"Why write?" has been the question posted by Dr. Jose Ma. C. Avila, Editor of Acta Medica Philippina, to health researchers present during the 4th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week's session on "Writing Your Research in Peer-Reviewed Journals".
According to Dr. Avila, writing research results in a refereed journal may give the researchers advantage in applying for competitive fellowships, opportunity to lecture in scientific meetings, and better chances for research funding/grants. It also paves the way for increased depth of knowledge in a particular subject, which complements and hones clinical skills, and enables better teaching of students and trainees. Further, "publication in peer-reviewed journals is the most important means to achieve international recognition as an individual, department, hospital, and university," he said.
Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, Executive Publisher, Academic Publications Office of the De La Salle University, then equipped participants with tips on writing scientific papers. He said that researchers must always aim to "interest, inform, and persuade the readers", by writing simply and clearly at all times. He also encouraged getting familiar with one (or a number of) refereed journal, and write for this journal while keeping in mind its prescribed format and style.
After sharing the importance of publishing scientific papers, the focus was then shifted on "How to write?" Session participants were given practical guide on how to write research papers that will be acceptable to peer-reviewed journals. Facilitated by Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña of the National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, participants engaged in exercises such as writing a cover letter explaining why the research should be published as well as writing an abstract as a guide for writing the full paper. Dr. Salvaña then provided useful tips on how to improve letter and abstract preparation.
In order to facilitate and ensure research publishing, it was suggested that several institutions could explore the possibility joining together to form a journal that could be accredited under the journal accreditation system of the Commission on Higher Education. Support for health research, in terms of funding, mentoring, or both, was also reiterated.
"Writing Your Research in Peer-Reviewed Journals" is among the five parallel sessions held during the 4th PNHRS Week on 10-11 August 2010, with the theme "Convergence in Divergence: Resource Sharing for More Mileage in Health Research."