What is Medical Writing?
The field of medical writing is wide reputed. Medical writers describe, record, and disseminate news and research every day that is enhancing patient outcomes and saving lives. Their responsibilities and opportunities are constantly changing, whether they are writing peer-reviewed articles summarising clinical trials, marketing innovative products, informing medical professionals and even the general public about cutting-edge treatments, or creating grant proposals to support ground-breaking research.
A medical writer develops and produces documents that cover the field of medicine or health care. Writing and science expertise are required for the profession of medical writing, which combines a writer's artistic ability with the rigour and precision of research and the scientific method.
The need for medical writers
Most of the time, medical writers produce written material, but what precisely do they have and what is the need of a medical writer? The most frequent assignments for medical writers involve the creation of, or assistance with the creation of, technical, instructive, instructional, or promotional medical material. The particular tasks that a medical writer may perform will depend on their training, subject matter knowledge, level of experience, and industry.
The need for medical writers to communicate new knowledge to both the general public and healthcare professionals is growing. As medicine and health care continue to improve and innovate, it is becoming more important to communicate about research results, goods, equipment, and services.
Medical writers are involved in communicating scientific and clinical data to many audiences, from doctors and nurses to insurance adjusters and patients. They work in a variety of formats, including traditional print publications to electronic publications, multimedia presentations, videos, podcasts, website content, and social media sites. They often work with doctors, scientists, and other subject matter experts (SMEs) to create documents that describe research results and product use.
Medical writers are also key players in developing applications for mobile devices that are used in multiple ways. For a general audience, medical journalists publish news and magazine articles about health. Medical writers present the information in a style that is simple for laypeople to grasp. Their major objective is to inform the public about new medical developments.
The field of medical technical writing is vast. Medical technical writers focus on writing for the medical industry, which includes a variety of papers relating to medicine and healthcare, such as articles, marketing copy, and instructional materials. Some medical technical writers target their writing more towards the educated layperson, while others write for a highly educated, professional readership.
Qualification required
Many organizations have their own set of requirements and expectations when hiring for medical writing positions. It is not mandatory to have a medical background if you wish to become a medical writer, however possessing basic knowledge of medical terminology is a plus point. Having undertaken a medical writing training program also goes a low way to demonstrate formal training and commitment to this career. Knowledge about the basics of the disease, disease process and common treatments prescribed is an advantage.
Generally, a writing test is conducted as a part of the interview process which gives the company a sense of what the candidate is all about. Possessing excellent writing skills with good command of the language as well as word processing skills are a must. Companies generally provide different kinds of medical writing services and the hiring process depends on which type of service they are hiring for.
Key skills
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Familiarity with medical terminology and concepts
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Strong research skills
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Strong written communication skills
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Grammar, spelling and punctuation
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Clarity and conciseness
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Interpretation of research data and statistics
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Ability to write for a range of audiences
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Critical appraisal of medical and health literature
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Fact-checkingAnalytical skills
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Visual presentation of data (tables, graphs, diagrams)
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An understanding of the ethical principles and legalities that apply to medical communication and publication.
Who requires medical writers?
The medical writing career is booming nowadays, with a high demand for medical writers growing rapidly, Therefore the market for medical writers is expanding. Depending on one's experience, degree of competence, and preferences, one can perform this career either independently as a freelancer or as an employee in an organisation. So studying medical writing can be the start of a career that lasts a lifetime.
There are many niches for medical writers, such as:
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Media & Publishing companies
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Medical/scientific societies
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Healthcare Websites
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Companies involved in Scientific content and healthcare communication
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Reputed Medical Journals
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Medical book publishers
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Medical device companies
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Medical education companies
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Medical schools or universities
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Clinical or contract research organizations (CROs)
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Academic medical institutions engaged in providing education to healthcare professionals.
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Pharmaceutical/healthcare product companies including medical device companies
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Food processing/ cosmetics manufacturing companies
What do medical writers write?
