Medical Journals
Medical is a field that encompasses the study of health, illness and treatment. Medical professionals include doctors, nurses and other allied health professions. In addition, scientists and other researchers contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge through research and publishing in scientific journals. Medical journals are the primary source of information on new diseases, treatments and procedures.
Medical professionals use a unique vocabulary to describe human anatomy, medical procedures and disorders. This vocabulary is known as medical terminology. It is important for all healthcare professionals to understand and use medical terminology in order to provide quality care to their patients.
Medicine has been around for thousands of years, beginning as an art (the practice of using herbs and other natural remedies) with connections to religious and philosophical beliefs. In recent centuries, it has become more of a science, with physicians and scientists developing new techniques and medications to treat diseases and disorders. Many of today’s medicines and medical equipment were developed through the advancement of basic science disciplines like chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics, as well as applied sciences such as engineering and biomedical science.
There are about 30,000 medical journals published worldwide. Some, like The New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA, are household names. Other medical journals are more specialized and often only read by other medical professionals or scientific researchers. The National Library of Medicine maintains a searchable database called PubMed that allows anyone to access medical articles and scientific studies.
A medical journal may be devoted to a particular disease, condition or treatment, or it may cover an entire topic area such as epidemiology (the study of diseases in people and animals) or pharmacology (the study of drugs). Some medical journals are peer-reviewed, meaning that other doctors or scientists review the manuscript before it is published. This process is designed to ensure that the medical information in a journal is accurate and up-to-date.
Medical writers and editors must be careful not to fall into elitism or triumphalism in their writings. Both can be harmful to the credibility of medical journals and medical science. It is also important to match the appropriate article type to a medical manuscript. The author guidelines of each journal will outline what types of media are accepted or rejected.
Medical terminology can be difficult to learn, particularly because most of the words have Greek or Latin roots. However, many of these words are similar to other familiar words, and you can use associations to help you remember them. For example, you can connect visual imagery with the medical terms encephalitis (acute inflammation of the brain) or cardiac catheterization (the insertion of a long, thin, flexible tube into a blood vessel in the arm, neck or upper thigh and maneuvered into the heart to evaluate different cardiac functions). You can also try chanting the spelling of a word out loud to help you remember it. Other tips for learning medical terminology include creating flash cards and practicing pronunciation.
Medical is a field that encompasses the study of health, illness and treatment. Medical professionals include doctors, nurses and other allied health professions. In addition, scientists and other researchers contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge through research and publishing in scientific journals. Medical journals are the primary source of information on new diseases, treatments and procedures. Medical professionals use a unique vocabulary to describe human anatomy, medical procedures and disorders. This vocabulary is known as medical terminology. It is important for all healthcare professionals to understand and use medical terminology in order to provide quality care to their patients. Medicine has been around for thousands of years, beginning as an art (the practice of using herbs and other natural remedies) with connections to religious and philosophical beliefs. In recent centuries, it has become more of a science, with physicians and scientists developing new techniques and medications to treat diseases and disorders. Many of today’s medicines and medical equipment were developed through the advancement of basic science disciplines like chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics, as well as applied sciences such as engineering and biomedical science. There are about 30,000 medical journals published worldwide. Some, like The New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA, are household names. Other medical journals are more specialized and often only read by other medical professionals or scientific researchers. The National Library of Medicine maintains a searchable database called PubMed that allows anyone to access medical articles and scientific studies. A medical journal may be devoted to a particular disease, condition or treatment, or it may cover an entire topic area such as epidemiology (the study of diseases in people and animals) or pharmacology (the study of drugs). Some medical journals are peer-reviewed, meaning that other doctors or scientists review the manuscript before it is published. This process is designed to ensure that the medical information in a journal is accurate and up-to-date. Medical writers and editors must be careful not to fall into elitism or triumphalism in their writings. Both can be harmful to the credibility of medical journals and medical science. It is also important to match the appropriate article type to a medical manuscript. The author guidelines of each journal will outline what types of media are accepted or rejected. Medical terminology can be difficult to learn, particularly because most of the words have Greek or Latin roots. However, many of these words are similar to other familiar words, and you can use associations to help you remember them. For example, you can connect visual imagery with the medical terms encephalitis (acute inflammation of the brain) or cardiac catheterization (the insertion of a long, thin, flexible tube into a blood vessel in the arm, neck or upper thigh and maneuvered into the heart to evaluate different cardiac functions). You can also try chanting the spelling of a word out loud to help you remember it. Other tips for learning medical terminology include creating flash cards and practicing pronunciation.