Assessing the Principle of Scientific Writing in Published Articles in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

• Main Authors: SHR Tabatabaee, O Fazalzadeh
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2009-09-01
• Series: مجله اپیدمیولوژی ایران
• Subjects: Scientific writing ، Journals ، Shiraz ، Iran
• Online Access: http://irje.tums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-25-114&slc_lang=en&sid=1

Background and Objectives: Publication of scientific articles nowadays is one of the important indexes of knowledge production. This index plays a key role for ranking in academia. The aim of this study was to assess the how academic staff in Shiraz Medical Sciences University considered the principle of scientific writing. Methods: In a cross-sectional study 200 published papers among 1104 paper registered to vice chancellor of research from 2002 to 2007 were selected with systematic random sampling method.Results: Among 200 papers, 190 (95%) had corresponding author from faculty members. Twenty three percents (23%) of papers were in basic sciences field and 72% were in clinical field. In 19 (9.5%) of papers either an epidemiologists-biostatistician or social medicine specialists were coauthor. Forty five (22.5%) of published papers, consisted of descriptive studies and the rest were analytic studies. Maximum faults in descriptive studies were the missing of time interval stating (26%). In case-control studies, 59% of papers had not stated diagnosis criteria and disease definitions. In cohort studies and clinical trials, 90% and 85% of papers had not expressed the number of missed patients during study, respectively. Conclusions: With regards to findings of this study, scientific writing and research methodology short course as continuing development professional for academic staff should be emphasized in academic institutes in Iran. Keywords: Scientific writing, Journals, Shiraz,Iran