The yin and yang of medical writing in China

Abstract

China is becoming a superpower in many areas, including the global medical literature. In this article, we describe medical writing in China, with a focus on efforts to enhance the yin (quality) and yang (quantity) of publications. Quality encompasses integrity, so we also highlight how China, like many other countries around the world, is striving to enhance publication integrity. Finally, we explain how professional medical writers (whether working on publications from non-industry or industry research) can enhance the yin and yang of publications from China. Writers who have appropriate experience and cultural sensitivity will find such work challenging but rewarding.

Keywords:

• Medical writing
• Medical writer
• China
• Journal
• Ethics
• Integrity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karen L Woolley

Professor Karen Woolley PhD CMPP (WU Kai-run) is the CEO of ProScribe Medical Communications (http://www.proscribe.com.au), which has offices in China, Japan, and Australia. She and her team of PhD- or MD-qualified, internationally certified medical writers have worked with authors and sponsors in China for more than 10 years. ProScribe provides medical writing services, training courses, and publication compliance audits. Karen is a professor at two Australian universities and initiated the Global Alliance of Publication Professionals. Karen serves on the Board of Trustees for the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) and is also the inaugural Chair of ISMPP's Asia-Pacific Advisory Committee.

Ping Sun

Dr Sun Ping works at the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China and the Secretariat of the Office of Research Integrity, Ministry of Science and Technology of China. He is currently serving on the Planning Committee for the 3rd World Conference on Research Integrity, and collaborates regularly with his colleagues in the Chinese Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and China Association for Science and Technology. Dr Sun has interests in the field of research integrity and education, and he maintains a research integrity website (http://www.sinori.cn).