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Isra
University hosts Workshop on Medical Editing and Peer Review
Various institutions urged to pool
their resources
and help each other in academics
From our
correspondent
HYDERABAD: Pakistan
Medial Journalists Association (PMJA) in collaboration with Eastern
Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors (EMAME) organized Hands
on Interactive Workshop on Medical Editing and Peer Review System at
Isra University Hyderabad on January 24th 2009. It was
attended by thirty faculty members from Isra University as well as
Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. The
facilitators included Dr. Maqbool H. Jafary President-elect EMAME,
Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid Managing Editor Pakistan Journal of Medical
Sciences, Dr. Fatima Jawed Chief Editor JPMA and Dr. Masood Jawaid
Assistant Editor, Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. Dr. Imdad
Khushk was the local co-coordinator who had taken initiative for
this academic activity.
Isra
University Hyderabad hosted a Workshop on Medical Editing and
Peer Review on January 24th 2009. Prof. Ghulam Qadir
Kazi Chancellor of the university was the chief guest in the
inaugural session. Picture shows him (3rd from left)
chairing the session. Sitting along with him from (L to R) are
Dr. Maqbool H. Jafary President-elect EMAME, Dr. Imdad Khushk
local coordinator and Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid.
Prof. Ghulam Qadir
Kazi Chancellor of Isra University was the chief guest in the
inaugural session. Speaking at the occasion he welcomed the
facilitators and participants to the workshop. He then highlighted
the importance of conducting research and documenting it through
publications in quality peer reviewed biomedical journals. This is
the first of the series of workshops that we plan to hold at Isra
University for the faculty members as a part of their continuous
professional development, he added.
Dr. Maqbool H.
Jafary in his presentation talked about the aims and objectives of
such workshops which the PMJA in collaboration with EMAME is holding
in different institutions all over Pakistan. This is the fifth in
the series of such workshops, he added. Speaking about why one
should conduct research Dr. Jafary said that it gives a chance to
study a subject in detail. There are different types of medical
research i.e. basic research, epidemiology, applied and clinical
research. He also discussed how to use libraries. Research, Dr.
Jafary further stated should be able to help the patient which is
its eventual goal. He also briefly discussed steps in conducting
research i.e. planning, data collection, data processing,
interpretation and then communicating it through publications.
Research offers many benefits. Dr. Maqbool Jafary also pointed out
that faulty data will lead to faulty policies; hence it is important
to have correct data that helps planners in making plans. In the end
he spoke about misconduct and advised the participants to desist
from it as these days lot of software are available and it is not
difficult to detect it.
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Pakistan
Medical Journalists Association (PMJA) in collaboration with
Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors (EMAME)
organized a workshop on Medical Editing and Peer Review at Isra
University Hyderabad on January 24th 2009. Pictures on
right shows Dr. Maqbool H. Jafary presenting the Shields to Prof.
Ghulam Qadir Kazi Chancellor of Isra University and Dr. Imdad
Khushk while seen in the centre are Dr. Masood Jawaid and Mr.
Shaukat Ali Jawaid the two facilitators. On left Dr. Kazi
presenting Shawl and mementoes to Dr. Fatima Jawed Chief Editor
JPMA who was one of the facilitators at the workshop while the
next picture shows Prof. Abdul Ghani Qazi Medial Director Isra
University along with Prof. Leghari presenting Ajrak to Dr.
Maqbool H. Jafary.
Mr. Shauakt Ali
Jawaid discussed how to do peer review of a manuscript. Pee Review
he said is used to ensure that only quality manuscripts are accepted
for publication and un-scientific communications are blocked. There
have been different forms of peer review which are being practiced
starting from blind review to double blind peer review but the
latest is Open Peer Review. After lot of debate and deliberations,
discussions among editors, it is believed that open peer review
improves the quality of the reviews. However, no system is without
flaws and every system has its own advantages and disadvantages. It
is up to the Journal Editors to select the type of Peer Review
system they wish to adopt. He made it clear that the Reviewers act
as advisors and their input helps the Editors in making decisions
whether to accept or reject the manuscript but the final decision
lies with the Editor because it is he/she who is responsible for the
contents of the journal. Peer Review takes some time and the authors
are expected to be patient as there is no short cut. The reviewers
are supposed to have read instructions for the authors in the
journal for which they are reviewing, know the working of that
particular journal and if they need any further information, they
must ask it before reviewing a manuscript. Their comments should be
helpful for the Editor as well as for the authors how to improve
their manuscripts if it needs to be revised. They are supposed to
keep the manuscripts confidential and not use it. He also called
upon the participants to be careful of Gift Authorship and the
authors should list only those who are eligible for authorship.
