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Talking Science with Laymen – Future of Scientific Communication

Publication Writing, Scientific Writing, , , , , , ,

“Not explaining science seems to me perverse. When you are in love you want to tell the world.” – Carl Sagan

From the corridors of laboratories, science has found its way to our mobile screens. Digital media and social apps have pulverized the boundaries between a published paper and the public. Today a scientist can communicate and share his progress with everyone on the planet irrespective of his background. During the pandemic, Twitter brought an evolution in the minds of people about research and science. Twitter allowed global communication between scientists on a scale never experienced before. The way to see progress in science has become a routine even for people who are not from a medical background. Social media changed the meaning and trends of scientific communication forever.

Unlearning the old rules

From Publish-or-Perish theory to Post-your-Publication concept, science has come a long way. Scientists and doctors are using common social media platform (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) to blog and post about new advancements. Pharmaceutical companies are forming patient advocacy groups to engage more lay audiences and connect with them. These small changes have brought in the quintessential butterfly effect to the way documentation is done these days. New types of documents like Lay summaries, etc. are bringing in considerable shift in the paradigm of scientific publications.

A look over perks

Walking behind time is not a wise decision. The present is expecting direct communication with lay audience and scientists outside the field. The traditional methods of publishing and communication only target people related to the field but with social media at our fingertips, scientific communication can reach everywhere, be it a patient or a student, a medical writer or a businessman. A few of various advantages of choosing social media:

  • Boosting professional profiles
  • Making science accessible
  • Rise in NSF Fundings
  • Educating patients and young doctors
  • Reaching the audience across the globe
  • Higher citations in coming years
  • Communicating and connecting can help in the development of medications and treatment.
  • Networking and marketing
  • If misinformed people are there spreading incomplete knowledge, then authorized documents must be there to correct the wrong guidelines.

Checklist before sharing on social media

Medical content is something that people trust and apply in their daily life, like dosage of a particular drug, mode of action, side effects, etc. Something that seems obvious to you can be a fact for your audience. So, put your words in right frame.

Here are some tips to improve your draft:

  1. Address real-life issues which can change the behavior of readers like smoking, dietary habits, etc. Use standard details and facts.
  2. Plan according to your goals and targets; be sure of what you expect out of it, like media coverage, collaboration, feedback, visibility for your research, or citations for your papers.
  3. Make your audience feel like part of your research. Tell stories and use fiction to spread your message.
  4. Keep yourself aware of how scientific communication will be interpreted by others and the media.
  5. Presentation and design – the question and answers format can usually not go wrong and make sure that language is clear and comprehendible to a layman.
  6. Images and graphs can create the big picture in front of an audience. So, provide visuals using graphics and statistics.
  7. Convert results and conclusions of research in pdfs for better understanding.
  8. The power in your words depends upon the trust of your readers. Use it wisely and with ethical standards.
  9. Spark the curiosity in the audience by talking about the scientific process. Talk about the conclusion, future and answers the questions occurring in your reader’s mind.
  10. Don’t use jargon and scientific terminologies. If you are using one, then explain it properly in clear terms. Abbreviations and acronyms will not make sense to a broader audience.

With more people getting involved in the progress of research and healthcare, scientific communication is becoming an influential part. The revolution in the publication field has arrived and the way to connect with people is changing with a distance of a click. Scientific communication and publishing make science an important section of society. To protect the thread of trust between people and the research world, the rules and guidelines are also expanding. To learn more about the new documents and guidelines visit https://turacoz.com/Scientific-Writing-Course/ Tell the world about all your discoveries and learnings because there are millions of science geeks waiting to read and learn.

Lay Summary – A New Phase of Publication

Publication Writing, Scientific Writing, , , , ,

“What is the side effect of paracetamol? Why can’t my kid get vaccinated? Which vaccine is more effective?” The patients and worried parents are looking all over on internet to treasure trove the answers to these questions. In such a scenario and many of its likes, Google becomes the go-to database for information, but it unfortunately leads to misinformation, misdiagnosis, spurious remedies, all heading to graver damage to health. And hence it becomes imperative to verify any scientific information from authentic databases and validated documents.

In an era of Covid, when every message, blog, news piece, article, all and sundry were talking about it, there was clearly a realization amongst the more aware ones, to lean on more scientifically accurate information. And it urged them to grab published articles for perusal. But the language and terminology of these documents made it arduous for them to comprehend and find what they were looking for. This informed curiosity and interest of laymen towards learning scientific facts and guidelines encouraged Patient Lay Summaries to find their place in the world of Publication and Research.

Patient Lay Summary Explained

Lay Summary is an abstract-like content or summary where complex scientific/medical/clinical information from published research articles is represented in a lucid way to cater to an audience who may or may not have any subject knowledge or scientific background. The difficult terms and methods are made easier to understand and implement and ensure that correct information goes to the reader. According to EMA, all clinical studies need to have a lay summary and should be prepared within one year.

Call for Lay Summary

The main aim of a lay summary is to answer questions of the public regarding studies or research. The basic need of lay summary is awareness to the widest possible audience. If the correct information reaches people in their own language, they can relate to it. This will increase the quality of medical research as patients will be encouraged to contribute and be partners in decision making. Talking about risk management of medicine and trials, these documents provided transparency and a clear vision to the public and are highly appreciated by patient advocacy groups. A lay summary is not only beneficial for the public but also for researchers as a way to take their work out of the room of the scientific fraternity and reach a broader generic audience. A brilliant chance to go out of the box and get attention!

But these documents are themselves a dare to write and this dare is given to medical writers.

Writing for Lay

The medical writers hold the responsibility of informing and educating patients in a way that can alter their decisions. Words can direct a reader on the journey of good health and wise choices. But how to find a midway between writing a The medical writers hold the responsibility of informing and educating patients in a way that can alter their decisions. Words can direct a reader on the journey of good health and wise choices. But how to find a midway between writing a simple and educational document? Try to seat yourself in the mind of a patient and imagine what he or she needs to learn.

Here are some key points you need to follow while drafting

  • A good Lay summary should be able to answer questions like:
  1. What was the study about?
  2. Who Participated in the study?
  3. What were the main results?
  4. Detail about the side effects etc.
  • Writer can use words or terminologies which are more homespun to patients like using brand names and not the salts.
  • Use of infographics, charts, tables, and graphs to make the data more understandable as the images will easily attract them and look at more key facts.
  • Lay summary will be a map for the patients and decide what to choose or not. So, the data and details should be relevant and not just a random collection of facts.
  • Patients are reading something to find -what after that? So, don’t forget to explain the impact of your research or review.
  • Specialized language, jargon should be avoided as it will only confuse the reader.
  • Start using the first person in your sentence formation as if you are conversing with a reader like ‘we decided’ and not ‘that was decided’.
  • A well-written lay summary should be published in a way that there should not be any wall between your work and readers. From social media to sponsor’s website, where all to publish this new type of publication document, should be on your list. To know more visit https://lnkd.in/dQuHWhHH

Down the Road

In a world where every piece of information is one click away, documents like lay summaries are catching momentum; it is the new face of Publication. According to surveys and reports, maximum internet searches encompass health-related guidance. Thereby, it is the need of hours to provide correct, complete and accurate educational information to patients. Social media plays a crucial role in transporting whatever comes in front, right or wrong and medical-writers are in a way, guards of true and authorized knowledge. In the coming years, publication will be all about reaching every corner and a lay summary is not just a right of patients but also the only route to read the right.