Medical Writers Research Articles

Communicating About and With Artificial Intelligence Applications

This session provided attendees with an overview of the elements of artificial intelligence (AI) that medical communication professionals can use in their decision-making when communicating about and with AI applications. Knowing how to determine if an AI application is reliable and secure guides the professional in their assessment of applications they write about and their choice of applications they use in their practice. In turn, this ability to assess AI applications underpins professionals’ abilities to identify and apply best practices for developing and writing about AI. Taken together, this understanding of how AI works, how applications are developed, and how to identify and ethically apply best practices will guide professionals in their communication about and with AI applications. Editor's Note Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to be of critical importance to medical communicators for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, AMWA Journal expects to continue to feature AI-related articles in upcoming issues. Given how rapidly advancements are occurring in AI as they relate to medical communication, we are striving to be as timely as possible in bringing relevant articles to you. In this spirit, we are supplementing the Summer 2024 Digital Revolution theme issue with a timely article titled ‘Communicating About and With Artificial Intelligence Applications’ by J. Kelly Byram, based on a presentation made by the author at the most recent AMWA Medical Writing & Communication Conference.

Analysis of English Language Errors in Medical Writing: A Systematic Literature Review

Effective communication in medical writing is essential for conveying accurate and understandable information to healthcare professionals and patients. English language errors in medical literature can lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and potentially harmful consequences. This systematic literature review aims to identify, analyze, and categorize common English language errors encountered in medical writing. This study identifies gaps in existing literature on language errors in medical writing and reveals areas that need further investigation or where more comprehensive guidelines are required. This study addresses six questions: (1) What types of language errors are discussed in the current literature? (2) What types of medical writing are involved in the current literature? (3) Which countries or areas are involved in the current literature? (4) What are the research methods used in the studies? (5) What tools are used in the studies? (6) What are the limitations of these studies? To answer these questions, this review searched nine databases and one platform, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Fulltext, ProQuest Ebook Central (e-Books), Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library (e-Journals & e-Books) (PPV), Science Direct, Cambridge Core e-Books, Oxford Press Scholarship Online (e-Books), Google Scholar, and Carian Bestari@UKM / Discovery Service@UKM. Finally, ten studies were selected, including articles and books. The findings provide insights into types of language errors, types of medical writing, countries or areas of medical writing, research methods, tools, and limitations of these ten studies, highlighting the importance of linguistic accuracy and proficiency in medical writing.

ChatGPT - Integrity: Artificial Intelligence Misuse in Medical Writing.

ChatGPT - Integrity: Artificial Intelligence Misuse in Medical Writing.

Mapping the awareness and knowledge about patient and public versions of guidelines among stakeholders in China: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesPatient and public versions of guidelines (PVGs) have gradually gained wide recognition and attention from the public and the society due to their scientific, professional, and authoritative characteristics. This study aims to survey the awareness and knowledge of PVGs among stakeholders in China. Study Design and SettingThis was a cross-sectional survey among stakeholders (guideline developers, clinicians, journal editors, patients, and the public) in China. We self-designed the questionnaire and distributed it through the Questionnaire Star platform. The primary outcomes were awareness of PVGs and opinions about the development methodology, writing, dissemination, and implementation of PVGs. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and post hoc multiple comparison tests were used to compare the levels of awareness of PVGs between different subgroups of respondents. ResultsA total of 1319 valid questionnaires were collected: 722 from guideline developers, 136 from clinicians, 83 from journal editors, 284 from patients, and 94 from members of the public. Of all respondents, 253 (19.2%) had not heard of PVGs, 349 (26.5%) had heard of PVGs but had no further knowledge, 475 (36.0%) had some knowledge of PVGs, and 242 (18.3%) were familiar with or had participated in the development of PVGs. Guideline developers, clinicians, and journal editors had higher awareness than patients and the public. Higher education and older age also correlated with higher awareness of PVGs. More than half (52.9%) of guideline developers considered that both rewriting of the source guidelines and direct development as independent documents were appropriate methods for developing PVGs. The survey respondents agreed that clinicians (97.3%), guideline methodologists (76.6%), representatives of patients and the public (74.5%), and medical editors or writers (63.4%) should participate in the development of PVGs. More than 80% of the respondents agreed that the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations should be presented; however, there was no consensus in the form of presentation. ConclusionsThe level of awareness of PVGs among stakeholders in China is relatively low and differs between different stakeholder groups, but the majority of key stakeholders have a positive attitude toward PVGs. The collection of the perspectives and opinions on the development methods, writing, dissemination, and implementation provides a key reference and basis for the future optimization and improvement of PVGs development.

