Practical project management tips on getting consensus statements published?

Introduction

Recently, there's been a lot more focus on consensus projects in medical publications. These projects bring experts together to make consensus on important medical topics. But getting from those discussions to actually publishing an article can be tough. As someone who had coordinated for more than 50 consensus projects for different organizations, I've faced many challenges in this process. And today I am sharing some lessons I've learned about getting these projects published in top medical journals.

Purposeful Research

The foundation of a successful consensus project lies in the novelty and relevance of the topic. Before embarking on a consensus statement, it's important to conduct thorough research to be sure if the topic brings something new to the table or if it's just repeating what's already been said. I remember working on many such projects when even though key opinion leaders (KOLs) had already reached a consensus on the topic before, the project continued mainly for engagement reasons. However, without bringing anything new to the table, these efforts struggle to get accepted for publication.

Role of a medical writer

Typically, a medical writing agency is engaged right from the outset. They provide comprehensive scientific support for expert meetings, covering everything from gap analysis to meeting presentations, logistics, attendance (both virtually and physically), minute-taking, and post-meeting support, including consensus publication. As a project manager, it's crucial to understand the scope of work for a medical writing agency. Their involvement from the beginning is essential as they can grasp the project's nuances, offer valuable suggestions, and ultimately facilitate the publication process.

Having all Authors/KOL on board right from beginning:

Ensuring all authors/KOLs are involved from the start is very important. I've faced situations where an author joined after the initial expert meeting, leading to delays and rework. To prevent this, it's essential to have all authors/KOLs onboard from the beginning and hold a kick-off meeting with the medical writing agency beforehand. This approach promotes early alignment, comprehensive input, and reduces the need for later revisions, making the project more efficient.

What about methodology ?

The methodology employed in arriving at consensus is very importance for the scientific journals. It can be? deal maker or breaker for them. ?The Delphi method, characterized by structured rounds of discussion and voting, stands as the gold standard for consensus formation. However, I know some of the projects where consensus was informally reached without sharing statements or evidence beforehand. In these cases, the strong influence of certain vocal KOLs can sway the outcomes, which might then be viewed with skepticism by high-impact journals.

Optimal Team Size

The size of the consensus panel plays an important role in the efficacy of discussions. Sometimes, having too many people can make it hard to have good discussions. If you try to get 70 % consensus from a hundred healthcare professionals, it’s going to be chaotic and didn't lead to much discussion. It's better to have fewer people but make sure they're really involved. Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to having useful talks and getting published. I believe 10-15 KOLs is a very good number for any consensus publication project.

Solutions-Oriented Approach

A really good consensus statement doesn't just point out problems; it also gives solutions to fix them. But sometimes, projects only talk about the issues without saying how to solve them. This means they don't reach their full potential to make a difference. Without forward-thinking solutions, it's harder for these projects to get published.

Conclusion

Consensus statements are often developed to provide guidance when information is evolving and standards of care are not clear. But in the world of medical publishing, it's not easy to go from consensus to actually getting it published. If we follow strict methods, have open conversations, and come up with practical solutions, consensus projects can do more than just go through the motions. As we work on these projects, let's focus on doing things the right way and coming up with new ideas, so that each one can really change the conversation about healthcare for the better.