Medicine:Medical writing

From HandWiki
Short description: Type of writing used in the medical, healthcare and pharmaceuticals professions

A medical writer, also referred to as medical communicator,[1] is a person who applies the principles of clinical research in developing clinical trial documents that effectively and clearly describe research results, product use, and other medical information. Medical writing is a form of technical writing closely associated with scientific technical writing. A medical writer is often required by regulation or organization to follow the five modules of the Common Technical Document (CTD). The CTD format is most commonly used to write white papers. Medical writers ensure these documents comply with regulatory, journal, or other guidelines in terms of content, format, and structure.

Medical writing as a function became established in the pharmaceutical, medical device industry[2] and Contract Research Organizations (CROs)[3] because the industry recognized that it requires special skill to produce well-structured documents that present information clearly and concisely. All new drugs go through the increasingly complex process of clinical trials and regulatory procedures that lead to market approval. This demand for the clear articulation of medical science, drives the demand for well written, standards-compliant documents that medical professionals can easily and quickly read and understand. Similarly, medical institutions engage in translational research, and some medical writers have experience offering writing support to the principal investigators for grant applications and specialized publications.[4][5][6]

The medical writing market is estimated to be USD 3.36 billion in 2020 and is growing at a 12.1% compound annual growth rate.[7]

Overview

Organizations

Several professional organizations represent medical writers around the world. These include:

Books on medical writing

Stephanie Deming of the Council of Science Editors compiled in 2003 a list of books that might be helpful in medical and/or science writing.[11] In 1978 the BMJ editor Stephen Lock recommended Hawkins's 1967 book Speaking and writing in medicine and 4 other books.[12]

Importance of lucidity

The single most important feature of any article is lucidity. Useful guidelines are to write in fairly short sentences, keeping the words and phrases as simple as possible. Reading the article aloud is a good way of discovering how intelligible it is and some authors normally write their first drafts by using a tape recorder. It is also helpful to read articles written by masters of medical style, such as Richard Asher and William Boyd.[13]

Importance of Accessibility

In relation to lucidity, accessible language is key to medical writing. Especially when writing medical materials that are targeted to the general public, using simple language ensures that a wider audience can understand vital information. In the realm of healthcare, patients need their healthcare explained concisely and clearly. Additionally, patients deserve to be involved in their healthcare decisions. This has inspired what is known as "shared care" and is a driver towards more patient-centered practices.[14] Using more accessible language in medical writing inspires shared care and levels the playing field between patients and their providers. Patients can then make critical decisions relating to their healthcare with less stress and frustration.

Medical writing in social media

With the invention of the internet, social media has become a main source of information for patients concerned with certain health issues.[15] It differs from other sources through characteristics such as instantaneous and limitless reach and user-generated content.[16] Unfortunately, these aspects can lead to a lack of quality and reliability. User-generated content often leads to content written by unknown authors where the information itself may be incomplete, unreferenced, or informal. Also, unlike evidence-based medicine, social media tends to magnify anecdotal reports.[17] However, there are measures available to decrease this issue. Individuals can help reduce health misconceptions online by countering false or misleading claims with clear, evidence-based responses and cited sources.[18] Social media presents communication challenges in health discussions, but these can be addressed by minimizing technical jargon, using plain language, and maintaining a concise, professional tone. Identifying the target audience allows for a more precise and relevant approach.[19] Skilled medical writers understand medical language and culture, enabling them to effectively tailor content for specific readerships.[20]

Medical writing in freelance market

Medical writing is a growing sector in the freelance market, with writers specializing in healthcare-related content.[21][22] Freelance medical writers offer services such as writing medical articles, research papers, case studies, and regulatory documents. Many hold advanced degrees in medicine, biology, or related fields and possess expertise in medical terminology and concepts, enabling them to produce accurate and informative content.[23]