Copilot — Essential AI Assistant to Medical Writers

Copilot — Essential AI Assistant to Medical Writers

The Business of Medical Writing: Financial Acumen

The Business of Medical Writing: Financial Acumen

Scientific Writing – ChatGPT Versus Real-time Output: Addressing Academician’s Concern

Background: The advent of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) model, has introduced new challenges in educational practices, particularly in the realm of scientific writing at higher educational institutions. The AI is trained on extensive datasets to generate scientific texts. Many professors and academicians express concerns about the inclusion of AI chatbots in project execution, interpretation, and writing within specialized subject curricula at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Methods: To address these concerns, we employed the ChatGPT tool by posing a specific query “Gynecomastia and the risk of non-specific lung disease, along with associated risk factors for workers in the petrochemical industry”. We conducted a comparison between responses generated by ChatGPT and real-time output from master’s students, examining document-to-document variation on different dates. Results and Discussion: The AI chatbot failed to identify potential risk factors, in contrast to the student response, which highlighted alteration in neutrophil levels, lung architecture, high IgE, elevated CO2 levels, etc. The two responses did not align in terms of context understanding, language nuances (words and phrases), and knowledge limitations (real-time access to information, creativity, and originality of the query). A plagiarism check using the iThenticate software reported similarity indices of 11% and 14%, respectively, in document-to-document analyses. The concerns raised by academicians are not unfounded, and the apprehension regarding students utilizing ChatGPT in the future revolves around ethical considerations, the potential for plagiarism, and the absence of laws governing the use of AI in medical or scientific writing. Conclusion: While AI integration in the curriculum is feasible, it should be approached with a clear acknowledgement of its limitations and benefits. Emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and original work is crucial for students engaging with AI tools, addressing concerns related to ethics, plagiarism, and potential copyright infringement in medical or scientific writings.

Genre in English Medical Writing, 1500-1820. Sociocultural Contexts of Production and Use, edited by Irma Taavitsainen, Turo Hiltunen, Jeremy J. Smith & Carla Suhr

Genre in English Medical Writing, 1500-1820. Sociocultural Contexts of Production and Use, edited by Irma Taavitsainen, Turo Hiltunen, Jeremy J. Smith & Carla Suhr

Unlocking the power of emotional intelligence in medical writers

Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to recognise and understand emotions (one’s own and those of other people), is a valuable attribute for medical writers (MWs). MWs play a pivotal role in communicating medical and scientific information to regulators, patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. EI helps MWs to understand the needs of the audience, develop effective communication skills, author impactful content, and collaborate efficiently with multiple stakeholders. It is thus essential for MWs to develop strong EI skills, i.e., be self-aware and self-motivated, be able to self-regulate, take ownership and responsibility for actions, be problem solvers, show empathy, foster healthy relationships, evaluate feedback positively, and implement balanced solutions. To enhance their EI, MWs can adopt EI-focussed training and development sessions at workplace, practice mindfulness daily, assess EI using multi-rater feedback scales, seek EI coaching, and set realistic goals.

Navigating my freelance journey while driving EMWA freelance activities

I didn’t plan to become a medical writer, but then again who does? It wasn’t, at the time, a career on the list of things to do after a PhD. Shortly after completing my PhD, I got a job as an editorial coordinator for a high-impact journal in hepatology, learning all the intricacies of the publication world. It was in this role that I found EMWA and went to my first conference in Brussels (2016). I must admit, I felt a bit of imposter syndrome going to a medical writing conference when I was “just” editing. Oh, how I was wrong. I was amazed at the diversity of medical communicators at the conference and all the interactions I had gave me the realisation that there were multiple opportunities to be had.

The soft skills gap for remote workers: Different perspectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way we work, with many companies opting for fully remote or hybrid roles on a permanent basis. While remote working has many advantages, there are some soft skills that may deteriorate when working from home long-term. This article focuses on which soft skills are essential for medical writers and offers advice on how these soft skills can be improved. Four professionals from the medical writing industry contributed their insights on this topic: a freelance medical copywriter, a principal medical writer, and two mentors for medical writers.

Managing protocol development with international teams: Soft skill perspectives from a global team of protocol writers

Clinical trial protocol development forms part of the critical path for launching a trial, which means timelines are tight and progress must be fast and sustained throughout the protocol’s development. In order to be successful, medical writers require well-developed soft skills to meet the needs of the trial team and to produce a high-quality protocol. We focus on five critical soft skills that are essential for medical writers working with international teams: critical thinking, leadership, communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Based on our experience as a global team of protocol subject matter experts from Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, South Africa, and the US, we also discuss soft skills that are important for working with team members across different regions.

