How to write a case report for publication - ScienceDirect

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

Volume 5, Issue 2, Summer 2006, Pages 72-82

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60137-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

This paper describes how and why to write a case report for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Methods

PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and the Index to Chiropractic Literature were searched from 2000 through September 2006 using the following search terms: case report, authorship, peer review, and manuscript. Relevant manuscripts were retrieved and the results were used to update a previous narrative overview of the literature.

Discussion

Commensurate with the increased use of evidence-based health care and recent changes in publication requirements, new standards are expected of case reports. Case reports should present new information to the literature and be written succinctly. The types of case reports available are discussed. Steps for preparing a case report are described based upon the current available literature.

Conclusion

Case reports are important contributions to the health sciences literature. Proper preparation of this study design is necessary in order for it to be published. A self-evaluation check sheet for authors is included to assist in the writing process.

References (56)

JE Fenton et al.
Tackling the case report
Auris Nasus Larynx
(2004)
TP Croll
Preparation of a dental case history report for publication
J Am Dent Assoc
(1981)
L DeBakey et al.
The case report. I. Guidelines for preparation
Int J Cardiol
(1983)
DA Grimes et al.
Descriptive studies: what they can and cannot do
Lancet
(2002)
BN Green et al.
Improving historical research reports: a case report format and example in Arden Zimmerman, DC
J Chiropr Humanit
(1998)
J Riddoch
Evaluation of practice
Physiotherapy
(1991)
L Plaisance
The ‘write’ way to get published in a professional journal
Pain Manag Nurs
(2003)
CD Johnson
Questioning the importance of authorship
J Manipulative Physiol Ther
(2005)
G Har-El
Does it take a village to write a case report?
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
(1999)
BN Green
Ensuring the privacy of protected health information in research
J Manipulative Physiol Ther
(2005)

AP Schachat

What is HIPAA and what effect may it have on our journal?

Ophthalmology

(2003)

DD Price et al.

A comparison of pain measurement characteristics of mechanical visual analogue and simple numerical rating scales

Pain

(1994)

M Janicek

Clinical case reporting in evidence-based medicine

(1999)

H Cohen

How to write a patient case report

Am J Health Syst Pharm

(2006)

LH McCarthy et al.

How to write a case report

Fam Med

(2000)

RL Iles et al.

Presenting and publishing case reports

J Clin Pharmacol

(1996)

R Chelvarajah et al.

Writing and publishing case reports: the road to success

Acta Neurochir (Wien)

(2004)

DJ Pierson

Case reports in respiratory care

Respir Care

(2004)

A White

Writing case reports: author guidelines for Acupuncture in Medicine

Acupunct Med

(2004)

JP Vandenbrouke

Case reports in an evidence-based worls

Jr Soc Med

(1999)

C Martyn

Case reports, case series and systematic reviews

QJMed

(2002)

F Godlee

Applying research evidence to individual patients

BMJ

(1998)

M Procopio

Publication of case reports

Br J Psychiatry

(2005)

HF Moed et al.

Improving the accuracy of Institute for Scientific Information's journal impact factors

J Am Soc Inf Sci

(1995)

O Sorinola et al.

Instructions to authors for case reporting are limited: a review of a core journal list

BMC Med Educ

(2004)

BN Green et al.

Writing patient case reports for peer-reviewed journals: secrets of the trade

J Sports Chiropr Rehabil

(2000)

JC Keating

G Walter et al.

The humble case report

AustNZJ Psychiatry

(2001)

Cited by (67)

