Article type
Year
Abstract
Background:
Plain language summaries are an important part of any systematic review. Well-written summaries can make a review more accessible to a wider audience. Often, review authors find it difficult to write summaries well. It is challenging to summarise months and sometimes years of hard work in simple terms. This is especially difficult when the review findings are complex, the evidence quality is mixed or findings are not clear. This workshop will provide practical help with writing in plain language.
Objectives:
The four objectives are:
- to help authors consider 'who is your audience?', 'what do they need to know?';
- to practise summarising review findings in plain language;
- to provide concrete examples of good practice;
- to give attendees information on useful resources and practical hints and tips for writing better plain language summaries.
Description:
The workshop will be interactive and practical. Participants are invited to bring their own reviews or a review of their choosing to practice writing plain language summaries but don't worry if you haven't got a review to summarise: we can provide examples for you. We will talk about why plain language summaries are so important and give examples from Cochrane and Campbell plain language summaries. We will ask participants to think about two questions: 1) who needs to know about your review? 2) what might they want to know about the review? Thinking about your audience will be the starting point for practising plain language summaries. Participants will leave the workshop with a draft plain language summary and a list of practical resources to help them write in plain language in the future.
This workshop is facilitated by Howard White, CEO Campbell Collaboration, Vivian Welch, Editor in Chief Campbell Collaboration and Jennifer Hanratty, review author, patient advocate and research fellow Campbell UK&Ireland.
Plain language summaries are an important part of any systematic review. Well-written summaries can make a review more accessible to a wider audience. Often, review authors find it difficult to write summaries well. It is challenging to summarise months and sometimes years of hard work in simple terms. This is especially difficult when the review findings are complex, the evidence quality is mixed or findings are not clear. This workshop will provide practical help with writing in plain language.
Objectives:
The four objectives are:
- to help authors consider 'who is your audience?', 'what do they need to know?';
- to practise summarising review findings in plain language;
- to provide concrete examples of good practice;
- to give attendees information on useful resources and practical hints and tips for writing better plain language summaries.
Description:
The workshop will be interactive and practical. Participants are invited to bring their own reviews or a review of their choosing to practice writing plain language summaries but don't worry if you haven't got a review to summarise: we can provide examples for you. We will talk about why plain language summaries are so important and give examples from Cochrane and Campbell plain language summaries. We will ask participants to think about two questions: 1) who needs to know about your review? 2) what might they want to know about the review? Thinking about your audience will be the starting point for practising plain language summaries. Participants will leave the workshop with a draft plain language summary and a list of practical resources to help them write in plain language in the future.
This workshop is facilitated by Howard White, CEO Campbell Collaboration, Vivian Welch, Editor in Chief Campbell Collaboration and Jennifer Hanratty, review author, patient advocate and research fellow Campbell UK&Ireland.