getting started in medical writing workshop at the amwa-dvc 2005 getting started in medical writing...
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Presented at thePresented at the AMWAAMWA--DVC DVC 2005 Getting Started in Medical Writing Workshop2005 Getting Started in Medical Writing Workshop
Scope of Medical WritingScope of Medical Writing
Getting Started in Medical Writing Workshop Getting Started in Medical Writing Workshop January 15, 2005, Debbie Early, PhD
©© Copyright 2005 Debbie Early, PhD
Overview of Scope of Medical Overview of Scope of Medical WritingWriting
IntroductionsIntroductions
Characteristics of Successful Medical WritersCharacteristics of Successful Medical Writers
Medical Writing Jobs, Assignments and EmployersMedical Writing Jobs, Assignments and Employers
Career Paths to Scientific and Marketing Medical WritingCareer Paths to Scientific and Marketing Medical Writing
Salaries of Medical WritersSalaries of Medical Writers
What do you know about Medical What do you know about Medical Writing as a Career?Writing as a Career?
Work is interesting and lucrative, high demand existsWork is interesting and lucrative, high demand exists
Source: Sahadi, 2004Source: Sahadi, 2004
Two types of medical writer:Two types of medical writer:
Scientific (medicine, science, pharmacy degree etc.)Scientific (medicine, science, pharmacy degree etc.)
Marketing (journalism, English degree)Marketing (journalism, English degree)
Source: Bonk, 1998Source: Bonk, 1998
Medical Writers’ Satisfaction With Medical Writers’ Satisfaction With WorkWork
Very Satisfied
Mostly Satisfied
Satisfied
Mostly Unsatisfied Very Unsatisfied
30%
1%5%
19%
45%
Source: Gray and Hamilton, Source: Gray and Hamilton, 20042004
Who becomes a Medical Writer?Who becomes a Medical Writer?
Requires a combination of technical skills in Requires a combination of technical skills in medical sciences and rhetorical skills in language medical sciences and rhetorical skills in language artsarts
2004 AMWA survey showed approximately:2004 AMWA survey showed approximately:65% AMWA members are educated at 65% AMWA members are educated at masters or doctorate levelmasters or doctorate level50% are science educated; the other half are 50% are science educated; the other half are humanities educatedhumanities educated
Highest Educational LevelHighest Educational Level
Advanced Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Associate’s Degree or Below
2%
33%
35%
30%
Source: Gray and Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004Hamilton, 2004
Field of Highest DegreeField of Highest DegreeCommunication Communication
(4.3%)(4.3%)
Public Health (3.1%)Public Health (3.1%)
Nursing (2.4%)Nursing (2.4%)
Technical Writing Technical Writing (2.4%)(2.4%)
Other (24.3%)Other (24.3%)
Science (33.8%)Science (33.8%)
English (14.4%)English (14.4%)
Journalism Journalism (5.3%)(5.3%)
Pharmacy (5.1%)Pharmacy (5.1%)
Medicine (4.8%)Medicine (4.8%)
Source: Gray and Hamilton, Source: Gray and Hamilton, 20042004
Some Shared Attributes and Some Shared Attributes and CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Attention to detailAttention to detailAbility to writeAbility to writeAbility to work across teams (often remotely)Ability to work across teams (often remotely)Ability to work independentlyAbility to work independentlyGood communicatorsGood communicatorsKnowledge or aptitude for understanding Knowledge or aptitude for understanding medicinemedicineEducation: College education in science, Education: College education in science, medicine, English or journalismmedicine, English or journalism
More Shared Attributes and More Shared Attributes and CharacteristicsCharacteristics
Deadline orientatedDeadline orientated
Thorough researchThorough research
AccuracyAccuracy
Logical OrganizationLogical Organization
Clear thinking and writingClear thinking and writing
Ability to write clearlyAbility to write clearly
Source: AMWASource: AMWA--DVC Web site, 2004DVC Web site, 2004
Examples of Work Scientific Medical Examples of Work Scientific Medical Writers Undertake Writers Undertake
Journal abstracts and articles Journal abstracts and articles Advertising copy for pharmaceuticals Advertising copy for pharmaceuticals and other products and other products Internet content Internet content Medical education materials Medical education materials Pharmaceutical marketing and Pharmaceutical marketing and advertisingadvertising
More Examples of Work Scientific More Examples of Work Scientific Medical Writers UndertakeMedical Writers Undertake
Physician speechesPhysician speechesPosters Posters Sales training manuals Sales training manuals Regulatory documents (clinical trial Regulatory documents (clinical trial reports, integrated summaries of efficacy reports, integrated summaries of efficacy and safety, investigator brochures etc.) and safety, investigator brochures etc.) Policy documentsPolicy documents
Source: AMWASource: AMWA--DVC Web site, 2004DVC Web site, 2004
