Medical writing: make the question, evidence and meaning easy to follow
Medical writing can explain research, support professional communication or help someone understand a health issue. The form depends on its purpose and reader. Clear writing preserves the evidence and its uncertainty while removing wording that makes the main point harder to understand.
Decide what the reader needs before choosing the detail
Before deciding how much detail to include in the writing, the writer must decide what information the reader is looking for. Once the writer knows this, they can decide how much detail to include based on what could occur if the reader misunderstands the evidence. For example, a personal health explanation should give enough background information to allow the reader to fully understand what is being explained without overwhelming them with unnecessary information. On the other hand, a research overview might require significantly more details concerning methodology and results in order for another person to evaluate the evidence. Regardless of whether it is a personal health explanation or a research overview, necessary technical terms should be explained in a way that allows the reader to fully understand them.
As an example for a teaching tool, write a two-sentence explanation of the purposes of a blood test in terms of the reader having no knowledge of the terminology. Use language that is both accurate and clearly defines what a particular blood test cannot do on its own. Then write a version with the same meaning using many unexplained abbreviations. Ask the students which of these statements aids them in better understanding their question versus merely recognizing technical terminology.
Give each part of the account a clear job
Regardless of format, readers are generally confused by too many things being said at once. Therefore, they want to know what was done (the methods), what was found (the results) and what conclusions were made based upon what was found. Original research often separates these elements into distinct sections. Other types of writing may use other formats. The headings used throughout the document can assist readers in finding related information, provided that the body of the section contains information that directly addresses the question posed by the heading. Ultimately, a well-organized structure provides a function to every aspect of the document.
For a hypothetical report, compare the conclusion with what supported it. Was there sufficient information given so that a reader could assess that relationship? An author may interpret their findings beyond what the study established. The interpretation should remain separate from what was directly observed by the researcher so that readers can independently analyze their reasoning. Discussing a possible mechanism is acceptable even though it was never demonstrated by the original study.
Claims need support that matches their wording
A claim requires sufficient support to match its wording. Establishing causality is impossible based solely upon an association. The wording of the claim must accurately represent what was established by the study. In addition to determining whether associations demonstrate relationships within research findings, authors should determine what specifics are contained within quantitative measures reported in their writing documents. Specifically, authors must define specifically what groups are represented by the data collected, what outcomes were measured and during what time frames. This is important so that others may properly interpret the data. Reporting percentages without providing any reference to the number of subjects involved can be misleading. Including relevant absolute values as well as some measure of variability may be beneficial in allowing readers to clarify explanations.
Write two fictional examples describing a change. Write only a percentage change in the first description. Include both a starting value and time interval in your second description. Determine how knowing that additional contextual information will allow a reader to assess the change described in both accounts. When an author cannot provide readers with information that they request (and sometimes there is no valid information available), it is essential for them to acknowledge those limitations and not insert “fact” into areas where there is no valid data. Worded strongly does not mean worded with complete assurance.
Check accuracy and usefulness after checking the grammar
Revision involves reviewing and assessing accuracy, usefulness and organization in addition to reviewing grammar. Remove repetitive material that slows down getting to the central idea and define key terms consistently. Ensure that the title and introductory paragraphs reflect the remainder of the document. Readability assessment tools may alert writers to potential difficulty points in their writing documents; however, a single numeric score cannot indicate whether or not you communicated your intent to your target reader or if you communicated medical information correctly. Writers must address those questions through independent analysis.
Ask a suitable reader to describe their understanding of your central message and ask them to describe those parts of your document that they did not understand or would like clarified. Compare that account with what you attempted to communicate. Revise those portions of your document that correspond with what needed to be revised and ensure that you maintained your original intent. Be sure to adhere to publication standards when producing any type of actual written product; e.g., proper documentation and attribution and any required editorial or specialist reviews
Check your understanding
A short quiz, with an explanation after each answer.
What should guide the level of detail?
Go back and reread the section you had most trouble with above. Now try explaining an example from that section without referring back to the webpage. Compare your explanation with your previous attempt. Repeat the quiz again at a future date. It is more beneficial for you to be able to articulate your thought process than simply memorizing where an acceptable response lies.