How to Overcome the Barriers Behind Writing Case Reports for Beginners and Young General Physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical Writing
• General Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Case reports are foundational in clinical medicine and academic development.
• A low publication rate of presented cases suggests barriers for general physicians.
• Mentorship absence is a potential challenge in case report writing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidance and strategies for novice and young general physicians.
• To help overcome barriers in composing case reports for international journals.
• To facilitate the publication of valuable clinical insights.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review was conducted.
• The focus is on case reports for general physicians aiming for international publication.
• Strategies for overcoming common writing barriers are discussed.

Main Results:

• Three key tips for writing case reports are proposed: identify suitable cases, select appropriate journals, and structure the discussion section thematically.
• A curated list of journals specializing in case reports is provided.
• Pointers for choosing submission venues are offered for general medicine authors.

Conclusions:

• The proposed tips aim to assist beginners and young general physicians in effectively writing case reports.
• Successful application of these strategies is expected to increase case report publications.
• Enhanced understanding and application of these tips will support authors in general medicine.