See also

References

  1. ↑ "What is a Medical Communicator? - STC Canada West Coast" (in en-US). 2014-01-05. https://stcwestcoast.ca/techniques/what-is-a-medical-communicator. 
  2. ↑ "Writing for Medical Devices and the Impact of New Regulations" (in en-US). 2018-04-18. https://ismpp-newsletter.com/2018/04/18/writing-for-medical-devices-and-the-impact-of-new-regulations/. 
  3. ↑ "Outsourcing of Medical writing services to India | eMedicalMinds" (in en-US). http://emedicalminds.com/2016/10/13/outsourcing-of-medical-writing-services-to-india/. 
  4. ↑ Creswell, J.W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2008, p. 300. ISBN 0-13-613550-1
  5. ↑ "Professional Medical Writing". Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161030002157/http://researchmedics.com/. Retrieved October 29, 2016. 
  6. ↑ "Adaptive Clinical Trials for Overcoming Research Challenges". News-medical.net. 16 September 2013. http://www.news-medical.net/whitepaper/20130916/Adaptive-Clinical-Trials-for-Overcoming-Research-Challenges.aspx. Retrieved October 29, 2016. 
  7. ↑ Markets, Research and (2021-04-12). "Outlook on the Medical Writing Global Market to 2025 - Competitive Analysis and the Impact of COVID-19". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Archived from the original on 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  8. ↑ "Home". http://www.amwa.org/. 
  9. ↑ "Home". http://www.emwa.org/. 
  10. ↑ "Sign Up | LinkedIn". https://www.linkedin.com/signup. 
  11. ↑ "The Science Editor's Bookshelf: Some Favorite Resources of CSE Members". Science Editor 26 (4): 111–117. July–August 2003. https://www.councilscienceeditors.org/wp-content/uploads/v26n4p111-117.pdf. Retrieved 2019-01-18. 
  12. ↑ Lock, Stephen (13 May 1978). "In their own write". Br Med J 1 (6122): 1267–1268. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.6122.1267. 
  13. ↑ Lock, S. (1970). "Writing for a journal". British Journal of Anaesthesia 42 (9): 764–767. doi:10.1093/bja/42.9.764. PMID 5470060. 
  14. ↑ Chamberlain-James, Lisa (2020). "Writing for Patients: When and How". Trilogy MW Special Edition (No.2). https://trilogywriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/62_Writing-for-Patients-When-and-How_Lisa-Chamberlain-James-Deborah-Collyar-Allen-Todd-and-Catina-OLeary_Trilogy-MW-Special-Edition-No2_Feb-2020.pdf.. 
  15. ↑ Ferrão, Sara (December 2020). "Social media: A tool that can benefit public health?". Writing for Patients 29 (4): 44–49. https://doi.org/20474814.. 
  16. ↑ Bulaeva, Ekaterina; Iljasova, Amalia (March 2021). "Social Media Video Content for the Healthcare Industry". Medical Writing 30 (1). https://doi.org/20474814. 
  17. ↑ Ventola, C Lee (July 2014). "Social Media and Health Care Professionals: Benefits, Risks, and Best Practices". P & T: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management 39 (7): 491–520. PMID 25083128. 
  18. ↑ Trethewey, Samuel P (1 May 2020). "The FPM International Awards for Medical Writing in Social Media: A Step in the Right Direction". Postgraduate Medical Journal 96 (1135): 304. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137772. PMID 32241882. https://pmj.bmj.com/content/96/1135/304. Retrieved 1 May 2023. 
  19. ↑ Kalthoff, Gretchen (6 November 2016). "Do's and Don'ts of Healthcare Social Media". https://www.medicalwebexperts.com/blog/dos-and-donts-of-healthcare-social-media/. 
  20. ↑ Oliveira, Kelsey (13 April 2023). "Content Writing for Medical Practices". https://harrisambulatory.com/content-writing-for-medical-practices/. 
  21. ↑ "ÄRZTESTELLEN - Verschiedenes (gewerblich)" (in de). https://www.aerzteblatt.de/anzeigen/sonstiges/anzeige?id=674939&s=. 
  22. ↑ Singh, Namrata; Shah, Shruti (2023-06-01). "The freelance medical writer and the medical writing agency: A symbiotic relationship". Medical Writing 32: 48–52. doi:10.56012/pydv4748. ISSN 2047-4814. 
  23. ↑ Woolley, Karen L.; Ely, Julie A.; Woolley, Mark J. (2006-08-23). "Declaration of Medical Writing Assistance in International Peer-Reviewed Publications". JAMA 296 (8): 929–934. doi:10.1001/jama.296.8.932-b. ISSN 0098-7484. 



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