The global publication survey
Tom Grant
AstraZeneca
Continuing our theme of medical communications, Tom Grant of AstraZeneca highlights the importance of the global publication survey.
So, why do a survey?
The medical publications environment has never before experienced so much change, scrutiny and challenge. As a consequence of this, the International Society for Medical Publications Professionals (ISMPP) is the founding sponsor of a major survey designed to understand the issues, challenges and also opportunities related to the development of peer-reviewed publications today. This landmark survey will enable us to better address educational needs within different stakeholder groups involved in the development of peer-reviewed publications, and further advance and promote high global standards and practices that guide publication development.
The intent is to conduct this survey on a regular basis, in order to understand how medical publication practices change over time and highlight areas where we may need to do more to ensure compliance with current standards and to possibly contribute to new consensus standards.
The Survey Steering Committee consists of the following members:
"The medical publications environment has never before experienced so much change, scrutiny and challenge."
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The Survey is being conducted by an independent research organization, TGaS Advisors, who are experienced in the development of large, multinational, multi-party surveys. Questions have been developed that relate to all the various stakeholder groups involved with publications to ensure the findings are relevant and valuable to all parties.
Recommendations on actions and activities to improve the practice of medical publication planning and delivery will be an essential part of the survey – this is not a survey for survey’s sake.
So who are the stakeholder groups?
The stakeholder groups invited to participate in the survey are:
• Industry (Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Medical Devices, Diagnostics).
• Agencies (that provide services supporting medical publications).
• CROs (that provide services supporting medical publications).
• Freelancers (self-employed medical publications professionals).
• Journal editors.
• Publishing companies.
• Academic, Research and / or Medical Institution and Associations.
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"Recommendations on actions and activities to improve the practice of medical publication planning and delivery will be an essential part of the survey..."
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How will the results of the survey be communicated?
The survey findings will be presented first at the 9th Annual Meeting of the ISMPP in April 2013. We also plan to publish the data in a peer-reviewed journal for complete transparency and we will share the information with all interested parties.
So, where are things up to?
The data collection phase of the survey is ongoing. The Steering Committee would like to thank all participants for taking the time to contribute to this important, landmark survey.
For additional information go to www.linkedin.com, The Global Publication Survey Group or follow us on twitter (@TheGPS1).
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ISMPP
AstraZeneca
AlphaBioCom
Complete Medical Communications
KnowledgePoint360 Group
MedVal Scientific Information Services
Novo Nordisk Health Care AG
ProScribe Medical Communications
SideView
TGaS
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A follow-up article on the survey results will be published later this year.
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About the author:
Tom Grant has over 27 years experience in the pharmaceuticals industry, including 10+ years experience in medical publications management. Tom has a strong interest in sharing best practices in the medical publications profession and is an enthusiastic participant in ISMPP meetings and initiatives. He also has a passion for new, creative opportunities to communicate medical data.
Have you participated in the global publication survey yet?
