Getting published as a medical student
How about a Ranking question to start off ...
Why publish?
A) The 20+ hours spent doing the research, drafting and rewriting the paper are worth the 1 mark on your FPAS
B) Everyone else is doing it
C) It allows me to get my teeth into a medical subject that interests me
D) It will stay on my CV and help me throughout my medical career
E) A senior suggested I do it
Answer: It's personal, but CDEBA seems sensible enough. This highlights the relative unimportance the foundation application places on the difficult to achieve publication, verses the SJT. They do so because it is much more important to have foundation doctors who know how to deal with a difficult situation safely and appropriately. Later on, in your core or specialty training applications, publications will count for much more (answer D!).
How though, practically speaking, does a medical student without the benefit of time in research (for instance during a PhD) manage to publish?
Some manage it during their BSC or BA year - if this is you, congratulations, you've ticked that box for now. If you're at that stage, highlight it as a priority to your academic supervisor.
Most of you reading this, however, will be final year students, and we understand there might not be time before your application - luckily answer A is the least appropriate answer, so just forget about it. If you're reading this with time to spare, or simply (and sensibly) want to plan for your future (D) then read on.
Approach a senior
It's unrealistic to expect to produce original medical research on your own. Most research involves a team, led by a senior, normally an academic registrar or consultant in the field you are interested in. When you are on a clinical placement find out who the doctors that regularly publish are by asking in the department or searching for their name on PubMed. Try to read a few of their abstracts to give yourself some background knowledge of where their interests lie. Appraoch them via email first then directly, face to face. They'll normally be thrilled that a keen medical student is interested in their work, or, at the very least, will be able to refer you on to someone who might have a project appropriate for a student.
Whilst it can be daunting approaching someone flying high in their field, nearly all will welcome the approach. If you are able to offer them something that others cannot (such as the time and effort it takes to get research done) then they will be happy to help you through supervision in return. You should therefore be able and willing to put the time and work in. One of our team remembers spending 2 hours every evening for a month (including weekends) going through patient notes - worth it? She just about thinks so!
What to publish
Publications range from case reports to randomised control trials. Take advice from your supervisors on what is most likely to be published based on the work you are doing. In general, case reports are easier and less time consuming to publish than full research. Look out for interesting images or cases whilst on clinical placement and ask the SHO or SPR if they're worth publishing.
Where to publish
Any journal found on PubMed is appropriate, but normally your supervisor will be able to guide you. Certain journals are dedicated to medical students, such as the student BMJ, Junior Doctor, New Doctor and Medical Student. It's important to check that they list on PubMed if you are planning to gain marks for the foundation programme application over and above your CV. BMJ Endgames and New England Journal of Medicine Images in Clinical Medicine are good examples of highly thought of journals that regularly publish small clinical cases and interesting images.
Impact factor
It's useful to know about a journal's "impact factor". This acts as a measure of how well regarded and important the journal is in its respective category. For instance, Nature, the number one ranked journal in multidisciplinary sciences has a impact factor of 36.280, and the Lancet has an impact factor of 38·28 ranked second out of 153 journals in general medicine. Choosing a journal with a high impact factor is great, however it also means that it is harder to get your paper accepted. It is highly unlikely that any medical student without a PhD would have a paper in these journals.
Persist
It is common for papers to be rejected. Do not be put off. You may be able to present your work at a conference instead or submit it to another journal, and you will have definitely learned something.
Why publish?
A) The 20+ hours spent doing the research, drafting and rewriting the paper are worth the 1 mark on your FPAS
B) Everyone else is doing it
C) It allows me to get my teeth into a medical subject that interests me
D) It will stay on my CV and help me throughout my medical career
E) A senior suggested I do it
Answer: It's personal, but CDEBA seems sensible enough. This highlights the relative unimportance the foundation application places on the difficult to achieve publication, verses the SJT. They do so because it is much more important to have foundation doctors who know how to deal with a difficult situation safely and appropriately. Later on, in your core or specialty training applications, publications will count for much more (answer D!).
How though, practically speaking, does a medical student without the benefit of time in research (for instance during a PhD) manage to publish?
Some manage it during their BSC or BA year - if this is you, congratulations, you've ticked that box for now. If you're at that stage, highlight it as a priority to your academic supervisor.
Most of you reading this, however, will be final year students, and we understand there might not be time before your application - luckily answer A is the least appropriate answer, so just forget about it. If you're reading this with time to spare, or simply (and sensibly) want to plan for your future (D) then read on.
Approach a senior
It's unrealistic to expect to produce original medical research on your own. Most research involves a team, led by a senior, normally an academic registrar or consultant in the field you are interested in. When you are on a clinical placement find out who the doctors that regularly publish are by asking in the department or searching for their name on PubMed. Try to read a few of their abstracts to give yourself some background knowledge of where their interests lie. Appraoch them via email first then directly, face to face. They'll normally be thrilled that a keen medical student is interested in their work, or, at the very least, will be able to refer you on to someone who might have a project appropriate for a student.
Whilst it can be daunting approaching someone flying high in their field, nearly all will welcome the approach. If you are able to offer them something that others cannot (such as the time and effort it takes to get research done) then they will be happy to help you through supervision in return. You should therefore be able and willing to put the time and work in. One of our team remembers spending 2 hours every evening for a month (including weekends) going through patient notes - worth it? She just about thinks so!
What to publish
Publications range from case reports to randomised control trials. Take advice from your supervisors on what is most likely to be published based on the work you are doing. In general, case reports are easier and less time consuming to publish than full research. Look out for interesting images or cases whilst on clinical placement and ask the SHO or SPR if they're worth publishing.
Where to publish
Any journal found on PubMed is appropriate, but normally your supervisor will be able to guide you. Certain journals are dedicated to medical students, such as the student BMJ, Junior Doctor, New Doctor and Medical Student. It's important to check that they list on PubMed if you are planning to gain marks for the foundation programme application over and above your CV. BMJ Endgames and New England Journal of Medicine Images in Clinical Medicine are good examples of highly thought of journals that regularly publish small clinical cases and interesting images.
Impact factor
It's useful to know about a journal's "impact factor". This acts as a measure of how well regarded and important the journal is in its respective category. For instance, Nature, the number one ranked journal in multidisciplinary sciences has a impact factor of 36.280, and the Lancet has an impact factor of 38·28 ranked second out of 153 journals in general medicine. Choosing a journal with a high impact factor is great, however it also means that it is harder to get your paper accepted. It is highly unlikely that any medical student without a PhD would have a paper in these journals.
Persist
It is common for papers to be rejected. Do not be put off. You may be able to present your work at a conference instead or submit it to another journal, and you will have definitely learned something.