WRITING A REVIEW ARTICLE STRUCTURE AND STYLE OF A REVIEW ARTICLE Saleem Saaed Qader MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGS Consultant General Surgeon, Lecturer General Director, Medical Research Centre, Hawler Medical University Department of Surgery, Rizgary Teaching Hospital Department of Surgery, Medical College, Hawler Medical University TMC Oct 2014

A scientific paper should include answer to:  Why it was done (The Aim)?  How it was done (The Method)?  What has been done (The Result)?  What was learned from it (The Conclusion)? Bad writting often prevents/delays publication of a good science Many scientists are poor writers The key for the success is a good writting & publication

Publication (Visibility and Communication) 2. It is essential for the science to progress 1.A scientific work is not complete until the results are published 3. You must document your work thoroughly before other scientists can: Repeat it or Build on it or Criticise it or Admire it

The Key of scientific writing:  Calrity and Simplicity  English (gives the sense in the few short words) “Published and Understood”

A scientific paper  Thesis (to get a degree)  Review article (invitation by a certain journal)  Original article (new)  Abstract (summary)  Short communication (short, new and important)  Goveronmental report  Conference report/ proceeding  Institutional bulletin

Reasons for writing articles 1. To get one or more of the following: A.Obtaining a higher academic degree B.A new, better job C. Promotion (in our culture) D. Fame 2. Idealistic: 1.Advancing knowledge 2.Facilitates theory development 3.Closes area where a plethora of research exists 4.Uncover areas where research is needed Publications will provide important input for the future researches Publications will provide important input for the future researches

What is a review article?  A review of published, relevant literatures  A classification/ evaluation of published articles in certain field of science Review article is more time consuming and have fewer outlets than original articles It is written either in the form of a paper/ thesis it is a formal document, the sole prove that you have done a contribution to the knowledge through what others have done

Meta-analysis Data from seperate studies that address a similar research question are combined quantitatively and then analysed statistically

It is organized according to a “guiding concept” Thus, your thesis/ paper must show two important things Failure to prove that, generally leads to R ejection of the thesis or paper 1.you have identified problem/ question which has not been previously answered 2. you have solved the problem or answered the question

 Don’t list as many articles as possible  Demonstrate your intellectual ability to: Recognize relevant information Evaluate/ synthesize according to the guiding concept How to write to a review article? The skills needed to meet the above conditions: Information seeking: scan literatures (manual/ compute) to identify useful articles and books Critical appraisal: unbiased and valid studies

It's usually a bad sign when every paragraph of your review begins with the names of researchers Instead: organize your review into useful, informative sections that present themes or identify trends

IT MUST: 1.Organize information and relate it to the thesis or research question you are developing 2.Synthesize results into a summary of what is & isn't known 3.Identify controversy when it appears in the literature 4.Develop questions for further research A literature review is NOT just a summary, but a conceptually organized synthesis of the results of your search Avoid plagiarism or duplication

Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Review of Literature 1.What problem/ objectives/ or question to define? 2.What type of literature review? Theory? methodology? policy? Quantitative/ qualitative study Theory? methodology? policy? Quantitative/ qualitative study 3. What is the scope? Which discipline? Nursing, psychology, sociology or medicine 4.Is there a specific relationship between the literatures? 5.Have I critically analyzed and assed the literatures? 6.Do I discuss the strengths/ weaknesses of the literatures? 7.Have I cited & discussed studies contrary to my perspective? relevant, appropriate and useful!!!

8. How good are my information seeking skills? Wide enough to include all the relevant material? Narrow enough to exclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sources used appropriate for the length of paper? Narrow enough to exclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sources used appropriate for the length of paper? Aim to publish a few first- rate articles rather than numerous minor contributions; quality is better than quantity Do not slice a piece of work into several short papers without a good reason

A THESIS (REVIEW) 1.Title Page 2.Abstract 3.Introduction 4.Methods 5.Results 6.Discussion 7.Conclusions 8.Acknowledgements 9.References 10.Legends for tables and figures 11. Tables 12. Figures Annexes

REVIEW ARTICLE 1.Abstract 2.Introduction, Discussion & Conclusions 3.Acknowledgements 4.References 5.Legends for tables and figures 6. Tables 7. Figures The structure depends on the instruction of the journal