Medical Writing – Understanding the Audience and Purpose
Medical is the study of human health, disease and treatment. It is a scientific discipline that uses principles of biology, chemistry and physics to understand how the body works and to treat illness. Medical research is based on scientific method and relies on empirical evidence.
The practice of medicine is a vital part of modern society, providing both direct and indirect benefits to the health of individuals and populations. It is also a profession with high ethical standards, with significant challenges and rewards. Medical care includes a wide range of activities that aim to restore and maintain health through prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation.
To do this, it requires a combination of scientific knowledge, effective communication and patient interaction. The way in which healthcare is delivered varies widely across the globe, but all advanced industrial countries have some form of universal health care, based either on social insurance or taxation.
For most of history, medicine was seen as both an art (an area of creative skill) and a science (a systematic investigation of natural phenomena). Physicians developed their skills through apprenticeships, the study of Materia Medica and ancient texts such as the Hippocratic Corpus. Some practices, such as bloodletting, were more art than science and often had religious or philosophical roots.
Today, medical knowledge is continually evolving through research and new technologies. This is particularly true in the field of genomics, which is enabling physicians to tailor medicine to individual patients by understanding what genes are responsible for their illnesses. The goal is to develop better and more effective treatments that will improve patient outcomes.
In addition to new therapies and treatments, a major focus of medical research is in improving the methods by which we diagnose and manage disease. This is essential to reducing morbidity and mortality, especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with chronic conditions.
It is important for medical writers to understand their audience and purpose in order to create compelling, engaging and accessible articles. Whether it is a news story about a novel treatment for cancer or an academic article on the implications of a recent clinical trial, knowing who you are writing for will influence the content, style and tone.
For example, when writing about a new drug for gout, it is useful to include details such as how common the condition is and its impact on people’s quality of life. This puts the new drug in context and highlights its potential to make a real difference to patients. It is also helpful to include a summary of the existing literature on the drug, its effectiveness and any side effects that should be considered. In this way, readers can make an informed decision on whether or not to pursue further investigations into the drug. This will increase the likelihood of the new drug being adopted into routine use. In fact, the most successful drugs are those that are embraced by the healthcare community.
Medical is the study of human health, disease and treatment. It is a scientific discipline that uses principles of biology, chemistry and physics to understand how the body works and to treat illness. Medical research is based on scientific method and relies on empirical evidence. The practice of medicine is a vital part of modern society, providing both direct and indirect benefits to the health of individuals and populations. It is also a profession with high ethical standards, with significant challenges and rewards. Medical care includes a wide range of activities that aim to restore and maintain health through prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation. To do this, it requires a combination of scientific knowledge, effective communication and patient interaction. The way in which healthcare is delivered varies widely across the globe, but all advanced industrial countries have some form of universal health care, based either on social insurance or taxation. For most of history, medicine was seen as both an art (an area of creative skill) and a science (a systematic investigation of natural phenomena). Physicians developed their skills through apprenticeships, the study of Materia Medica and ancient texts such as the Hippocratic Corpus. Some practices, such as bloodletting, were more art than science and often had religious or philosophical roots. Today, medical knowledge is continually evolving through research and new technologies. This is particularly true in the field of genomics, which is enabling physicians to tailor medicine to individual patients by understanding what genes are responsible for their illnesses. The goal is to develop better and more effective treatments that will improve patient outcomes. In addition to new therapies and treatments, a major focus of medical research is in improving the methods by which we diagnose and manage disease. This is essential to reducing morbidity and mortality, especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with chronic conditions. It is important for medical writers to understand their audience and purpose in order to create compelling, engaging and accessible articles. Whether it is a news story about a novel treatment for cancer or an academic article on the implications of a recent clinical trial, knowing who you are writing for will influence the content, style and tone. For example, when writing about a new drug for gout, it is useful to include details such as how common the condition is and its impact on people’s quality of life. This puts the new drug in context and highlights its potential to make a real difference to patients. It is also helpful to include a summary of the existing literature on the drug, its effectiveness and any side effects that should be considered. In this way, readers can make an informed decision on whether or not to pursue further investigations into the drug. This will increase the likelihood of the new drug being adopted into routine use. In fact, the most successful drugs are those that are embraced by the healthcare community.