As per
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
guidelines the authorship should be based on the following criteria:
- Substantial
contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or
analysis and interpretation of data.
- Drafting the
article or revising it critically for important intellectual
content.
- Final approval
of the version to be published. All those who meet the above three
conditions are eligible to be included as Authors in the
manuscript.
ICMJE guidelines
further state that acquisition of funding, collection of data,
general supervision of the research group does not qualify any one
to be an author. It is also important that each author should have
participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility
for appropriate portions of the content. All contributors who do
not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in an
acknowledgment section. Those who provide technical support, writing
assistance, or department chair who provided just general support
should also be mentioned in acknowledgment.
During the
discussion some of the participants raised the issue of publication
ethics, functioning of the ethics committees and what steps can be
taken to effectively check scientific misconduct. Some felt that
blind peer review is good in view of professional jealousy and other
conditions prevalent in our country where it is not uncommon on the
part of some faculty members to punish or downgrade others or take
revenge in case they are not on good terms with the authors. It was
pointed out that it is up to the Editors to be careful of all this
while selecting reviewers. Good competent and intelligent
reviewers, it was further stated, is a very rare commodity. Most of
the journals keep on updating their Reviewers Database based on
their performance.
Dr. Masood Jawaid
in his presentation discussed various sources of local and regional
as well as international databases. Some of the manuscripts which
are not available full text on line on journal websites can be
searched and downloaded from some other sources where they are
available as one manuscript is at times covered by different
databases. Local and regional databases are extremely important. He
mentioned various websites which offer free access. One only has to
be a computer literate and know how to do literature search.
Dr. Fatima Jawed‘s
presentation was on The art and Science of Plagiarism. She pointed
out that plagiarism is one of the most serious crimes in academia.
Different soft wares are now available which detects plagiarisms. It
is generally agreed that up to 20% similarities can be accepted.
Each journal she said should have a plagiarism committee and those
involved in this crime must be punished by black listing them for
further submissions for a particular period besides conveying this
information to their institutions.
In the second
session the participants were given a manuscript for review. They
were divided into four groups and asked to select their group
leaders who will make the presentation. Those who made the
presentations included Dr. Afroz Kazi, Dr. Roshan Ara Kazi, Dr.
Razia Abbasi and Dr. Haider Raza. They were able to detect many
flaws in the study and none of them felt it could be accepted for
publication.
During the
discussion the participants were given some tips how to do peer
review, how to proceed, what are the deficiencies which they must
look, find out the strength and weakness in the manuscript and
before giving their final comments they must summarize the findings
of the study in a paragraph. The comments must be typed or hand
written in a legible handwriting. It is important to see that
conclusions are based on the results of the study. Never mix up
results and discussion, structured abstract should be in four
headings i.e. objective, methodology, results and conclusion with
appropriate key words. Always use the word “We” instead of I. One of
the participants Dr. Hussain Buksh Kolacnhi also raised the issue of
Impact Factor and felt that we need to know how it is calculated and
what its importance is. Responding to this it was pointed out that
this in itself is a subject that can be discussed in one session.
However, it is one of the yardsticks to determine the quality of
medical journals though it is not the only option. Often this Impact
Factor is misused by the journal editors and authors as well.
In the general
discussion the participants felt that it has been quite useful
exercise for them. Some of the lessons that we have learnt in e
organized on regular basis for the benefit of the faculty members.
He thanked the facilitators for traveling all the way from Karachi
for this academic activity and promised all possible help and
assistance for such activities in future as well. Later he along
with Prof.Leghari presented traditional gift of Ajrak and
Shawl to the facilitators. Earlier in the inaugural session Dr.
Maqbool H. Jafary President-elect of EMAME presented shields to
Prof. Ghulam Qadir Kazi Chancellor and Dr. Imdad Khushk the local
coordinator for the workshop on behalf of PMJA.
Speaking
on behalf of the facilitators, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid thanked Dr.
Imdad Khuskh, Prof. Ghulam Qadir Kazi Chancellor and Prof. Abdul
Ghani Kazi Medical Director of Isra University for their
hospitality. He also thanked M/s PharmEvo for their constant support
in such academic activities. PharmEvo, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid is an
ethical pharmaceutical company which has always remained in
forefront to support and encourage academic activities, believes and
practices ethical marketing. They produce quality drugs, hence we
all need to support such pharmaceutical companies, he added.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Workshops on Medical Editing
and Peer Review
Workshop on Medical Editing and Peer Review at NICH Karachi on
June 14th 2008, at DUHS Karachi on July 9th 2008 and at Shifa
College of Medicine Islamabad on August 30th 2008.
