What is the value of a case report in research & related questions about C.R's

[Dreaming big]

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Hello,

I had a few general questions regarding case reports. I am a current freshmen in college.

From what I understand, a case report is where a person writes up an interesting case and has it published in a peer-reviewed journal. Is this correct?

A few Questions:

1. How much value does a first authorship case report have in comparison with a 1st author publication in transitional research? What about a late authorship transitional publication?
2. Does this case report make one more attractive to medical school? What about MD/PhD?
3. Can you put a case report on your CV?
4. Does a case report count as 'research'?
5. How long does it take to publish a case report?
6. In terms of difficulty, how hard is it to publish a case report?

Thank guys, I really appreciate the help. This would help me out a ton and probably others with the same questions.

😎

 

[Dreaming big]

Anyone?

 

[bd4727]

Hello,

I had a few general questions regarding case reports. I am a current freshmen in college.

From what I understand, a case report is where a person writes up an interesting case and has it published in a peer-reviewed journal. Is this correct?

A few Questions:

1. How much value does a first authorship case report have in comparison with a 1st author publication in transitional research? What about a late authorship transitional publication?
2. Does this case report make one more attractive to medical school? What about MD/PhD?
3. Can you put a case report on your CV?
4. Does a case report count as 'research'?
5. How long does it take to publish a case report?
6. In terms of difficulty, how hard is it to publish a case report?

Thank guys, I really appreciate the help. This would help me out a ton and probably others with the same questions.

😎

I don't see how it would be even possible for an undergrad to be involved with a medical teams management of a patient enough to be involved with writing a case study, let alone know enough medicine to be able to understand and write the thing, so I am not sure why exactly you are asking this.

But they are very different types of articles, yes people put them on their CVs, they take less time and are shorter and are easier to publish but that is because they are completely different than a reserach article and don't even show up in the same types of journals (for the most part).

 

[Dreaming big]

I don't see how it would be even possible for an undergrad to be involved with a medical teams management of a patient enough to be involved with writing a case study, let alone know enough medicine to be able to understand and write the thing, so I am not sure why exactly you are asking this.

But they are very different types of articles, yes people put them on their CVs, they take less time and are shorter and are easier to publish but that is because they are completely different than a reserach article and don't even show up in the same types of journals (for the most part).

I have done extensive work at the hospital and there are a few doctors who will let me write this up (them providing any info neccesary which can't be researched) and I would be first author. I have been volunteering since 7th grade and have built a rapport with several doctors. Thats why I am asking.

As for the 2nd part, what is the value of a case report in terms of admission?

 

[Neuronix]

As for the 2nd part, what is the value of a case report in terms of admission?

For med school it counts as a research extracirricular. I mean it's something for your app, but doesn't count for much unless you've been got a lot of them and are some sort of clinical research star.

For MD/PhD it's basically unhelpful. MD/PhD programs want basic science researchers and expect basic science research.

 

[Dreaming big]

For med school it counts as a research extracirricular. I mean it's something for your app, but doesn't count for much unless you've been got a lot of them and are some sort of clinical research star.

For MD/PhD it's basically unhelpful. MD/PhD programs want basic science researchers and expect basic science research.

But would it help even a little bit? it is a publication

 

[Neuronix]

But would it help even a little bit? it is a publication

I already gave you my opinion. Publications were never that important for MD/PhD admissions to begin with, and this type of publication is definitely not what adcoms are looking for. Basic Science is what counts. Except of course for the small percentage of social science applicants, but even then this would be unhelpful.

 

[Davey Havok]

The short answer is that any peer-reviewed publication will help, and I can't think of a situation where it could possibly hurt your admission chances to a reasonable MD/PhD program admissions committee.

I agree with Neuronix that first-author publications are not important for MD/PhD admissions, especially for someone coming straight from undergrad. Very few of these people interested in the combined degree are lucky enough (I emphasize the LUCK part here) to have earned a first-author basic science publication in a quality journal. Of course it becomes more important if you have pursued post-graduate scientific training (i.e. research-based Master's) not culminating in a PhD.

The admission committees are looking for a demonstrated basic science research interest and commitment, and potential for future success. These qualities are exemplified by the applicant who has 1) participated in research project(s), 2) presented their finding(s) at appropriate conference(s), and 3) published their research in peer-reviewed journal(s). The majority of successful MD/PhD applicants have met criteria 1 and 2, and some high-achievers or older applicants have hit 3 (though usually as a middle-author, still very few as first.)

