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Writing an abstract, and language and grammar – day 4: phrases for abstracts

Writing an abstract, and language and grammar – day 4: phrases for abstracts

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Phrases for abstracts

So far this week we have looked at how to structure an abstract, what should be included and how to write short and efficient sentences to keep your word count down.

Today the Journal will look at a few phrases that might be useful in helping you to write the various sections. Remember – only use these phrases if they help you to make the points that you really need to make. We have broken them out across the different areas you will need to cover.

Introduction

This study investigates…

This paper examines…

This study will show…

This study is divided into two main parts….

The analysis in section [x] will show that…

We will provide an explanation as to why…

This study introduces a new…

This study aims to explain…

The purpose of this study…

The aim/objective of this study is to assess/evaluate/examine…

Methods

To assess/determine whether….

By examining…

By means of…

Measurements were made/taken at…

By following the method outlined…

In conjunction with…

We used [x] to study/examine/model the effects of…

According to standard procedure…

Following the manufacturer’s guidelines

We developed a new method for…

We used this method to…

This method can be used to…

Results

A total of [x] specimens/patients were included in the study…

[x] number met the inclusion criteria…

[x] number were from group A / female group / control group….

The pattern / results / findings revealed [x] as the most effective…

Whereas the most effective [x] was…

After a mean follow up of…

The incidence rate was…

Adjustment was performed for…

… had a higher risk of…

The highest risk group was…

The results of [x] are shown in…

The results suggest that / appear to show that…

The proportion of [x] ranges from… to…

The effects were greatest on…

The results show a clear pattern of…

Discussion / conclusion

Increased [x] was detected/found…

Therefore an investigation into [x] is needed…

More studies to determine [x] are warranted/needed/advised…

…had a higher risk of… than…

These results should be interpreted cautiously…

These results raise concerns around…

The importance of…

There is evidence to suggest that…

Our data reveal/show that…is likely…

These results are consistent with…

Provides an important insight into…

Our results show for the first time…

In contract with other studies…

…is of relevance to our understanding…

The discovery of…

It is now crucial to establish…

In summary…

Further data is needed to…

Read the extract below for another example of an extract. Useful phrases have been highlighted in bold.

National adaptation and implementation of WHO Model List of Essential Medicines: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Abstract

Background

The World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines (WHO EML) has played a critical role in guiding the country-level selection and financing of medicines for more than 4 decades. It continues to be a relevant evidence-based policy that can support universal health coverage (UHC) and access to essential medicines. The objective of this review was to identify factors affecting adaptation and implementation of WHO EML at the national level.

Methods and findings

We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis by searching 10 databases (including CINAHL, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science) through October 2021. Primary qualitative studies focused on country-level implementation of WHO EML were included. The qualitative findings were populated in the Supporting the Use of Research Evidence (SURE) framework, and key themes were identified through an iterative process. We appraised the papers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and assessed our confidence in the findings using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation working group-Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual). We screened 1,567 unique citations, reviewed 183 full texts, and included 23 studies, from 30 settings. Non-English studies and experiences and perceptions of stakeholders published in gray literature were not collected.

Our findings centered around 3 main ideas pertaining to national adaptation and implementation of WHO EML: (1) the importance of designing institutions, governance, and leadership for national medicines lists (NMLs), particularly the consideration of transparency, coordination capacity, legislative mechanisms, managing regional differences, and clinical guidance; (2) the capacity to manage evidence to inform NML updates, including processes for contextualizing global evidence, utilizing local data and expert knowledge, and assessing budget impact, to which locally relevant cost-effectiveness information plays an important role; and (3) the influence of NML on purchasing and prescribing by altering provider incentives, through linkages to systems for financing and procurement and donor influence.

Conclusions

This qualitative evidence synthesis underscores the complexity and interdependencies inherent to implementation of WHO EML. To maximize the value of NMLs, greater investments should be made in processes and institutions that are needed to support various stages of the implementation pathway from global norms to adjusting prescribed behavior. Moreover, further research on linkages between NMLs, procurement, and the availability of medicines will provide additional insight into optimal NML implementation.

This extract is taken from: Peacocke EF, Myhre SL, Foss HS, Gopinathan U (2022) National adaptation and implementation of WHO Model List of Essential Medicines: A qualitative evidence synthesis. PLOS Medicine 19(3): e1003944. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003944

There is no multiple-choice quiz for today’s article.

Lesson tags: English for scientists, phrases for abstracts, Writing an abstract
Back to: English for Scientists