How to write a case report/series
2023, American Journal of Surgery
Education Descriptive Reports: How to Publish Pragmatic Studies in Education
2022, Journal of Chiropractic Humanities
Citation Excerpt :
Because of this, chiropractic educational research may benefit from additional models of inquiry, allowing for opportunities to publish observational, reflective, and hypothesis-generating work. In searching books and journal articles, we found little information that provided clear instruction on writing education descriptive reports, such as what has been done in other health professions and with other research designs within chiropractic.14-18 There is scant information in the literature that describes how these studies could be written or evaluated.
The purpose of this article is to describe the contents of an education descriptive report and to provide a useful publication format for educators in the health professions.
The education descriptive report is a pragmatic, empirical study that can contribute to the literature. Education descriptive reports describe an event or situation in an education setting, the resulting outcomes, and what new information can be learned. These reports may use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods and may be from organizational, academic, instructional, programmatic, or other educational perspectives.
The education descriptive report gives educators in the health professions a mechanism to introduce their scholarly efforts and observations in education environments in a manner that is consistent with the academic literature. This article describes the structure of an education descriptive report and includes a helpful template for academic authors to develop their own report so they may publish observational, reflective, and hypothesis-generating articles.
4 M's to make sense of evidence – Avoiding the propagation of mistakes, misinterpretation, misrepresentation and misinformation
2022, International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
The value of the case report is well recognised in many fields. Indeed, it can be used to generate hypotheses to be subsequently tested by other types of research design such as cohort studies or control randomized trials [33,34], to detect novelties [34], to warn a profession of potential complications of an intervention [35]. These reports can also promote the sharing of clinical expertise, help clinicians to solve difficult clinical problems and provide valuable teaching opportunities [29,34,35].
Osteopaths are expected to keep up to date with research evidence relevant to their clinical practice and to integrate this knowledge with their own experience and their patients' values and preferences. One of the potential challenges when engaging with research is to make sense of it, to decide if it is trustworthy, and if it is applicable to the complex and context-sensitive nature of clinical practice and the care of individual people. Clinicians are increasingly exposed to (deliberate and undeliberate) misinformation and overstatements which propagate easily, including via social media. This masterclass aims to facilitate critical thinking and engagement in research for clinicians to make better-informed decisions with their patients. It was developed to support osteopaths facing these questions with the aim of empowering them to judge research themselves, detect common fallacies in the conduct and reporting of different research designs, and to increase researchers' accountability. Ultimately, we hope that by reading and considering the guidance and examples in this paper, clinicians will be better equipped to optimise the use of their (and their patients’) time when facing potential sources of evidence.
Mistakes, misinterpretation, misrepresentation and misinformation are discussed for each of these methods/methodologies: case reports, clinical trials, qualitative research, and reviews.
A guide to writing a case report of an osteopathic patient
2020, International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
Case reports are designed to disseminate elements of the patient case history, examination, treatment and ongoing management with the aim of informing clinical practice. Case reports also provide valuable teaching material, demonstrating both common and unusual presentations which may confront the clinician, alongside adverse events, cases where care has failed and differential diagnosis considerations [1]. Since the majority of clinical interactions occur in private practice, not in teaching or research facilities, it relies on the clinician to record and share their experiences.
Case reports provide a valuable insight into osteopathic practice. They allow for the description of diagnoses, interventions and management strategies for complaints that present to practice. Although case reports are traditionally associated with descriptions of rare or unique cases, reports of more common presentations to osteopaths are exceptionally useful. The purpose of this Masterclass is to describe how to construct a case report for the journal, and many other medical journals. The Masterclass outlines how to use the Case Report (CARE) guidelines and provides examples from published case reports related to osteopathic practice. We hope that this Masterclass will encourage practitioners to consider publishing case reports to expand the professions’ evidence base and inform future research.
The clinical case: validity, values and strategies to approach its writing
2017, Radiologia
El caso clínico sirve para dar a conocer la experiencia adquirida por sus autores con un enfermo. Aunque se ha cuestionado su relevancia, el caso clínico merece ser reivindicado y contextualizado. Revisamos la tradición histórica, la evolución reciente y los formatos actuales del caso clínico. Describimos su vigencia y valor como instrumento científico, divulgativo y asistencial. Reflexionamos sobre el potencial formativo que su escritura entraña. Finalmente, aportamos estrategias para abordar la escritura de un caso clínico de interés radiológico.
The case report is used to communicate the experience acquired by its authors with a patient. Although its relevance has been doubted, the case report deserves to be vindicated and contextualized. We review the case report's historical tradition, recent evolution and current formats. We describe its utility as a scientific tool, a continuing education resource and an aid to diagnosis. We reflect on the teaching potential its writing entails. Finally, we provide strategies to address the writing of a radiological case report.
CARE guidelines for case reports: explanation and elaboration document
2017, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Well-written and transparent case reports (1) reveal early signals of potential benefits, harms, and information on the use of resources; (2) provide information for clinical research and clinical practice guidelines, and (3) inform medical education. High-quality case reports are more likely when authors follow reporting guidelines. During 2011–2012, a group of clinicians, researchers, and journal editors developed recommendations for the accurate reporting of information in case reports that resulted in the CARE (CAse REport) Statement and Checklist. They were presented at the 2013 International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication, have been endorsed by multiple medical journals, and translated into nine languages.
This explanation and elaboration document has the objective to increase the use and dissemination of the CARE Checklist in writing and publishing case reports.
Each item from the CARE Checklist is explained and accompanied by published examples. The explanations and examples in this document are designed to support the writing of high-quality case reports by authors and their critical appraisal by editors, peer reviewers, and readers.
This article and the 2013 CARE Statement and Checklist, available from the CARE website [www.care-statement.org] and the EQUATOR Network [www.equator-network.org], are resources for improving the completeness and transparency of case reports.

View all citing articles on Scopus

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

Sources of support: no external funding was received for this project.

Copyright © 2006 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.