CASE REPORTS, REVIEWS &

CLINICAL AUDITS
HAMZA KHAN
WHAT IS RESEARCH

 In simple terms, research is a

systematic investigation to answer a
question or solve a problem. It
involves gathering and analyzing
data, drawing conclusions, and
communicating findings. Research
can be conducted in many different
ways, depending on the discipline
and the question being asked.
WHAT IS A CASE REPORT?

 A case report is a detailed description of

the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of
a specific patient or a small group of
patients. They typically include clinical
data, medical history, imaging results,
and laboratory tests. Case reports are
often brief, focusing on one aspect of the
patient's condition. They can be used to
identify new medical conditions or to
describe the management of known
conditions.
Recognition and description of new disease

Recognition of rare manifestation of known

disease
WHEN TO WRITE
Elaborate mechanism of disease A CASE REPORT
Detection of adverse or beneficial side
effects of drugs

Medical education and audit

COMPONENTS OF CASE REPORT

Case report/
Title Abstract Introduction
case notes

Discussion Conclusion References

WRITING BY SECTION

Case presentation Discussion Introduction, Create title last Double check

conclusion and references
abstract
TITLE

The title is the first thing readers will see when they come across your case report. It
should be clear, concise, and informative.
Tips for Writing a Good Title:
 Include key information: The title should include the patient's age, gender, and
main diagnosis or condition.
 Be specific: Use specific language that accurately reflects the case.
 Use keywords: Include relevant keywords that will help readers find your report
when searching online databases.
ABSTRACT

The abstract is a brief summary of your case report, providing readers with an
overview of the case and its significance.
Tips for Writing a Good Abstract:
 Keep it brief: The abstract should be no more than 250 words.
 Use a structured format: Include sections on the background, case presentation,
findings, and conclusions.
 Highlight key information: Focus on the most important aspects of the case and
its significance.
INTRODUCTION

The introduction provides background information on the case and explains why it
is significant.
Tips for Writing a Good Introduction:
 Provide context: Explain the importance of the case and why it is relevant to your
field with a focused literature review
 Summarize the case: Give a brief overview of the patient's history and diagnosis.
 State the objective: Clearly state the objective of the case report.
 Have proper citations
CASE DESCRIPTION

The case description provides detailed information about the patient's

history, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
Tips for Writing a Good Case Description:
 Case should be presented in chronological order and in enough detail
for the reader to establish his/her own conclusions about the cases
validity
 Details of physical examination and results
 Essential information highlighting the striking features of the case
 Describe the diagnosis: Explain how the patient was diagnosed and
any diagnostic tests that were performed.
 Discuss the treatment, outcome and follow-up
 Attach tables, flowcharts, radiographs etc
DISCUSSION

The discussion section interprets the case and discusses its significance in the
context of the field.
Tips for Writing a Good Discussion:
 Summarize the key findings: Highlight the most important aspects of the case.
 Discuss current literature on the topic and compare with your findings
 Interpret the results: Explain what the case means and how it relates to previous
research.
 Discuss implications: Discuss the implications of the case and how it may impact
future research or clinical practice.
 Discuss any limitations
CONCLUSION

Brief summary / take home

message
Lessons learned form the case
Questions and recommendations
for future research
COMMON CAUSES OF REJECTION

 Case wasn’t unique/no learning points

 Case not relevant to journal
 Recommended formatting of journal not followed
 Plagiarism not checked
 Inconsistent language
 Not hiding patient identifiers
NARRATIVE REVIEWS
WHAT IS NARRATIVE REVIEW

 A narrative review is a type of research article that

summarizes and synthesizes the findings of previous
studies on a particular topic. It aims to provide an
overview of the existing literature in a specific field or
area of research. Unlike systematic reviews, narrative
reviews do not have a strict methodology for identifying
and selecting studies, but instead rely on the expertise
and judgement of the author(s).
HOW TO CONDUCT LITERATURE REVIEW

When conducting a literature review for a narrative review, it's important to follow a
systematic approach to ensure you are comprehensive and consistent in your search. Here
are some steps to follow:
 Identify your research question or topic.
 Develop search terms that relate to your research question or topic.
 Conduct a comprehensive search of relevant databases, such as PubMed, PsycINFO, or
Web of Science.
 Use search filters, such as date range or study type, to narrow down your results.
 Review the abstracts and full-text articles to determine their relevance to your research
question or topic.
 Extract key information from each article, including the study design, sample size, and key
findings.
TOOLS FOR LITERATURE REVIEW

 Pubmed
 Web of science
 Google scholar
 Pakmedinet
 PsycINFO
 Scopus
 Cochrane library
 EBSCO
 EMBASE
 Medline complete
OTHER TYPES OF SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Letter to Editor Research report

Write a reply to an article Short communication with
published in a journal. Can data that you have collected
agree or disagree with findings
CLINICAL AUDIT
WHAT IS A CLINICAL AUDIT?

 A clinical audit is a quality improvement process

that is used to measure and evaluate the care
provided to patients. It involves a review of
clinical practice against agreed standards, with
the aim of identifying areas for improvement and
implementing changes to enhance the quality of
care provided.
Florence Nightingale 40 to 2
STEPS OF CLINICAL AUDIT

Topic selection - choosing a Setting standards - Data collection - collecting

topic for the audit that is identifying standards that data on the care provided,
relevant to the clinical will be used to measure the either through patient notes
practice and patient care. quality of care provided. or other sources.

Implementation of changes -
Data analysis - analyzing the Re-audit - conducting a re-
implementing changes to
data collected to identify audit to evaluate the impact
improve the quality of care
areas for improvement. of the changes made.
provided.
TOPIC SELECTION

 When selecting a topic for a clinical audit, it's important to choose a topic that is
relevant to the clinical practice and patient care. Some factors to consider when
selecting a topic include:

 The prevalence of the condition or disease in question.

 The potential impact on patient outcomes.
 The availability of relevant guidelines or standards.
PARTS OF AUDIT

INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION LIMITATIONS CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

 Tips on writing a case report

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4175810/
 Guide on how to write a narrative review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1454uPM70I
 Info regarding clinical audit
https://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/files/nhs-ubht/2%20Introduction%20to%20Clinical
%20Audit%20v3.pdf