The balancing act: Leading creative teams for clear, accurate science communication

Leading a team is inherently complex, requiring managers to juggle diverse organisational goals, meet superiors’ expectations, and cater to individual team member needs. The challenge intensifies when leading creative teams in a scientific environment. Here, bridging the apparent work-culture gap between scientific and communications disciplines is key. Leaders must ensure scientific accuracy while crafting communication that resonates with the target audience. This article dives into the specific challenges faced by medical writers and other science communication teams: achieving clear, engaging communication without com promising scientific precision. It explores the complexities of leading such creative teams within a rigorous scientific environment. Effective leadership extends beyond mere results; it cultivates a team culture that both unleashes creative potential and prioritises meticulous fact-checking. The article presents strategies for fostering a high-performing team and addresses the perceived tension between scientific rigor and audience-friendly communication.

The 3 C’s of medical writing: Communication, conflict management, and critical thinking

Human-centred “soft” skills are becoming increasingly essential, especially in the current digital workspace. As medical writers navigate the intricate landscape of compliance and precision, they must fortify their soft skills with a foundation of emotional intelligence. In this article, we discuss the interplay of communication, conflict management, and critical thinking (the “3 C’s”) as the cornerstone to achieving success in medical writing.

Spotlight on www.LAS-interactive.de: Information for animal experimentation and a useful resource for veterinary medical writers

According to the EU Animal Protection Directive (Directive 2010/63/EU)1, anyone who is involved in animal experimentation needs to be adequately trained. Depending on your role in animal experimentation (i.e., planning and designing experiments, performing procedures, or looking after and/or humanely dispatching animals), very specific competencies are needed. Online resources are valuable tools to cover the theoretical part of this training; one of them is the website www.las-interactive.de.

Mentors and mentees in medical writing: A very particular set of (soft) skills

Being a mentor or a mentee can be fulfilling and rewarding. In this article, we look at the role and relationship of mentors and mentees, and the importance of using soft skills within the mentor/mentee dynamic. Individually tailored and productive mentor and mentee sessions will furnish the mentee with enhanced soft skills to carry forward into their day-to-day work, which will, in turn, give rise to being a well-rounded and agile medical writer.

In regulatory submission writing, a project facilitator is the yin to a medical writer’s yang

Authoring and reviewing complex, parallel regulatory submission documents under extremely condensed timelines demands significant effort from the medical writing team. However, a skilled project facilitator can alleviate some of this burden by offering support and assistance across the entire spectrum of regulatory submission writing activities. This symbiotic partnership not only reduces the overall workload for the medical writing team but also enables them to focus on their core writing tasks, ultimately enhancing the quality of their work and reducing stress. Additionally, it provides an avenue for the project facilitator to establish standard ways of working and best practices, which can further enhance efficiency and consistency across multiple submissions.

Moving into medical writing from academia: A soft skills perspective

As I made the transition into medical writing and started learning the ropes, I realised first-hand that in addition to writing skills, soft skills are indispensable in becoming an effective medical writer. Not only are they vital in helping you enjoy your work, mastering the necessary soft skills will also help others enjoy working with you. In this article, I talk about six key soft skills that have played a crucial role in helping me make a smooth transition into the world of regulatory medical writing.

The hard truth about soft skills in medical writing

Historically, hard skills – such as technical, digital, or life sciences qualifications – have been seen as more valuable than soft skills in successful medical writing. However, hiring managers now recognise soft skills as one of the top educational needs in medical communications. Although the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is also emerging as a key medical communications tool, there are some things AI simply cannot do. That’s where soft skills, like teamwork, adaptability, and leadership, come in. This article reviews the essential soft skills you now need as a professional medical writer, and how you can optimise them for your career.

The Medical Writing Center Model in an Academic Teaching Hospital.

Editing services within academic health centers are uncommon, and few studies have reported on their impact. In this article, we describe our medical writing center's editing service for faculty and trainees at a pediatric teaching hospital and associated outcomes of scholarly products (e.g., manuscripts and grants) over an 8-year period. Data for manuscripts and grant proposals edited by the writing center from 2015 through 2022 were collected electronically from our service request database. Outcome data on publications and grant proposals were regularly collected up to 12 months post-submission. Users were also asked if the writing center edits were helpful, improved readability, and if they planned to use the service in the future. From 2015 through 2022, the writing center received 697 requests, 88.4% to edit a document. Of the documents edited, 81.3% of manuscripts and 44.4% of grant proposals were successfully published or funded. When rating their experience, 97.8% of respondents rated the edits "helpful," 96.7% indicated the edits "improved readability," and 99.3% stated they planned to use the writing center in the future. Our results showed steady use of the writing center and high satisfaction with services. A writing center can be an effective tool to support psychology faculty development.