A medical writer can produce various types of content, and the tone and style of each assignment will decide what type of content to produce.
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Abstracts for medical journals and medical conferences
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Articles shared in newspapers, magazines and websites, aimed at the general public
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Advertisements for pharmaceuticals, devices, and other products
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Continuing medical education materials
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Decision aids for patients
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Grant proposals
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Health care policy documents
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Health education materials
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Magazine and newspaper articles
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Medical and health care books
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Medical and scientific journal articles
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Poster presentations for medical conferences
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Regulatory documents, including FDA submissions
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Slide presentations for medical conferences
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White papers
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Medical equipment sales training manuals
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Instruction booklets
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Guidelines for usage
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Safety reports
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Clinical trial regulations and protocols
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Research proposals
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Regulatory submission documents
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White papers
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Presentations for medical conferences
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Health education materials
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Patient-facing medical information
Format of writing a medical article
The goal of writing the introduction is to capture the reader's attention by providing enough information to explain the problem or topic of the piece. The introduction should be brief, straightforward, and to the point. The opening is regarded as the most significant element of a paper by some referees since it establishes the tone and quality of the entire work. The beginning of a writer's work determines whether the reader bothers to read further, and the ending determines whether the reader is satisfied or unconvinced.
After the introduction, there must be a short paragraph outlining the scope of the study and offering a rapid summary of the study's organisation.
There should be a topic worthy of reporting, and it should be added to the current literature. The author should carefully analyse past relevant reports to verify that he or she is not repeating what has already been done successfully. Don't squander your time creating a paper that will never be published.
All procedures employed, such as the surgical technique, radiological approach, or medications used, must be mentioned. Use merely a reference for a commonly previously published approach, but include a brief synopsis in addition to the reference for an unusual previously reported method. Any manufacturer's information must be included. Remember to include the results of all techniques specified in this section in the results section.
The study's design must be fully described in a separate paragraph. Describe the control if it is controlled, and describe the kind and technique of randomization if it is randomised.
The reader has a right to have the information presented in a logical sequence, even though that order may not have been the same as how the work was completed. Don't duplicate the same data in more than one of the findings' text, tables, or graphs.
The summary serves as a digest of the entire study and the "take-home message." It should highlight the most important findings and justify the study's conclusion. The conclusion might be included in the Discussion as the final paragraph or as a separate part.
An extremely sensitive indicator of the entire piece is the list of references. If the author is casual with the references, the entire work may have been written with carelessness.
How to get into the medical writing field
Depending on their hobbies and educational background, medical writers might choose from a variety of employment routes. Some authors decide to concentrate on a certain facet of the market, such as medical technology or research and clinical data. Others manage a variety of tasks and develop their writing abilities by writing for a range of audiences and demands. Think about the topics you are most interested in writing about when pursuing a career in medical writing, and research the qualifications needed for a position in that field. Other names for this job include regulatory writers, healthcare journalists, scientific or technical writers, and communication experts.
One option is to concentrate on the regulatory aspect of the medical industry, which entails filing regulatory applications, clinical trial documentation, and other official paperwork.
Book Recommendations
Salary Range
Salaries for medical writers vary from city to city and region to region. The compensation of a writer depends on his or her experience, the type of employer, and the kind of work he or she does. In India the salary range for a junior?level or beginning medical writer is ? 2.1 Lakhs to ? 5.0 Lakhs and can be as high as ? 9.0 Lakhs to ? 10.0 Lakhs as per experience.[1]
Lastly, anyone who is interested in exploring the world of medical writing is that, while it requires a significant amount of preparation in terms of educational qualifications, certification and training programmes, as well as continuous on-the-job improvements, the benefits far outweigh the effort. Medical writers are not only paid, but they also play a crucial role in ensuring that life-saving pharmaceuticals get legal approval before they are approved on the market.
Medbots wishes you all the best for your career!
[1] https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/medical-writer-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm