Case reports – how to write and publish

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Tools and guides 

Advice on writing for publication from NHS England 

BMJ Case Reports advice for authors on how to submit 

BMJ Case Reports templates for publishing case reports 

CARE Case Report Guidelines and Checklist 

CARE Writer (online tool for writing case reports following CARE guidelines) 

LTHTR Publications database – case reports published by LTHTR staff 

Top Tips: Medical case reports for beginners (British Society of Echocardiography)  

Writing a case report in 10 steps an article by Stokes, V and Fertleman, C (BMJ 2015) 

  

Choosing a journal – tools and resources 

Publish for free in BMJ Case Reports with the LTHTR fellowship code – contact the Library to request the code See links in the section above for guides. 

British Student Doctor Journal Open Access and free for authors  

GAJET List: Good Academic Journal in Ethical Terms Lists journals that are free for authors and readers 

Directory of Open Access Journals – DOAJ – without fees – subject: medicine 

JANE – Journal/Author Name Estimator Add your title and abstract to the query box. Choose to find matching journals, authors or articles. Use the ‘Extra options’ button to describe the publication type of your document. For example, you could select case report as the publication type. Does not include information about author fees. 

 

Top tips 

Select your target journal early in the process. Read the ‘instructions for authors’ before you start writing. Tailor your case report to the journal’s requirements. 

Informed consent from the patient or next of kin is mandatory. Check journal requirements and policies. 

 

Avoid plagiarism 

  • Reference as you go in a trusted style (e.g. Vancouver, Harvard). Be consistent. 
  • Use a reference manager like Endnote, Mendeley, Zotero or RefWorks. 
  • Include quotation marks and page numbers for direct quotes. 
  • When paraphrasing, rewrite the content in your own words. Cite the original author. 

 

Using AI 

  • AI can be useful for drafting and editing your text. 
  • Be aware that AI may invent entire journals and papers. 
  • Only cite papers you have read. 
  • Your work is important. If you have used AI, proofread your work. 

 

Common pitfalls 

  • Focus on the novelty of the case rather than the learning points. 
  • Too many learning points or ideas. 
  • Firm judgements or sweeping recommendations. Conclusions must be well founded and evidence-based. 
  • Missing key details such as the timeline, follow-up, or outcomes. 
  • Too much irrelevant detail. 
  • Unclear writing. 
  • Too much jargon.  
  • Ignoring journal guidelines. 

 

Adapted with permission from a presentation by Bethan Morgan (Librarian at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust). 


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