Richard Saitz MD, MPH
Section of General Internal Medicine, BMC
Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology, BUSM and BUSPH
Associate Director, Office of Clinical Research
Special thanks to Howard Bauchner, incoming JAMA editor, for connecting me with the BMJ Group and for sharing his talks and experience on this subject with me




As a researcher
– 120 journal articles (not editorials, case reports, reviews of other articles)
As a writer
– Book chapters, books
– Article summaries and comment (JW)
As a peer reviewer
– For several dozen journals

NB easy to get started and good experience


As an editor
–
–
Journal Watch (‘97-‘10)
Physicians’ First Watch (‘06-)

Mass Med Soc
– Alcohol, Other Drugs & Health (‘04-)
– Principles of Addiction Medicine
–
–
Evidence-Based Medicine (‘10-)

BMJ Group
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice (‘11-)

BioMed Central







Forces you to organize thoughts
Product worthy of publication
To impact science
To impact clinical care
Recognition and satisfaction
Promotion






Primary research article
Synthesis research article (systematic review, simulations)
Review article
Case report (and review)
Letter






What is the journal aim? What do they usually publish? Ask a knowledgeable colleague…
Is your paper of interest to their audience
(generalist v. specialist)?
Journal prestige and impact?
– Often cited in press? Web hits? Other impact?
– Impact factor


# citations this year/articles in prior 2 years
NEJM-47.05; Annals Int Med 16.2; JAIDS 4.21
Open access journals
Should you aim high?
– Is your paper hot?
Journal Finder http://scharrlibrary.blogspot.com/2009/07/cool-tool-2-journal-finder.html
JANE http://biosemantics.org/jane/index.php










Instructions. Follow them. For the correct paper type. They (e.g. word limits) apply to your paper.
Authorship
The abstract
Paper structure
Use reporting guidelines
– EQUATOR, CONSORT
Writing style (clear, brief, consistent)
Caution re: plagiarism, duplicate publication
Proofread!
Reviewer suggestions



Plagiarism detectors
– www.turnitin.com
– www.ithenticate.com
– www.doccop.com
– eTBLAST ( http://etest.vbi.vt.edu/etblast3/
– http://www.plagiarismchecker.com/
– and the freeware which is listed in this Wikipedia article
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism_detection .
Editors search google, google scholar, CRISP/NIH
Reporter, Medline, other databases.



Abstract
– A good one is critical. Structured. Clear. Concise.
Minimize jargon and abbreviations. Conclusions related, in fact based on, results.
Paper
– Introduction, methods, results, conclusions, references
– Justify and state hypothesis/aim, method appropriate to aim, results related to aim, conclusions related to aim…



JAMA, BMJ – two-thirds
Why?
– Wrong journal/audience
– Low impact
– Not original
– Methods fatally flawed/results don’t support conclusions
– Bad abstract





By associate editor (who can also reject)
1-3 reviewers, maybe statistical; from suggestions or lists or search
– takes 1-3 months
– Blinded vs unblinded review
Associate editor reviews and takes peer reviews into account
Makes recommendation to editor or editorial board member panel


“We regret to inform you that your paper is not acceptable for publication in its present form.”
– A. Rejection
– B. Revise and resubmit (major, minor)
– C. Accepted with minor revision
– D. Accepted








Good news.
No guarantee (revision may shed light on fatal flaws)
Put the reviews in a drawer
Do what they ask…with grace—respectful disagreement iis fine but don’t argue
Reviewers may disagree: editor guides, or you choose
Cover letter: Follow instructions (format) and answer every query
Make changes in paper (long explanations not usually helpful)






You aren’t finished
Proofs-read carefully and return quickly (examples)
Submission to PubMed Central (and review of formatting)
Tell the press (respect embargo)
Response to letters…




Consider major comments and revise
Appeals-not usually fruitful
Submit elsewhere





Publishing is a good thing
It involves art and science—best to get guidance from someone with experience who will invest time in your writing product
Journal articles take years (to do studies, and then to write numerous drafts and then requested revisions)
Try it! But don’t underestimate… rsaitz@bu.edu