Structure and format of peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.

o t n p a n p m n the early 17th century, Sir Francis Bacon popularized the scientific method of investigation. This method of inquiry advances knowledge by structured process of experimental design, obseration, and testing of a hypothesis. Medical jourals have become the vehicle whereby investigaors present the results of their studies. At some oint, most medical professionals become involved n writing scientific manuscripts, often as physicians/ urgeons in training or as young practitioners; howver, residencies and fellowships traditionally offer ittle or no formal instruction concerning the strucure and format of a scientific article. Authors often earn the writing process simply by reading published rticles in peer-reviewed medical journals with little irection or guidance from mentors. Although readng and critiquing scientific articles can be a valuable ool for becoming a medical writer, good scientific riting requires a basic understanding of the strucure and format of peer-reviewed scientific manucripts. The purpose of this presentation is to set forth the ssential elements of a peer-reviewed scientific artile. It is anticipated that such a discussion will be of alue not only to potential authors of scientific manucripts, but also to readers of peer-reviewed journals. lthough this presentation is concerned principally ith writing for the Journal of Hand Surgery, it is elevant to medical journal writing in general. The process of writing a scientific manuscript is nalogous to telling a story. Like every well-written tory, a scientific manuscript should have a begining (Introduction), middle (Materials and Methods), nd an end (Results). The Introduction presents the opic and identifies the purpose of the study, the aterials and Methods section tells what the author id to address that purpose, and the Results section resents what was observed. The Discussion (the oral of the story) puts the study in perspective. The bstract is an opening summary of the story and he Title gives the story a name. Generally speaking, he author should first write the Introduction, Matet ials and Methods, and Results sections as a unit ecause the 3 are so entwined and interdependent. nly after these sections are written can the author ully discuss the study, accurately summarize it, and ive it an appropriate name. A clear understanding of he essential components of each of these sections is ritical to the successful composition of a scientific anuscript (Table 1).