Pakistan Medical Journalists Association (PMJA) in
collaboration with Eastern Mediterranean Association of
Medical Editors (EMAME) organized third Workshop on
Medical Editing and Peer Review at Shifa College of
Medicine Islamabad on August 30th 2008. Picture taken on
this occasion shows Prof. Amin Dean SCM presenting a
shield to Prof. Nasir Khokhar one of the focal persons and
facilitator.
National Conference on Medical Editing
April 23-25th2007
Rawalpindi:
Army Medical College Rawalpindi in collaboration with Pakistan
Medical Journalists Association (PMJA), National University of
Science and Technology and blessings of Higher Education
Commission organized the First National Conference on Medical
Editing at AMC from April 23-25th2007. Major Gen.
Prof. M. Aslam Principal Army Medical College was chairman of
the organizing Committee.
Over one
hundred participants had pre-registered for the conference
while many availed facility of on the spot registration.
Chairman HEC Prof.Atta-ur- Rahman was the chief guest in the
inaugural session, President CPSP Prof. Zafrullah Chaudhry was
the chief guest in the conference Banquet on April 24th while
Lt. Gen. Mushtaq A. Baig Surgeon General of Pakistan Army
graced the occasion as chief guest in the concluding session.
The organizers had invited seven guest faculty members from
overseas which included Mrs. Jane Nicholson Editor WHO EMRO,
Prof. Farhad Handjani, Dr. Farrokh Habibzadeh, Dr. M. B.Rokni
and Dr.Arash Etemadi all from Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr.
Diaa Rizk from UAE and Mr. John Cathy from Saudi Arabia.
Some of the participants of the
Conference photographed along with Lt. Gen. Mushtaq A. Baig,
Surgeon Gen. Pakistan Army after the
concluding session
Speakers
from Pakistan included Dr.Fatema Jawad, Shaukat Ali Jawaid,
Prof. Manzar Salim, Dr. Huma Qureshi, Prof.Nazir Khan, Dr.
Ahmad Badar, Dr. Jamshed Akhtar, Dr.Maqbool H.Jafary, Prof.
Mansoor Ahmad, Brig. Azhar Mubarak, Dr.
Masood Jawaid, Major Gen. M.Aslam and Major Gen. Farook A.
Khan.
Rector
NUST Lt. Gen. Shujaat Hussain presenting Conference Shield to
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman HEC, Pakistan in the inaugural
session of NCME. Seen on right is Prof. Maj. Gen. M. Aslam,
President PMJA
Scientific
programme of the conference was spread over three sessions.
The topics which came under discussion included medical
editing process in Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Peer
Review Process, Problems faced by Editors, Publication Ethics,
Menace of duplicate publications, Plagiarism, Publication
misconduct, Indexation, Impact Factor, E-publishing, Training
of Editors etc. Recommendations of the conference were
presented in the concluding session by Dr. Maqbool H. Jafary.
Organizes plan to publish proceedings of the conference
shortly.
Dr. Maqbool H.
Jafary presenting Conference Shield to Lt. Gen. Mushtaq A.
Baig,
Surgeon Gen. Pakistan Army in the concluding session of the
Conference
Chairman HEC,
Prof. Atta-ur-Rehman presenting Conference Shields to Dr.
Anwar Naseem and Mrs. Jane Nicholson
* * * * * *
PMJA in collaboration with Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences took the initiative to organise Workshops on “Peer Review System” at
Karachi on September 21st and at Lahore on September 28th
during 2002. This was the first such activity ever organised in
Pakistan.
PMJA has also published or helped in publication of
various books on important topics.
Another Workshop on Medical
Writing and Peer Review was organized at Fatima Jinnah Medical
College Lahore on March 5, 2005. Prof. Akbar Chaudhry
Principal of FJMC was the host.
Group photograph of participants of a
workshop on Peer Review system organized
by PMJA at Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore on March 5, 2005
Coming
Events:
PMJA organized
workshop on Medical Writing during Health Asia 2005 at
Karachi on March 18, 2005.
PMJA organized
conference on Medical Ethics during Health Asia 2005 at
Karachi on March 20, 2005.
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