Writing for publication: institutional support provides an enabling environment

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Medical Education
• Academic Publishing

Background:

• Academic researchers in developing countries face heavy service delivery and teaching loads, limiting time for scientific writing.
• Disseminating research findings is crucial, necessitating enhanced scientific writing skills among health sciences academics.
• This study addresses the need for structured support to overcome these challenges and foster publication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate approaches for improving scientific writing skills and publication rates among academic staff.
• To provide support for researchers burdened by clinical and teaching responsibilities.
• To assess the impact of dedicated writing initiatives on research dissemination.

Main Methods:

• Initiation of scientific writing workshops for all staff.
• Organization of writing retreats offering protected time for manuscript preparation.
• Provision of an off-site, collegial environment to support writing and collaboration.

Main Results:

• Workshops increased participant confidence and proficiency in scientific writing.
• Writing retreats resulted in 132 papers submitted and 95 in preparation over two years from 230 participants.
• Participants valued the supportive environment, which fostered collaboration and skill development.

Conclusions:

• The implemented strategies effectively enhance scientific writing skills and facilitate knowledge dissemination.
• This approach creates a sustainable model for training future cohorts of health sciences researchers in similar settings.
• The initiative demonstrates the value of protected time and supportive environments for academic productivity.