Why the profession has to research itself

Research can make medical writing’s contribution visible, establish what the work requires and provide evidence for improving professional practice. It also helps the profession explain its identity and value beyond its own membership.

Five research needs

An experienced medical communicator’s 2009 case for research identified five needs: ^{1, 2}

1. Productivity and added value. Administrators often believe that unmeasurable work cannot be managed; without measures of productivity and added value, writing and editing services may be administratively invisible and considered unnecessary.
2. Current knowledge and skills. Professional standing requires continued improvement and new applications of expertise, drawing on theory and research for evidence-based writing, editing, project management, document design and instructional design.
3. A defined knowledge base. Common, often relatively rapid turnover was attributed partly to the questionable belief that the necessary knowledge and skills are neither extensive nor specialised and can be acquired outside the profession. Identifying the knowledge and skills needed should improve recruitment, training, expectations and retention.
4. Fit between person and role. Turnover may also reflect mismatches between work and individual preferences or strengths. Home working, a focus on data rather than people or things, and long periods working alone suit some people better than others; identifying relevant personality and cognitive traits may improve recruitment, retention and training.
5. Professional history and identity. Despite several thousand years of medical writing, the profession is relatively young. A coherent, distinct history is needed to support professional identity as a distinct career and AMWA’s organisational culture.

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Regulatory, instructional and marketing writing may have distinct challenges and research needs requiring separate attention from scientific-publication work. ¹

Evidence, practice and professional experience

A 2007 case for medical-writing research identified four purposes: ³

1. Document current practices.
2. Counter current opinion.
3. Enrich the professional experience.
4. Justify the profession.

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Further research is needed to document how practices change over time and to supply facts for responding to opinions in media and other outlets. ^{3, 4} Research can demonstrate the benefits of professional medical writers, whose use could reduce unpublished research. ⁴

Doing research reinforces understanding of its principles and difficulties and creates opportunities for international collaboration and authorship. ⁴ A shared research goal and publication can also foster teamwork among writers in a company. ⁴

Identity, credibility and research incentives

Published research can help establish medical writers’ identity, contribution and credibility where people outside the profession misunderstand who they are and what they do; public relations alone is insufficient. ⁵

AMWA announced two research awards in 2009 to recognise research in medical communication. ^{6, 5} Its Best Published Research award aimed to encourage investigation of the value added by medical writers and editors. ^{7, 8, 9} Its student award aimed to encourage original research and interest in medical-communication careers. ^{10, 11, 12} Its stated goals were: ¹⁰

• Recognise original research by qualified applicants in medical writing and allied activities.
• Make AMWA’s research support known to students and faculty.
• Encourage students, faculty and other professionals to join AMWA early in their careers.

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