Ethical Considerations &

Manuscript Writing
Faizan Shahzad
MS4, Rawalpindi Medical Univerisity
 Ethical Considerations
• Definition:
Application of fundamental ethical principles to research activities which include the
design and implementation of research, respect towards society and others, the use of
resources and research outputs, and the regulation of research.

SIMPLY, DON’T BE A BAD PERSON :)

 Ethical Considerations
• Objectives:
1. Protection of human participants
2. Serves interests of groups, individuals, and societies
3. Assess for ethical soundness:
 Management of risk
 Protection of confidentiality
 Informed consent
 Ethical Considerations
• Josef Mengele
• Did not follow ethical principles
• “Angel of Death”
• Responsible for deadly experiments in the
Auschwitz II detention camp in WW2.
• Don’t be like him!
 Ethical Considerations
• First Version
in 1964.
• The latest
draft is 2013
version.
• Drafted by
WMA
 Ethical Considerations
• Moral Principles:
1. Non-maleficence: DO NO HARM (Hippocrates)
2. Beneficence: Benefit to mankind
3. Autonomy: Protect rights and dignity
4. Justice: Fair distribution of benefits and risks (triage)
 Ethical Considerations
• Institutional/Ethical Review Board:
• A committee of experts
• At least 5 members from different fields
a) Chairperson
b) Basic medical sciences
c) Clinicians
d) Legal experts
e) Anthropologist/Social science worker
Ethical Approval Form:
• Has the following information on it:
1. Date
2. Reference Letter No.
3. Declaration by Authors and Title
4. Names, affiliations, and signatures of
the authors
5. Declaration with the supervisor
6. Signature and Stamp of the
supervisor
7. Statement by the Reviewers (usually
more than one and an odd number)
8. Additional comments by the
IRB/ERB reviewers
 Manuscript Writing
• Parts:
1. Title 7. Conclusion
2. Abstract 8. Acknowledgments
9. References
3. Introduction
4. Materials and Methods
5. Results
6. Discussion
 Manuscript Writing
General Tips:
• Write it in a comprehensive and simple English
• Absolutely no Grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors (Use Grammarly)
• Parts must be coherent with each other
• Less than 2% plagiarism on online tools and <19% on Turnitin
• Spellings … honor, honour ….. Color, colour
 Manuscript Writing
1. Title: (You can use Chat-Gpt)
• Short
• Informative
• Not too catchy
• Correct Punctuation
• Example: “CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing: A New Hope For Transthyretin
Amyloidosis Treatment”
• Wrong: Bringing you an EXCITING NEW HOPE for Transthyretin Amyloidosis!!!!
 Manuscript Writing
2. Abstract: (SUMMARY)
• Can be a single or multiple paragraphs with or without headings.
• Not more than 250 to 300 words
• Enter Keywords at the end
• Follow the IMRAD format (with or without headings)
 Introduction
 Objectives
 Methods
 Results
 Conclusion
 Manuscript Writing
3. Introduction:
• General to Specific!
• Always present rationale and hypothesis (if any) in the last paragraph
• Cross-sectional studies do not always have a hypothesis
• Part of the manuscript with the highest citations (usually 12 to 18)
• Usually 700 to 1000 words.
• 1 to 1.5 page
 Manuscript Writing
3. Introduction:
• For diseases, follow this method:
• Definition, Epidemiology, Etiology (causes and pathophysiology), Clinical presentation
(signs and symptoms), Treatment Options, and Prognosis.
• For treatment options (drugs/Surgeries), follow:
• Definition, Mechanism of Action, Efficacy, Safety/Adverse Effects (Complications if it is
a surgery), and Alternatives.
 Manuscript Writing
4. Materials and Methods: (usually 1.5 pages with 600 to 800 words)
 Study Design
 Study Duration
 Study Setting
 Ethical Approval
 Study Population and sample size
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
 Data collection tools and procedure
 Which analytical tests will you run and why
 Manuscript Writing
5. Results: (usually 600 to 800 words)
• Write the results of your analytical tests
• ALWAYS draw tables and figures
• 3 to 5 figures/tables should suffice
• Draw figures/tables of significant results mostly
• Usually 1 to 1.5 page write-up (tables and figures take the largest part)
 Manuscript Writing
6. Discussion:
• Usually 800 to 1000 words (1.5 to 2 pages)
• Fewer citations than the introduction (usually 10 to 15)
• You have to compare the results of your studies with other studies found in the
literature review.
• Try to make separate paragraphs for each variable/conclusion.
• Add your study’s LIMITATIONS at the end
 Manuscript Writing
7. Conclusion:
• Summarize your research in a single paragraph
• Can give recommendations in the last three to four lines
• Not more than 100 words usually
 Manuscript Writing
8. Acknowledgments:
• Give credit to the participants and the people who helped you
• Usually the clinicians and the nurses who helped in data gathering
• CANT MENTION AUTHORS HERE!
 Manuscript Writing
9. References:
• Vancouver style
• Has to be accurate
• The greater citations from last 5 years, the better
• Example:
Boutayeb A, Boutayeb S: The burden of non communicable diseases in developing
countries. Int J Equity Health. 2005, 4:2. 10.1186/1475-9276-4-2
 CONNECT WITH ME
• LinkedIn: faizan-shahzad
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/faizan-shahzad/

• Instagram: faizanshahzad_
 RESOURCES
• Plagiarism
• https://plagiarismdetector.net/

• References:
• https://app.bibguru.com/p/06ac46a3-b2cb-4aa3-8c13-890007f380de
• Mendeley, EndNote
THANK YOU