But keep in mind you have to be a good "MD" applicant as well, in that you have to interview well and have the necessary interpersonal skills to succeed as a physician. The "culture" of different schools, and that year's applicant pool, will dictate how much they are willing to overlook personal awkwardness in favor of research achievement. You need to be able to talk about your research, demonstrate understanding of its significance, and communicate it effectively. As an admissions officer or interviewer, these qualities are more important to me (for the "average" straight undergrad applicant or the person who spent a few years in industry or at another job) than the publication record.


PS First post on SDN, but thankful for some of the 3rd year clerkship study material and trying to pay back a bit. Trust me in that I know what I am talking about here. I have recently served for 3 admission cycles (but do not currently) as a student member on the MD/PhD admissions committee at an MSTP institution, so this advice is broadly applicable to the criteria applied to applicants to my school, and I believe they are generally applicable to MD/PhD programs as a whole.

 

[Neuronix]

The short answer is that any peer-reviewed publication will help, and I can't think of a situation where it could possibly hurt your admission chances to a reasonable MD/PhD program admissions committee.

I think your post is accurate and I hope you will keep posting. However, I don't think your post directly answered the op's question.

I agree that there isn't a peer-reviewed publication will hurt someone's application. But, given your experience do you think a first authored case report will significantly help someone's MD/PhD application? My argument is that given that it is the lowest form of clinical research, it won't make much difference, if any, for basic science MD/PhD admissions. Of course what matters is everything else you talked about.

 

[Davey Havok]

I agree that there isn't a peer-reviewed publication will hurt someone's application. But, given your experience do you think a first authored case report will significantly help someone's MD/PhD application? My argument is that given that it is the lowest form of clinical research, it won't make much difference, if any, for basic science MD/PhD admissions. Of course what matters is everything else you talked about.

Perhaps I should've read the OP's OP closer 😉 There are a few questions to answer there, but as I said I do agree with you. The case report would not be significant boon to an MD/PhD application in and of itself, but it would go a long way toward demonstrating many of those more intangible things that do matter; i.e., this person cares enough about medicine and disease to have closely studied a patient and their condition enough to get a case report accepted in a peer-reviewed journal. The major benefits would come at the interview, when this work could serve as a lead-in for explaining why you want to study that condition in more depth, what is interesting or unknown about the pathophysiology, etc.

Even though it is low on the publication food chain, it can be a powerful asset to an MD/PhD application if it's leveraged properly.

So to the OP:

1. A peer-reviewed basic science or translational research paper in a reputable journal is like gold for an MD/PhD application. It doesn't lose any luster if you are a middle author, so long as you can explain your particular contribution to the paper and why it was significant.
2. A first-author case report definitely makes you more attractive to a medical school, and would probably help your interview as an MD/PhD. I don't know how it would affect your chances of being offered an interview, as my admissions involvement only started after the director screened applicants and made interview offers.
3. You can certainly put a case report on your CV.
4. A case report is a form of research, though not the best thing you could possibly have.
5. The time to publish a case report depends on the journal and the editor's interest in the case. It could come out in the next edition, the next time they have space, or two years later. For your application, there are three things it could be: submitted, accepted, or published. For all intents and purposes the second two are the same, and the first doesn't mean too much.
6. Case reports are one of the easiest things to publish, and a good starting point.

 

[Dreaming big]

Perhaps I should've read the OP's OP closer 😉 There are a few questions to answer there, but as I said I do agree with you. The case report would not be significant boon to an MD/PhD application in and of itself, but it would go a long way toward demonstrating many of those more intangible things that do matter; i.e., this person cares enough about medicine and disease to have closely studied a patient and their condition enough to get a case report accepted in a peer-reviewed journal. The major benefits would come at the interview, when this work could serve as a lead-in for explaining why you want to study that condition in more depth, what is interesting or unknown about the pathophysiology, etc.

Even though it is low on the publication food chain, it can be a powerful asset to an MD/PhD application if it's leveraged properly.

So to the OP:

1. A peer-reviewed basic science or translational research paper in a reputable journal is like gold for an MD/PhD application. It doesn't lose any luster if you are a middle author, so long as you can explain your particular contribution to the paper and why it was significant.
2. A first-author case report definitely makes you more attractive to a medical school, and would probably help your interview as an MD/PhD. I don't know how it would affect your chances of being offered an interview, as my admissions involvement only started after the director screened applicants and made interview offers.
3. You can certainly put a case report on your CV.
4. A case report is a form of research, though not the best thing you could possibly have.
5. The time to publish a case report depends on the journal and the editor's interest in the case. It could come out in the next edition, the next time they have space, or two years later. For your application, there are three things it could be: submitted, accepted, or published. For all intents and purposes the second two are the same, and the first doesn't mean too much.
6. Case reports are one of the easiest things to publish, and a good starting point.

Thanks for you response! It was very helpful