Turning your Community's Infant Mortality Work into a

Publication: Part I - Is it Publishable?

Lorrie Gavin, MPH, PhDDivision of Reproductive Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Why should you publish? How does publishing benefit you?

Reasons to publish

To get your message out & improve practice!

To get feedback on your work

To advance your career

Personal satisfaction

What makes an idea or concept publishable?

Publishable ideas…

There are many different ways to “publish”: opinion pieces general features presentations at conferences Issue briefs on website peer-reviewed scientific articles

Most peer-reviewed scientific articles

Present new information Confirm earlier findings Describe some aspect of practice (e.g.,

planning process, or how to overcome barriers to implementation)

Publishable ideas…

Mystery format Scientific format

IntroductionSet the stageIntroduce charactersPresent conflict/tension

IntroductionGive backgroundIdentify a question that remains unanswered

Detective work at the scene of a crimeWho was interrogated, about what?What kind of evidence was collected?How was the evidence collected?

MethodsWho you collected information from What kind of evidence is collected (interviews, observations, cell cultures, etc.)How the evidence is collected

Source: Ness 2007

Publishable ideas…

..are “stories” that are told well.

Mystery format Scientific format

The climax

Build up to the story climax vs divulge upfront how things turn out and then tell how it happenedExplain “who dun it”

Results

Divulge up front how things turn outExplain what you observed

Resolution of the conflictExpose underlying motives Describe what happens afterwards

DiscussionDescribe why you think things turned out the way they didImplications for future practice Implications for future research

Source: Ness 2007

How do you know if your great idea was someone else’s?

Great ideas…

Review the literature

PubMed search for “PPOR” Only 5 articles found (see attachment) Most focused on step 2, phase 1 (conduct analytic

phases) Very little on readiness assessment, step 2/phase 2,

planning process, implementation, sustainability of efforts

Does my publication need to be research or evidence-based?

Evidence and publishing…

Publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal is more likely if you’re presenting new information that is based on data

However, Growing interest in practice and lessons

learned about how to do it well (Glasgow 2008)

Some journals include a focus on ‘practice’ (see attached)

Evidence & publishing (cont.)

There are many types of data: program monitoring staff interviews participant or stakeholder interviews meeting notes etc.

When picking a topic, consider:

What story do I have to tell?

What “evidence” do I have?

Who am I writing this for? Who may benefit?

Examples from PPOR

PPOR Step Possible topics & data sources

1. Assure Analytic & Community Readiness

How is community readiness defined & assessed? What are common findings? What steps are taken to strengthen community readiness? How do these processes vary across communities?

Data sources: Community Readiness Assessments, “tent” scores, meeting notes

Examples from PPOR

PPOR Step Possible topics & data sources

2. Conduct Analytic Phases 1 & 2

What are the patterns of excess mortality? What are the major causes? What are the opportunity gaps? How do the results/conclusions vary across communities?

Data sources: live births, fetal deaths, linked birth/infant deaths, FIMR, PRAMS, etc.

Examples from PPOR

PPOR Steps Possible topics & data sources

3. Develop Strategic Actions for Targeted Prevention

What actions does the community decide to take to respond to the findings of the analysis? What process is used to identify those actions? How do strategic actions differ across communities?

Data sources: Meeting notes, key informant interviews, focus groups

Examples from PPOR

PPOR Steps Possible topics & data sources

4. Strengthen Existing and/or Launch New Prevention Initiatives

What are key lessons learned in implementing the programmatic response? What are the key steps? Who needs to be involved? What are key barriers and facilitators to implementation? How does this vary across communities?

Data sources: Meeting notes, key informant interviews, etc.

Examples from PPOR

PPOR steps Possible topics & data sources

5. Monitor & Evaluate Approach

Were the activities delivered as planned? Did the program accomplish its objectives? How did results vary across communities?

Data sources: Program records, staff interview, program participant interview, focus groups, etc.

Examples from PPOR

PPOR steps Possible topics & data sources

6. Sustain Stakeholder Investment and Political Will

What lessons have been learned about how to sustain support for the program? Who are the essential champions? What steps can be taken to maintain support for the program? How does this vary across communities?