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulations Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulations International Conference on Harmonization and Good International Conference on Harmonization and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (ICHClinical Practice Guidelines (ICH--GCP) GCP) New Drug Application (NDA)New Drug Application (NDA)Investigational New Drug Application (IND Application)Investigational New Drug Application (IND Application)Informed Consent Form (ICF); also know as Informed Informed Consent Form (ICF); also know as Informed Consent Document (ICD)Consent Document (ICD)Clinical Study Report (CSR); also known as Clinical Trial Clinical Study Report (CSR); also known as Clinical Trial Report (CTR)Report (CTR)ProtocolProtocol
Some Scientific Medical Some Scientific Medical Writing Terms Writing Terms
Submissions (Investigational New Drug Submissions (Investigational New Drug Application) Application) IND and NDA Annual Reports, Amendments, IND and NDA Annual Reports, Amendments, Supplements Supplements Clinical Study Reports (Phase IClinical Study Reports (Phase I--IV) IV) Subject NarrativesSubject NarrativesInvestigators Brochure and Updates Investigators Brochure and Updates ProtocolsProtocols
Examples of Examples of Regulatory DocumentsRegulatory Documentsin the Pharmaceutical Industryin the Pharmaceutical Industry
Examples of Work Marketing Examples of Work Marketing Medical Writers UndertakeMedical Writers Undertake
Advertising copy Advertising copy Articles Articles CDs CDs Editing Editing Internet content Internet content Magazine articles Magazine articles -- popular presspopular pressMagazine articles Magazine articles -- professional pressprofessional pressMarketing materialsMarketing materials
More Examples of Work Marketing More Examples of Work Marketing Medical Writers UndertakeMedical Writers Undertake
Newsletters Newsletters Patient education materials Patient education materials Public relations materials Public relations materials Proofreading Proofreading Training manualsTraining manuals
Source: AMWASource: AMWA--DVC Web site, 2004DVC Web site, 2004
Primary EmployerPrimary Employer
5
3%
7%
12%8%
34%
10%14%
7%CRO
Other
Research or Education
Health
Care OrgCommunication or Advertising Co
Journal or Publisher
Association or
Professional Society
Pharmaceutical
Company
University or Medical School
Source: Gray Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004and Hamilton, 2004
Sample JobsSample JobsMedical writer for medical communications firm: to Medical writer for medical communications firm: to create pharmaceutical/health care educational programscreate pharmaceutical/health care educational programs
Scientific medical writer for medical communications Scientific medical writer for medical communications company: to prepare clinical and precompany: to prepare clinical and pre--clinical clinical manuscripts, abstracts, and posters; clinical trial reports; manuscripts, abstracts, and posters; clinical trial reports; and medical education materials and medical education materials
Director of scientific editing for a biotech company: to Director of scientific editing for a biotech company: to edit and/or reedit and/or re--write scientific papers and grant write scientific papers and grant applications, and educate and train staff in scientific applications, and educate and train staff in scientific writing and editing writing and editing
Source: AMWASource: AMWA--DVC Web site, 2004DVC Web site, 2004
Career Paths to Scientific and Career Paths to Scientific and Marketing Medical WritingMarketing Medical Writing
Career Paths to Medical WritingCareer Paths to Medical Writing
There are two main career paths to becoming a There are two main career paths to becoming a medical writer:medical writer:
Writers who learn to write about medicineWriters who learn to write about medicineScientists who learn to writeScientists who learn to write
Newer path is to study to become a medical writer (e.g. Newer path is to study to become a medical writer (e.g. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Masters in University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Masters in Biomedical Communications)Biomedical Communications)
More about Career Paths to Medical More about Career Paths to Medical WritingWriting
Best way to learn:Best way to learn:build skills build skills make contacts/network make contacts/network explore career opportunities (e.g., by joining explore career opportunities (e.g., by joining AMWA)AMWA)
Also pursue informal/formal trainingAlso pursue informal/formal training
Informal Medical Writing TrainingInformal Medical Writing TrainingRead medical and pharmaceutical journalsRead medical and pharmaceutical journalsSubscribe to online newsletters (e.g. National Center for Subscribe to online newsletters (e.g. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health)Education in Maternal and Child Health)Develop an understanding of basic statisticsDevelop an understanding of basic statistics
