Writing for the Journal

Bill Liggins

MA, BSc(Hons), FCPS, FInstChP

Regional Director (England Midlands)

There are as many reasons why practitioners do not write for professional journals, as the reasons for doing so. We are all busy people, most of us with a practice to run and little spare time and perhaps there exists some anxiety concerning putting experience into print. However, it is obvious that the vast majority of patient/practitioner interactions take place in the surgery rather than in the rarefied atmosphere of academia, which spawns most papers. We all see interesting patients and/or interesting pathology from time to time and we all have a responsibility to increase the volume of knowledge available to the profession, lead colleagues toward more formal research papers, and perhaps answer some of the more basic questions of our fellow practitioners.

Recording patient interactions in print is rewarding for the author, is a valuable addition to the individual curriculum vitae, and will enhance the journal and the profession as well as create an excellent teaching format. The Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists also provides a valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificate for every article published in ‘Podiatry Review, which can be presented to the Health and Care Professions Council as important evidence of ongoing CPD. For the purposes of this article, I shall look at three common forms of papers regularly published in professional journals: case notes, essays (as in this araticle), and formal

papers.

Case notes, or reports usually originate from outside academia, contain information on the methodology used, and may comment on how further relevant work could be extended. They are essentially objective documentation of practical research. This does not mean that they are academically intimidating! Basically, a patient attends with an interesting condition that is diagnosed and then treated. The practitioner looks up (researches) similar cases and other relevant information, and discusses why their treatment worked (or equally importantly did not). It is common but not necessary to use charts and illustrations in a report. All the findings are summarised, the report is written, and submitted for publication. In a sense, the report is an extended version of the case notes written at the time of treatment, with the added interest of analysis. There is a vast amount of material available online, just type in the name of the condition being treated into any search engine. Any material used in the report should be suitably referenced.

Most reports use an IMRaD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion. Abstract or Executive summary. This brief summary of the report is usually the last thing you write. Introduction. Your introduction describes the purpose of the report, explains why it is necessary or useful, and sets out its precise aims and objectives. Literature review. This describes current research and thinking about the problem or research question, and is often incorporated into the introduction. Methods or Methodology. This describes and justifies the methods or processes used to collect your data. Results or Findings Discussion, Analysis, or Interpretation. This section analyses the results and evaluates the research carried out. 8. Conclusion. The conclusion summarises the report and usually revisits the aim

In contrast, an essay is much more subjective than a report. It is a reflection of the writer’s own views and experience and can comment on past research but displays the writer’s own ideas on the subject. Unlike a report, an essay does not contain graphs, diagrams, and charts although it is divided into cohesive paragraphs and ends in a conclusion that depends on the author’s own views. (Key Differences 2022). A very good example is the Chairman’s article on Minor Surgery in this edition of the Journal. (Harvey 2023). In contrast to an essay, a dissertation is a long piece of work and is designed to research a single topic. “Sometimes known as a thesis (in some countries, this term is used only for the final assignments of PhD degrees, while in other countries ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ are interchangeable), a dissertation is a research project (often) completed as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Typically, a dissertation allows students to present their findings in response to a question or proposition that they choose themselves. The aim of the project is to test the independent research skills students have acquired during their time at university, with the assessment used to help determine their final grade. Although there is usually some guidance from your tutors, the dissertation project is largely independent.” (Collier S. 2022) Dissertations are very interesting pieces of research and will add to the knowledge within the profession as well as being rewarding to the author. The fact that the choice of topic is that of the researcher and will therefore be relevant to the writer and to the profession as a whole makes time spent in the analysis of the subject worthwhile. Typically, a dissertation consists of roughly 10,000 to 15,000 words which may sound daunting but in practice, it is very often difficult to keep a paper down to this level since a very wide range of sources must be researched and analysed in the literature review and properly referenced for future researchers. A typical structure of a dissertation is an introduction of 1,000 words, a literature review of 2,000 words, evidential chapters in total of 6,000 words, and a conclusion of 1,000 words. (Mounsey C. 2013). A dissertation allows practitioners to identify an area of professional inquiry and an appropriate primary and secondary source collection to engage in independent research and apply their professional knowledge to answer a relevant question of their choosing. (Department of History, Sheffield University 2016). The Institute journal uses the Harvard system of referencing ie. Author name(s) with year of publication following in brackets. If the paper referenced has more than one author then the first three authors should be cited with more than three noted as ‘et al.’ All papers (with the occasional exception of essays) must be referenced. A non-referenced paper is of no scientific standing and is therefore a useless impediment to researchers. Likewise, copying the work of others (plagiarism) is simply cheating your colleagues but most of all yourself. As in this essay, quoting from others is part and parcel of a paper but it must be made clear by referencing which author is being cited. If a paragraph is cited, as in the quotation from Collier above, then the paragraph should be within quotation marks. Do not cite Wikipedia as a source. Wikipedia is an ‘open editing’ publication and is therefore unreliable. Many cases of ‘circular source’ have been noted. It is, however, reasonable to use it as a guide to reliable primary and secondary sources. As a general rule, if in doubt, follow the examples in ‘Podiatry Review’.

So, as the Chinese say, ‘a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step’. Identify an interesting case and get writing. The Journal panel will always assist you!

REFERENCES:

Collier S. topuniversities.com/blog/what-dissertation”. Downloaded 03/11/2022

Department of History Sheffield University. MUSE (https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nap/panel/login)

Harvey M. Minor Surgery. Podiatry Review 2023 Vol. 80 No 1.

Keydifferences.com/difference-between-essay-and-report.html. Downloaded 01/11/22

Mounsey C. ‘How to write Successful Essays, Dissertations & Exams’ Oxford University Press 2013. 134 Royal Society.org/journals/authors/authorguidelines. Downloaded 30/10/22