Guidelines for Writing a Clinical Manuscript
Thank you for considering Clinician Reviews to publish your article. To assist you in the process, we offer you these guidelines to explain our style, content, format, and length requirements. Following these guidelines will make the writing task easier for you, and will help us facilitate the review process.
Please note that Clinician Reviews pays an honorarium for each authored clinical article it publishes.
Whatever type of article you plan to submit, remember that you are writing for an audience of
primary care clinicians. Detailed descriptions of diagnosis or treatment issues that are beyond the scope of practice for primary care practitioners are not appropriate.
CLINICAL REVIEW ARTICLES
Continuing education/continuing medical education (CE/CME) articles
These address a particular condition, illness, or disorder (eg, “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease” or “Urinary Tract Infections”). With a target word count of 3,000 to 4,000, a CE/CME article should include all or most of the major sections below.
Shorter or more specific clinical articles
Some examples of past article titles include “Current Treatment Options for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease” or “Diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections”; word count, 1,500 to 2,000, including relevant sections from the descriptions below.
Abstract
In 100 to 125 words, summarize the most important points in your clinical review article. Some writers find it easier to write this section last.
Introduction
To draw your readers into the article, this section should explain its importance to them and their patients. Incidence of the condition, associated morbidity/mortality figures, and epidemiology would be effective here.
Patient Presentation/Patient History
How does a patient with this condition typically present? Atypically? What are the definitive signs or symptoms? What in the patient’s history (immediate past or past) may put him/her at risk for this disorder and should raise the clinician’s index of suspicion? Discuss the differential diagnosis: What else could present in this manner?
Physical Examination
Walk the reader step by step through the examination of a patient in light of this particular condition or illness. What findings are normal? What should be considered pathologic?
Laboratory Work-up
Based on the physical examination and history, what lab and/or imaging tests should be ordered? Depending on test results, what additional tests might be ordered to confirm/rule out a diagnosis?
Diagnosis
Considering the patient presentation, history, physical exam, and test results, how do you arrive at your diagnosis? What differentials can you exclude? Which patients should you treat, and which should be referred to a specialist?
Treatment/Management
Provide detailed information on treatment, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options. When discussing drugs, use generic names and include drug dosage. Be sure to review the recent literature to confirm that treatment choices are up-to-date, cost-effective, and appropriate for this patient, considering the history and other underlying conditions.
Patient Education
Discuss educating the patient about the condition, including treatment options, management, and prognosis.
Follow-up
When/how should the patient be monitored and followed? When should a patient be referred if the condition does not respond to treatment?
Discussion (if needed)
Are there other diagnostic/treatment considerations that should be discussed?
Conclusion
Summarize the main points of the article in a paragraph or two.
GRAND ROUNDS
This article, the presentation of an actual case study, does not require an abstract or an introduction. It includes the patient presentation, history and physical, testing results, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome, followed by a discussion of the diagnosed condition (including the differential diagnosis, treatment options, and management). Details that might make it possible to identify the patient should be omitted.
Patient Presentation/Patient History
How does a patient with this condition typically present? Atypically? What are the definitive signs or symptoms? What in the patient’s history (immediate past or past) may put him/her at risk for this disorder and should raise the clinician’s index of suspicion? Discuss the differential diagnosis: What else could present in this manner?
Physical Examination
Walk the reader step by step through the examination of a patient in light of this particular condition or illness. What findings are normal? What should be considered pathologic?
Laboratory Work-up
Based on the physical examination and history, what lab and/or imaging tests should be ordered? Depending on test results, what additional tests might be ordered to confirm/rule out a diagnosis?
Diagnosis
Considering the patient presentation, history, physical exam, and test results, how do you arrive at your diagnosis? What differentials can you exclude? Which patients should you treat, and which should be referred to a specialist?
Treatment/Management/Outcome
Provide detailed information on treatment, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic options. When discussing drugs, use generic names and include drug dosage. Be sure to review the recent literature to confirm that treatment choices are up-to-date, cost-effective, and appropriate for this patient, considering the history and other underlying conditions.
IN ADDITION
Referencing
Your manuscript should include references from major scientific literature to support all statements concerning specific published data. Journals listed in the Index Medicus are preferred; textbook references and Web sites should be used sparingly. References should be current (within the last five years, apart from “landmark” studies) and keyed in appropriately; please do not use an automatic reference-numbering system.
…
Tables
Consider using tables to replace long lists, such as “risk factors,” “differential diagnosis,” or “medication choices.” Do not repeat information from the text in a table. Be sure to indicate whether any tables are your original creation or “borrowed” from a journal or textbook. In the latter case, please include a photocopy of the original source material, the complete reference citation, and proof of permission that you have obtained to reprint or adapt the table.
Artwork
Whenever possible, include original artwork (drawings, radiographs, slides, photos) to illustrate your article, each accompanied by a descriptive legend. These should be submitted as .jpg or .tif files, taken, scanned, and/or saved at 300 dpi (dots per inch) at 100%. It is essential to verify this prior to submission, as “print resolution” is different from “screen resolution” (ie, how the image appears on a home computer).
Manuscripts must be sent as an e-mail attachment. On the cover page, include your full name, credentials, complete standard mailing address, home and work phone numbers, and a fax number (if one is convenient).