How to Consider Ethics and Best Practices to write health Science Articles
Writers can consider ethics and best practices to write health science articles across the research, writing, reporting, and data sharing stages. Researchers can take advantage of ethical guidelines to boost the acceptance, quality, and reliability of their articles on health science topics.
In this guide, you will see the four (4) vital elements to consider ethics and best practices while writing health science articles. You can take advantage of all the information provided along with useful tips to produce high-quality research and add to scientific knowledge.
How to Consider Ethics and Best Practices to Write Health Science Articles
1. Research Ethics
Research is the first step all authors of health science articles must take to conduct a study before publishing. Authors must follow standard research ethics to improve the quality and reliability of their research:
Informed consent
Writers of health science articles should address the informed consent of participants clearly to align with research ethics. Authors must adopt informed consent to identify:
- How participants got to know about the research,
- The rights of all participants,
- How authors obtained the consent of participants,
- Potential risks and/or benefits for taking part in the study, and
- How authors maintained the confidentiality of information provided and anonymity of participants
Ethical approval
Authors should mention how they got ethical approval for health science research. Researchers should also highlight how the study conducted aligns with ethical regulations and guidelines. Writers should also identify the kind of ethical approval secured to conduct a health science study.
Authors with a clear description of ethical approvals easily show their commitment to protect participants, uphold standards, and conduct safe research on health science topics.
Privacy of participants
Writers of health science articles should ensure that all participants receive standard data protection. Authors must protect the personal information of all participants in a study, especially when such people are a disadvantaged group or under threat.
Conflict of interest
Conflicts of interests can influence how authors make findings reported in articles or the reporting of research or. It is essential for authors to clearly disclose all conflicts of interest that may have an influence on their research. The most common conflicts of interest to disclose include:
- personal conflicts of interest,
- professional conflicts of interest, and
- financial conflicts of interest
These conflicts may significantly compromise the integrity or objective nature of research.
2. Writing Best Practices
Writing high-quality health science articles must align with best practices at all times to improve your contribution to scientific knowledge. Elements to consider while noting writing best practices include:
Clarity and readability
Authors should present health science articles in clear, concise grammar. Avoid using unnecessary jargon and convey all your ideas in plain language. The use of technical terms should be minimal, and you should explain what complex words mean after their first appearance in your text.
Following this writing practice will boost readership of your articles and make all points in your research easy for readers to understand.
Structure
Correct structuring of your articles boosts readability and is a major practice to consider while aligning your research with ethics and best practices. You should use headings at vital sections of your research to enhance comprehension. Also, use subheadings to divide subsections of your research in a logical sequence to help readers progress through your article with ease.
Citation and referencing
Accurate referencing is an essential part of best practices while writing health science research. Authors should credit work to authors and avoid plagiarism of any kind. Writers should also follow the specific citation style accepted by their preferred journal(s).
Peer review
Most reputable journals will not accept completed studies that do not go through a peer review process. A stringent peer review process will improve the reliability and impact of your article on the addressed topic.
3. Reporting Guidelines
You must consider reporting guidelines while trying to adhere to ethics and best practices for writing health science articles. Authors should also consider these guidelines after research and while writing their articles on health sciences. Some of the most popular guidelines you should consider include:
- STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology)
- ARRIVE (Animal Research Reporting of In Vivo Experiments)
- PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)
- CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials)
Following the guidelines outlined for science research helps you produce high-quality articles that align with your subject topic and preferred journal.
4. Responsible Data Sharing and Open Access
You need to consider sharing appropriate data to back up your study, promote collaboration, and transparency. Follow sharing policies outlined by publishers, funding bodies, or academic institutions affiliated with your research.
You should also consider making your article Open Access to allow more users read your research. Ensuring Open Access boosts the impact and reach of your health science article.
Steps to Consider Ethics and Best Practices for Writing Health Science Articles
Writers should follow these steps while considering ethics and best practices to write health science articles:
- Obtain ethical approval
- Protect participants' privacy and confidentiality
- Accurate citation and referencing
- Disclosure of conflicts of interest
- Follow reporting guidelines
- Structure the article to align with guidelines and boost readability
- Familiarize yourself with ethical guidelines
- Engage in peer review to improve the quality and acceptance of your article
- Informed consent to protect participants and improve the quality of research
- Maintain clarity and readability
- Make the article Open Access
- Ensure responsible data sharing
Final Word
Authors must consider ethics and best practices at every stage involved in writing health science articles. Adherence to set standards improves the quality of articles, boosts comprehension, and adds valuable research to the health sciences.
Taking note of ethics and following all required guidelines provides an essential platform for future research on related topics. Writers of health science articles should take advantage of all the information above to produce reliable, high-quality health science articles.