Writing a healthcare research paper includes a lot of stages, like reviewing current literature on the topic, conducting field studies, data analysis, and much more. Research papers on healthcare may take the form of original research, case study, literature review, and narrative reviews. Due to the complexity of the topic and the exacting standards required in scientific research, writing a research paper on healthcare can be difficult in many ways. Knowing about the main difficulties and how to overcome them will help you write a better healthcare research paper and get published.
Difficulty in using appropriate style and language
Healthcare research papers must follow particular formatting and citation requirements and be written clearly, succinctly, and objectively while utilizing the correct medical terms and scientific vocabulary. While keeping a balance between technical terms and accessibility of the research content for a broader audience, the overall impression of your research may be spoiled because of grammatical or spelling errors.
In order to successfully convey their findings to a larger audience, beginning healthcare researchers might refine their writing techniques through regular writing practice and collaboration with expert writers from writing services (e.g., WriteMyEssayOnline). Also, it’s advisable to ask your peers or colleagues to review your manuscript to ensure your text is readable and error-free.
Difficulty in creating a specific and clear title.
Every researcher starts writing their research papers with stating questions. When your manuscript is finished, you can convert your paper’s initial idea into the title. But creating a precise and adequate research paper title may require time and effort. You need to reflect on the main findings of your research and attract the reader with the fewest words possible. Here are some more tips to follow:
- Avoid too long titles and remove redundancies as it distracts the reader.
- Put yourself in the reader’s shoes and consider how to search for the information. Which title will be more specific?
- Don’t focus on the part of your research. You need to consider all the content of your research.
Difficulty in adhering to the multiplicity of research fields.
Healthcare topics have many different aspects and features. For example, the researcher should know disease pathology, clinical guidelines, study designs, and methodologies to research treatment interventions. Also, some research topics may lay at the intersection of medicine, statistics, and public health, which requires the author to navigate all researched fields easily.
If your college offers consulting groups or data science resources like Harvard, you can get help with your project. First, identify which guidance you need. Maybe you need specific data sources, help with study design, or can’t interpret data correctly. Team members will support you with available resources and recommendations.
Additionally, think about attending conferences and workshops. Such opportunities can allow you to network with other researchers and experts in the field of treatment interventions. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain insights into the latest developments in the area and ensure that your research outcomes are practical and evidence-based.
Difficulty in staying up-to-date with recent developments.
To do thorough and actual research, the author must be aware of the most recent advancements in the field. The medicine and healthcare sector is constantly improving treatment methods, acquiring new technologies, and discovering innovative solutions to complex health problems. As a healthcare professional, you should make an extra effort to stay current with recent guidelines, techniques, and technologies to offer the best possible practices to patients.
Subscribe to reputable articles or ask your librarian to give you access to the college’s scientific databases. Here are some suggestions for you:
- PubMed
- UpToDate
- Medscape
- The Journal of the American Medical Association
- British Medical Journal
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) official website
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- MedlinePlus
- Access Medicine
Difficulty in properly editing the manuscript.
The finished research paper draft should correspond to the college requirements for the format and style. If the work is published in periodicals or healthcare databases available to a broad public, the author should undergo a peer-reviewing process before submitting the research for publication. It may take time to adopt all requirements and reach the required balance between the technical content and accessibility to a broad audience. Be open to constructive criticism and ask your peers for review to enhance your chances of successful publishing.
Always check the “Guide for Authors” available for specific journals at the journal’s official website or Elsevier journal database. Dedicate your time to creating the proper layout, reaching word limits, adhering to the correct spelling rules and abbreviations (e.g., there are differences in British and American), using the proper numbering for tables and figures, formatting references, etc. If you wish the publication process to go smoothly, respect the editor’s time and prepare your manuscript.
Difficulty in creating clear figures and tables.
Novice researchers find it hard to create compelling graphics, but it’s one of the most essential ways to present your research results. You need to look through the quality research papers and define which types of figures and tables offer data the best. The same information can be delivered more directly and clearly with the proper visuals. Try not to include too much data and organize it.
Difficulty in writing a solid discussion section.
This part of the research paper plays a significant role as you can advertise your data and results. Many writers create weak discussion sections, and journals reject their works because It may happen due to the poor writer’s understanding of the primary results, failure to interpret results, missing to recognize and address study limitations, etc.
In this section, you should present the meaning of your results, explain whether your methods were successful, and how your findings relate to other studies. By creating a solid manuscript, you increase your chances for submission. Remember that some articles require those sections to be combined with conclusions.
The following advice can help you write a compelling discussion section:
- Create a strong connection with your results sections.
- Avoid overstating the significance of your findings’ “scientific breakthrough.”
- Use quantitative descriptions only.
- Discuss your findings in means of possible implications supported by facts.
- Comparing your results with already existing works will be a good move. Also, don’t forget to address those findings that confront your results and explain why your findings are correct.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, developing a healthcare research paper involves many challenges, but most can be turned positive using specific techniques and recommendations. Remember that consulting reliable sources, staying up to date with best healthcare practices, and collaborating with experts and colleagues may improve the overall quality of your research and contribute to the ever-expanding healthcare field of science.
Lily Thompson
Lily Thompson is a professional freelance writer. She has been operating in the writing industry for five years, ensuring the highest quality of content. Having obtained a Ph.D. degree in Humanities, she has worked at several large corporations.
