How to Write a Scientific Paper Hann-Chorng Kuo Department of Urology Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital

Construction of A Scientific Paper Title page Title page Abstract Abstract Manuscript Manuscript References References Figures Figures Tables Tables All must be prepared in double-space with page numbered on the manuscript All must be prepared in double-space with page numbered on the manuscript

Central Theme of the Paper What are the purposes of this study? What are the purposes of this study? What previous studies already show What previous studies already show How to design the study How to design the study Tool for assessments Tool for assessments How to analyze the results How to analyze the results How to present the data and discuss them How to present the data and discuss them What is the impact of this study What is the impact of this study

Originality is the most important Do not follow previous works Do not follow previous works Make small changes Make small changes Detailed assessment Detailed assessment Large patient scale Large patient scale Long-term follow-up Long-term follow-up Different statistics Different statistics Do a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study Do a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study

Start writing the paper once you have a new idea Introduction – when you are searching previous studies Introduction – when you are searching previous studies Materials and methods – designing study Materials and methods – designing study Results – when you make expected results Results – when you make expected results Discussions – during harvesting the data Discussions – during harvesting the data Try to write a proposal for any study Try to write a proposal for any study Once you complete the study, the paper had been done Once you complete the study, the paper had been done

Reviewer ’ s recommendation Is this paper significant? New? Is this paper significant? New? Scientific quality? superior good fair poor Scientific quality? superior good fair poor Presentation? Presentation? Is the title specific and appropriate for literature search retrieval? Is the title specific and appropriate for literature search retrieval? Is the abstract complete yet succinct? Is the abstract complete yet succinct? Does the abstract provide details? Does the abstract provide details?

Guidelines for assessing scientific articles Does the introduction explain the topic and cite appropriate previous work? Does the introduction explain the topic and cite appropriate previous work? Are the objectives clearly stated in the introduction? Are the objectives clearly stated in the introduction? Is the study population detailed adequately in the materials section? Is the study population detailed adequately in the materials section? Are the methods described well enough to reproduce the experiment or investigation? Are the methods described well enough to reproduce the experiment or investigation?

Guidelines for assessing scientific articles Can the reader assess the results based on the data provided? Can the reader assess the results based on the data provided? Do the data presented supported the author ’ s conclusions? Do the data presented supported the author ’ s conclusions? Have the authors provided the reader with potential problems and limitations of study Have the authors provided the reader with potential problems and limitations of study Are the references complete, accurate and appropriately cited in the text Are the references complete, accurate and appropriately cited in the text

Abstract Purposes – point out the key purpose Purposes – point out the key purpose Materials and methods – study designed, main inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessment methods, primary end-point Materials and methods – study designed, main inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessment methods, primary end-point Results – number of subjects, results of primary and secondary end-points Results – number of subjects, results of primary and secondary end-points Conclusions – significance of results on key purposes Conclusions – significance of results on key purposes Key words Key words

Introduction Short description of history and disease Short description of history and disease Clinical relevance of previous works Clinical relevance of previous works Hypothesis of this study Hypothesis of this study Purposes of the study – why we have to do this study, any clinical implication if the purpose of the study is achieved Purposes of the study – why we have to do this study, any clinical implication if the purpose of the study is achieved Design of the study Design of the study

Materials and methods Number of patients enrolled Number of patients enrolled Inclusion criteria Inclusion criteria Exclusion criteria Exclusion criteria IRB and informed consent IRB and informed consent Assessment methods Assessment methods Primary and secondary end-points Primary and secondary end-points Definition of therapeutic results Definition of therapeutic results

Results Number and demographics of subjects Number and demographics of subjects Results of primary end-point Results of primary end-point Results of secondary end-point Results of secondary end-point Comparative study Comparative study Adverse effects Adverse effects Tables and figures Tables and figures Kaplan-Meier survival curve Kaplan-Meier survival curve

Discussions The most important findings in study The most important findings in study Do not repeat descriptions in Introduction Do not repeat descriptions in Introduction Clinical implication of the results Clinical implication of the results Cite references to back-up your discussion Cite references to back-up your discussion Difference of results of this study from other reported results Difference of results of this study from other reported results Do not discuss anything the results did not show Do not discuss anything the results did not show

Conclusions One or two sentences to conclude your study One or two sentences to conclude your study Do not conclude anything your results did not support or show Do not conclude anything your results did not support or show Make a strong conclusion Make a strong conclusion

References Cite the newest references Cite the newest references Cite the references of the possible reviewers Cite the references of the possible reviewers Do not cite irrelevant references Do not cite irrelevant references Too many references is not necessary Too many references is not necessary

Reviewer ’ s Comments Comments Comments Accept as is Accept as is Accept with minor revisions Accept with minor revisions Major revisions Major revisions Major revisions with low priority Major revisions with low priority Reject Reject

Reply of Reviewer ’ s comments A reply with many critiques is better than rejection A reply with many critiques is better than rejection Reply the comments as soon as possible Reply the comments as soon as possible Make changes according to the reviewers ’ comment Make changes according to the reviewers ’ comment Make changes and submit to another journal if it is not accepted Make changes and submit to another journal if it is not accepted The prepared paper must be published !! The prepared paper must be published !!

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