Data sources: Meeting notes, key informant interview, focus groups

Now that you have your great idea, what are your next steps for preparing and submitting an abstract or manuscript?

Steps towards publication

1) Review the literature

Frame your question in the context of the existing literatureQuestion has never been addressed beforeConfirms earlier findings Adapted to new setting/contextAnswers important questions about practice

(e.g., ways to overcome barriers)

2) Select a journal

Review journals’ statements about their aim & scope, the kinds of contributions that are welcome, originality of manuscripts, intended audience, etc.

Does your intended audience read this journal?

Obtain journal’s instructions for authors

Steps towards publication

Example: MCH Journal

Aims and scope“Maternal and Child Health Journal is the first exclusive forum to advance the scientific and professional knowledge base of the maternal and child health (MCH) field. This bimonthly provides peer-reviewed papers addressing the following areas of MCH practice, policy, and research: MCH epidemiology, demography, and health status assessment Innovative MCH service initiatives Implementation of MCH programs MCH policy analysis and advocacy MCH professional development.

Exploring the full spectrum of the MCH field, Maternal and Child Health Journal is an important tool for practitioners as well as academics in public health, obstetrics, gynecology, prenatal medicine, pediatrics, and neonatology.”

Source: http://www.springer.com/public+health/journal/10995?detailsPage=aimsAndScopes

Example: MCH Journal’s instructions for authors Manuscript Submission (file format, submission process)

Publication Policies (not previously published or review elsewhere, copyright transfer)

Manuscript Type (methods, geographic scope, health topics, etc.)

Manuscript Style (structure, length, table and figure format, reference format, etc.)

Source: http://www.springer.com/public+health/journal/10995?detailsPage=contentItemPage&CIPageCounter=144594

3) Write the paper

Anatomy of a scientific paper

Abstract: A succinct summary of the entire paper (150-250 words). Should describe the questions posed, methods used to answer questions, results obtained, and conclusions.

Introduction: Should describe the question addressed in the paper, explain why this is an important question, describe the approach used and why this approach was taken.

Steps towards publication

Methods: Describe what was actually done, including a description of the techniques used.

Results: Succinctly summarize what you found, describe in narrative all key results presented in tables/figures, plus secondary findings if relevant. Do not interpret findings.

Tables & Figures: Key findings should be presented in tables or figures; tables and figures should be clearly labeled so that a reader can understand it without referring to the narrative.

Anatomy of a scientific paper (cont.)

Discussion: Restate main findings, then explain your conclusions and interpretation. How did your results compare with the expected results? What further predictions can be gleaned? What are the limitations of your methods? What are the implications for future practice or research?

References: Give full citations for all work done by others that contributes to your research, e.g., earlier publications on the topic, underlying theory, etc.

Anatomy of a scientific paper (cont.)

Writing tips

Maintain the focus of the paper, stick to your main point/message

Structure the content around a clear outline & standard subheadings

Write clearly, avoid jargon

4) Conduct an internal review

Read it aloud Invite 2-3 colleagues to review Reduce, refine & rewrite based on

feedback

Steps towards publication

Title Does your title summarize the main point

of your paper?

Abstract Is the significance of your study clear? Does your abstract have a clear statement

of purpose? Is all the information in the abstract

consistent with the information in the rest of the paper?

Have you stated your main conclusion?

Checklist for internal review

Source: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org

Introduction Have you reviewed the relevant literature in

your introduction? Is the significance of your study clear from

your introduction? Have you stated the specific purpose of your

paper at the end of your introduction?

Methods Have you described all selection criteria in

your methods? Have you described all the methods you used?

Checklist for internal review

Source: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org

Results Have you stated the overall answer to the

purpose of the study in results? Is the results section logically organized? Have you presented your findings in one place

only? Have you omitted all interpretation of the data

from this section?

Discussion Is the answer to the study question easily

found in the discussion? Have you explained the meaning and

significance of your results rather than merely repeating them?

Checklist for internal review

Source: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org

Steps towards publication

5) Finally….submit your paper to the journal!

Pat yourself on the back Prepare yourself to receive feedback

from the journal (next call)

Thank you.

Questions?