Many new investigators, and even seasoned researchers, become overwhelmed by the process of submitting a manuscript to a biomedical journal. Successful manuscript development requires an organized approach and an understanding of the roles of each section of the paper – introduction/background, methods, results, discussion and conclusions. 

A key first step is review of the desired journal’s author instructions to understand the submission requirements. Also, starting early will allow for a more manageable process. The background and methods sections can be written even before the study results are available. 

Consider reading Welch’s “Preparing Manuscripts for Submission to Medical Journals:  The Paper Trail.” This article provides a practical, step-by-step discussion of the manuscript preparation process. 

Often, a resident’s first journal submission will involve a case report. The October 1, 2006, issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy includes an excellent primer by Henry Cohen, Pharm.D., entitled “How to Write a Patient Case Report.” This article also includes a list of criteria for publishable case reports. 

Also see:

• Establishing Timelines
• Evaluating the Existing Evidence
• Developing the Research Question, Part I
• Developing the Research Question, Part II
• Writing Specific Aims
• Hypothesis Statements
• Efficacy vs. Effectiveness
• Avoiding Bias
• Data Sources
• Study Design
• Survey Research
• Gaining Institutional Support
• Biostatistics
• Human Subjects Protections, Part I
• Human Subjects Protections, Part II
• Data Collection, Display and Manipulation
• Grant Submissions, Part I
• Grant Submissions, Part II
• Grant Submissions, Part III 
• Research Presentations