Obtain and be familiar with style guides and medical Obtain and be familiar with style guides and medical dictionaries (e.g. AMA)dictionaries (e.g. AMA)Keep up to date withKeep up to date with
FDA guidelinesFDA guidelinesSoftware skills (MS Word, PowerPoint, Acrobat)Software skills (MS Word, PowerPoint, Acrobat)
Source: AMWASource: AMWA--DVC Web site, 2004DVC Web site, 2004
Formal Medical Writing TrainingFormal Medical Writing Training
Complete a course in statistics, Complete a course in statistics, pharmacology or life sciencespharmacology or life sciencesEnroll in AMWA’s continuing education Enroll in AMWA’s continuing education certification programcertification programUndertake a medical writing program Undertake a medical writing program through college or universitythrough college or university
Source: AMWASource: AMWA--DVC Web site, 2004DVC Web site, 2004
Freelance or EmployeeFreelance or Employee
Decision rests on:Decision rests on:ExperienceExperienceFinancial and lifestyle needsFinancial and lifestyle needsTolerance for riskTolerance for riskNeed to be with other peopleNeed to be with other peopleAbility to market oneselfAbility to market oneselfPersonal motivation and disciplinePersonal motivation and disciplineIndustry trends and job marketIndustry trends and job market
Salaries of Medical Writers: Salaries of Medical Writers: Employee and FreelanceEmployee and Freelance
Medical Writers may Earn…Medical Writers may Earn…
Between about $30,000 to $100,000Between about $30,000 to $100,000
Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004
Results of Regression AnalysisResults of Regression Analysisin 1058 subjectsin 1058 subjects
High correlation between age and years experience, High correlation between age and years experience, (years experience used for analysis)(years experience used for analysis)
AMWA certification not significant in modelAMWA certification not significant in model
Men earn more than women, even when they have Men earn more than women, even when they have similar experience and educationsimilar experience and education
RR22 = 0.5123 (model explains 51% of variance in = 0.5123 (model explains 51% of variance in income)income)
Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004
More Regression Analysis More Regression Analysis
+ + $16,904$16,904
Master’s DegreeMaster’s Degree
+ + $25,356 $25,356
Advanced DegreeAdvanced Degree
+ + $7,969 for being male$7,969 for being male
++$8,452$8,452
Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor’s Degree
++$1,263 each year of experience$1,263 each year of experience
++$23,562 for being employed by pharmaceutical or$23,562 for being employed by pharmaceutical or
communications or advertising firmcommunications or advertising firm
Associate’s degree or less = $19,768 Associate’s degree or less = $19,768
Source: Gray Source: Gray and Hamilton, 2004and Hamilton, 2004
To recap…..To recap…..
Characteristics of Successful Medical WritersCharacteristics of Successful Medical Writers
Medical Writing Jobs and EmployersMedical Writing Jobs and Employers
Career Paths to Scientific and Marketing Medical WritingCareer Paths to Scientific and Marketing Medical Writing
Salaries of Medical WritersSalaries of Medical Writers
Suggested Additional ReadingSuggested Additional Reading
Iverson C. Style. In: Iverson C. Style. In: American Medical Association American Medical Association Manual of Style.Manual of Style. A Guide for Authors and EditorsA Guide for Authors and Editors. 9th ed. . 9th ed. Media, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Williams; 1998.Media, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Williams; 1998.
Schwager E. Grammar and Usage. In: Schwager E. Grammar and Usage. In: Medical English Medical English Usage and AbusageUsage and Abusage. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press; 1991.. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press; 1991.
ReferencesReferences
Bonk RJ. Medical Writing for Pharmaceutical Research. In: Bonk RJ. Medical Writing for Pharmaceutical Research. In: Medical Medical Writing in Drug Development. A Practical Guide for PharmaceuticaWriting in Drug Development. A Practical Guide for Pharmaceutical l Research.Research. New York, NY: The Pharmaceuticals Product Press; New York, NY: The Pharmaceuticals Product Press; 1998:31998:3--36.36.
Gray T and Hamilton CW. Findings From the 2004 AMWA Salary Gray T and Hamilton CW. Findings From the 2004 AMWA Salary Survey. Survey. American Medical Writers Association JournalAmerican Medical Writers Association Journal. . 2004;19(4):1452004;19(4):145--151. 151.
Sahadi J. Interesting sixSahadi J. Interesting six--figure jobs. A look at lucrative careers that figure jobs. A look at lucrative careers that let you roll the dice, defend against terror and write about drulet you roll the dice, defend against terror and write about drugs. gs. CNN/Money 2004. Available at: CNN/Money 2004. Available at: http://money.cnn.com/2004/09/08/pf/sixfigs_seven/http://money.cnn.com/2004/09/08/pf/sixfigs_seven/. Accessed . Accessed December 21, 2004.December 21, 2004.