How to Write Compelling Abstracts for a Health Science Article 

You can write an engaging abstract for a health science article by highlighting vital points about the background, methods, results, and conclusion sections. A compelling abstract also contains information about major objectives, research questions, and implications for future research.

Journals typically have different requirements abstracts must possess before publication. However, many journals require a similar pattern across sections that must be present in an abstract of an article before publishing.

Let’s see the nine (9) major steps to write an engaging abstract and other vital information about summaries for health science articles.

How to Write Compelling Abstracts for a Health Science Article

1.     Understand the purpose and structure of an abstract

You need to clearly understand your research purpose and structure if you hope to write an engaging abstract. Your abstract should convey information about the major sections of your article.

The summary of your article allows readers quickly assess the relevance of your article to specific or general health science disciplines.  You can consult your journal for information about specific requirements of an abstract.

2.     Identify vital elements to include

You need to identify essential elements to include as an author keen to deliver a compelling abstract. Identifying vital elements allows you communicate the importance of your article to readers as a summary. The major elements to include in your article include:

-       the background of your study and its significance,

-       research question(s),

-       main aim of the research or specific objectives (if necessary),

-       materials and methods used,

-       major findings,

-       conclusion drawn or implications of the findings

Authors can include these sections in an abstract and provide a thorough summary to captivate readers’ attention.

3.     Write sentences in concise and clear grammar

Clear and concise abstracts are more engaging than other forms of briefs used in articles. As an author, you should consider the following elements to improve the conciseness and clarity of your health science article:

-       Avoid excess jargon that may confuse non-expert readers,

-       Limit the use of technical terms throughout all sentences in the abstract,

-       Use clear and direct language to write all parts of your abstract,

-       Every sentence must convey a particular idea,

-       Write one finding per sentence to avoid confusing readers,

-       Don’t use unnecessary explanations in the abstract,

-       Leave out unimportant details, and

-       Present the major findings and their implications alone

Adopting this pattern boosts the clarity and conciseness of your abstract. The major aim of your abstract should be to boost readability. Presenting a concise abstract gives members of your audience enough support to understand your article’s main idea with ease.

4.     Point out the novelty of your research

Abstracts give authors enough opportunities to highlight the novelty of their research in health sciences. You can clearly state any of the following in your abstract to back up your novel research:

-  what sets your study apart from other published literature,

-  the innovative nature of methodology used in your research,

-  potential essence of your novel research to public health or clinical practice, and

-  unique findings observed

Pointing out the novelty of your research in the abstract will single out the uniqueness of your article.

5.     Highlight the significance of your research

An abstract also gives an author enough options to identify the significance of research to specific or general health science practice. The abstract should highlight any of the following:

-       the importance of your research to existing knowledge,

-       how your research bridges gaps in existing literature,

-       the potential impact of your research on existing healthcare policies, etc.

Providing a brief about the importance of your research in this section gives readers an opportunity to assess the relevance of your article.

6.     Use smart keyword placement

You should add relevant keywords to your abstract. These keywords are ideal for proper indexing of your abstract. Proper keyword placement also guarantees easy retrieval of your article after indexing.

Try to identify the keywords that completely represent your topic and include them as strategic terms across your abstract. You can consult specific controlled vocabularies to enhance the consistency and visibility of your chosen keywords.

7.     Convey vital elements of your research in the abstract

Your research results and specific findings should appear in the abstract as a summary. Clearly state the meaningful outcomes of your research. Mention how these findings are clinically or statistically significant in the abstract.

You can include relevant numerical information in the abstract to contextualize your major findings. Also avoid ambiguous words while writing your abstract. Provide specific information about your article and demonstrate the impact of your research in as little words as possible.

8.     Create a cohesive and engaging narrative

Your abstract must be concise while conveying vital information to readers in a cohesive, well-structured format. You must ensure a logical presentation of details about your article through the abstract. The logical flow should connect these parts of your research:

-       the background to the study (including information about the aim and objectives of your research),

-       materials & methods used in the research,

-       results observed after analysis, and

-       conclusion and recommendations after findings

Take full advantage of transitional phrases while connecting these sections in your abstract to facilitate a smooth flow of information. Your abstract should elicit curiosity in readers and encourage your audience to read the full article.

9.     Edit and proofread

You need to proofread and edit your abstract before finalizing it. Follow these steps to correctly edit and proofread your article for publication;

-       check for grammatical and typographical errors,

-       confirm clarity of all sentences in the abstract,

-       ensure all formatting guidelines are followed, and

-       confirm the word count limits are not exceeded

It also helps to seek information from experienced colleagues and mentors. Seeking informed opinions about your drafted abstract ensures it meets all valid requirements while representing your research effectively.

Final Word

Following these steps helps you write an engaging abstract for your health science article. These steps are universal and can apply to the guidelines of several established health science journals. Take advantage of these tips to write compelling abstracts with enough points to capture your readers’ attention with ease!