university of ottawa medical journal workshop
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University of Ottawa Medical Journal Workshop. Feb 11, 2014 Diane Kelsall MD MEd Deputy Editor, CMAJ and Editor, CMAJ Open. CMAJ. Medical knowledge that matt ers. CMAJ Open. Medical research for all. 5 things to know about CMAJ. Circulation over 80,000 in print - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
University of Ottawa Medical Journal Workshop
Feb 11, 2014Diane Kelsall MD MEd
Deputy Editor, CMAJ and Editor, CMAJ Open
CMAJMedical knowledge that matters
CMAJ OpenMedical research for all
1. Circulation over 80,000 in print2. Over 2.2 million unique users at cmaj.ca
annually3. Impact factor of 6.54. 1882 articles submitted in 20135. Overall 17% accept rate (5% in some sections)
5 things to know about CMAJ
How do we choose articles
for publication?
• Multi-step process • Implications for authors• Implications for editors
Manuscript submission system + 1 manuscript coordinator + 2 editors + 2 peer reviewers
Reject most (“red flags”) Peer review some Revision letters for a few Bring the best through to publication
How can we do this quickly?
RIOT
•Relevant•Important/Interesting
•(Original)•True
We don’t want papers that will require a lot of work
Editors are human…
Use of acceptable file formats? All required components included?
Initial evaluation by submission coordinator
Instructions for authors
Typical manuscript file
• Cover letter• Correct journal?• Commissioned?• Previous author correspondence?• Any issues raised?• Language skills?• Author title and position included?
First look
• Article type• Title • Author list
Questions: Are we interested in this topic? Is this the right article type for this topic? Are the authors right for the topic?
First look
• Custom” questions for red flags• Requirements re: word count/tables/figures• Competing interests• Ethics approval• Trial registration• Patient consent
First look…
Study type we publish? Good research question? [RIO] Formatted for CMAJ? Language skills?
Read the abstract(for research)
• For research:• Methods first for “T” in RIOT• Use of appropriate reporting guideline• Confirmation of RIO
Read the article
• For other article types:• RI(O)T• Use of appropriate template
• For all articles:• Adherence to template* • Writing style and language skills• Look for plagiarism, misconduct
Read the article
Authors Topic Clinical trials registration Run text through for plagiarism
Quick searches
Time to first decision?
5 minutes
All papers get a second read
And some get a third…
Immediate intercept (about 600/1000 in research)
Send for review (about 400)
Make decision
Reviewers do NOT make the decision Instructions for reviewers Select reviewers:
Subject matter experts Methodologists Target audience
Send for review
Decision after review Reject (2 editors agree; ~200 in research) Revision/overhaul (2 editors agree) Bring to manuscript meeting for discussion
(~ 200) Revision/overhaul/reject 70 will move forward
Make decision
Pick the right journal Consider more than impact factor Decide on your audience What is the journal looking for?
Read author instructions Write to fit the journal requirements Don’t think that your paper should be the
exception to the rule
How to maximize your chances
Decide what your message is. Choose your title carefully Use clear, understandable language Eliminate acronyms Edit your paper carefully Get someone to review it for you Don’t fuss too much with the cover letter
How to maximize your chances…
Difficult to figure out research question Multiple research questions Authors seem unsure of the study type Methods are vague or confusing Multiple designs
Common problems in research papers
Underpowered Low response rate Too much data and results not clear Poor structure (e.g., results in discussion or
conclusion) Conclusions poorly linked to results or
question Unrepresentative
Common problems in research papers II
The topic and article type don’t match Author groups don’t have appropriate
expertise A similar paper recently published in journal Authors have their own agenda Focus is on very rare conditions Article doesn’t conform to template Rambling writing and disorganization
Common problems in nonresearch papers
Submit the article according to the protocol of the journal
Include all relevant components in proper format
If you have had contact with the Editorial team, it’s ok to drop a line saying that the article is coming
It’s not ok to call/e-mail repeatedly about your paper.
Submitting your article
Respond in a timely fashion. Address each revision carefully. Follow instructions for resubmission. If you have concerns about the requested
revisions, contact the appropriate person.
If revisions are requested
Respond promptly to communications from the journal.
If leaving town for a long time, make sure you are reachable or designate someone. Let the journal know.
Be prepared to review proofs quickly (within a few days).
Be prepared for media involvement.
If your paper is accepted
Read the letter from the journal carefully. There may be an opportunity to resubmit.
Be pleasant in your correspondence. If you have the opportunity to appeal, do so with grace.
Admit that your paper can be improved Offer to revise in accordance with editor and
reviewer comments Clearly address the reasons for rejection
If your paper is rejected
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (www.icmje.org)
World Association of Medical Editors (www.wame.org) Council of Science Editors (
www.councilscienceeditors.org) Committee on Publication Ethics (
http://publicationethics.org) The Equator Network (www.equator-network.org) Journal websites (including Cochrane, GRADE, AGREE)
Resources
Electives (available at most medical journals) Fellowships (CMAJ, BMJ, NEJM, JAMA, CFP) Council of Science Editors courses
Formal training options
Partner with faculty member on peer review Submit a paper to a journal Sign up to be a peer reviewer
Informal training