What is Medical Writing?
Communicating Medical Information meaningfully to specific target audiences
Audiences for Medical Writing
Identify your Target Audience
1. Patients
Patients need Medical Information about their disease and its management (including investigations, surgery, medicines and latest research). They also need information about healthy lifestyle choices for prevention of diseases.
2. Global Online Population
The global online population is probably the largest consumer of Medical Information. They need medical information to increase their awareness of various medical, disease and health related topics.
3. Medical Students
Medical students need Medical Information as a part of their training and education to become healthcare professionals.
4. Doctors
Doctors, medical and other paramedical staff need Medical Information as a part of their ongoing training to stay in touch with the latest updates in the medical field.
5. Pharmaceutical Companies
Pharma companies need Medical Information and Writing for planning and designing various Medical R&D projects for new medicines.
6. Regulatory Authorities
The outcomes (medical information) of the Pharma company R&D projects have to be submitted to the Regulatory Authorities for approval.
What is the Objective of Medical Writing?
The overall Objective of Medical Writing is the communication of Medical Information to the target audience in a language, style, and format that the audience will relate to and understand. Medical Writing is a wide spectrum of writing types (including styles, formats, language, objectives, pitch, and communication) catering to specific target audiences.
What is Medical Information?
Medical Information is a specialized kind of information, that requires medical understanding (academic and professional), advanced analytical skills (scientific and medical), and appropriate application (depending on the use of the medical information). Medical Information concerns the critical areas of: health, disease, investigation, treatment, and research.
Critical Importance of Medical Writing
Medical Information needs to be handled carefully and meaningfully. Wrong use or miscommunication of medical information can lead to dangerous consequences, that can affect the lives of patients and the general population. Information of all kinds is easily available and accessible in today’s global, online world.
There is an increased responsibility for Medical Writers. Medical Writers need to be aware that their content will be accessed and used by audiences from vastly diverse backgrounds (academic, socio-economic, financial, and professional). The accuracy, quality, and application value, of your published Medical Content, is of Critical Importance.
The type of Medical Writing varies depending on the target audience it caters to. Each target audience has different educational background, understanding level (for medical concepts), and use for the medical information. Accordingly, the medical writing has to be adapted to suit the different needs of the target population.
Types of Medical Writing
Customized to your Target Audience
1. For Formal Education
Pitch (audience): The medical information is read by medical students, doctors and paramedical staff.
Style: The writing style is formal, serious and focused for academic purposes.
Language: The language is medical and advanced in line with the educational and professional background of the audience.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide the written content for training and education.
Medium: Text, illustrations and audio-visual means is used for effective communication.
Format: The medical information is presented in form of books, journals, e-books, e-training modules, and presentation slides.
2. For Awareness & informal Education
Pitch (audience): The medical information is read by the global online audience, by lay population and by patients.
Style: The writing style is informal and sometimes casual, depending on the audience and purpose.
Language: The language is simple, non-technical and easy-to-understand for the lay population.
Purpose: The purpose is to increase the general awareness and informal education level.
Medium: Text, illustrations and audio-visual means is used for effective communication.
Format: The medical information is presented in form of the website content, blogs, e-articles, newsletters, e-magazines, and patient information materials.
3. For Research & Development
Pitch (audience): The medical information is used for designing R&D Projects by Pharmaceutical Companies and Research Organizations.
Style: The writing style is formal, serious and focused on specific R&D objectives.
Language: The language is medical and advanced in line with the educational and professional background of the audience.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide the written content for R&D Project planning and implementation.
Medium: Written text forms a big part of the communication. Tables, charts, graphs and diagrams are used to illustrate the medical data and information.
Format: Protocols, Forms, Guides, Standards, and Reports are used to communicate the medical information.
4. For Regulatory Submission
Pitch (audience): The medical information is submitted for approval to Regulatory Authorities by Pharmaceutical Companies and Research Organizations.
Style: The writing style is formal, serious and focused on specific R&D objectives.
Language: The language is medical and advanced in line with the educational and professional background of the audience.
Purpose: The purpose is to present the R&D Project Results and Conclusions in line with Regulatory Standards.
Medium: Written text forms a big part of the communication. Tables, charts, graphs and diagrams are used to illustrate the medical data and information.
Format: Reports, Dossiers and Submission Documents are used to communicate the medical information.
5. For Medical Marketing
Pitch (audience): The medical information is used for marketing pharmaceutical products to doctors and patients.
Style: The writing style is semi-formal and sometimes casual in line with the purpose.
Language: The language is combination of medical, business and marketing terminology; in line with the background of the audience.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide the written content for sales and marketing.
Medium: Text, illustrations and audio-visual means is used for effective communication.
Format: The medical marketing information is presented in form of website content, blogs, brochures, posters, flyers, presentations and other marketing documents.
6. For Publications & Presentations
Pitch (audience): The Medical Research results are presented to the Medical Community in Conferences, Workshops and published in Medical Journals.
Style: The writing style is formal, serious and focused in line with the purpose.
Language: The language is medical and advanced in line with the educational and professional background of the audience.
Purpose: The purpose is to present and publish the results and conclusions of medical research.
Medium: Written text forms a big part of the communication. Tables, charts, graphs and diagrams are used to illustrate the medical data and information.
Format: Presentations, posters and journal articles are used to communicate the information.
Business Case Analysis
Write to us @ riteanddesign@gmail.com, for a free Business Case Analysis customized to your specific Medical Writing requirements.
We provide Specialized Writing & Designing for Medical and Scientific Content.
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