors for revision. The outline guides the write6 who may, howeve6 change the emphasis or content as a clearer picture of the topic emerges. A first draft of the manuscript is circulated within the company and to the authors. All parties should keep in mind that the manuscript will ultimately be judged by experts in the jield (peer reviewers) who will-or will not-deem it a scholarly, worthwhile, and original contribution to the medical literature. Key Words: Manuscript development; Marketing; Publication; Referencing; Research
PUBLICATION: THE CULMINATION OF RESEARCH RESEARCHERS ARE IMBUED during their training with a strong belief in the importance of publishing their results. Publication is not only the expected outcome of research but also the measure of its respectability. For an academic scientist, publication is necessary for career advancement. As the “coin of the realm” in academia, publications take great importance in establishing a scientist’s credentials as well as in disseminating new information. A f m grasp of the litera-
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ture is also essential to commanding respect as an academic scientist. Scientists are therefore driven to read the publications of others in order to stay abreast of their field and learn who the innovators are, in addition to acquiring a knowledge of the literature to help formulate new research ideas. In the pharmaceutical industry, publications have a value that goes beyond learned discourse. Strong publications can build a product’s success. This is why such a wide range of company departments take interest in the development of a publication. The marketing, research, medical, and regulatory departments are often involved, along with the authors, investigators, and target journal (Figure 1). This leaves the medical writer subject to input and approval from all of these
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Stephanie Phillips
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FIGURE 1. The m
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