A New Writing Opportunity: HelpDesk Answers (HDAs)
Looking for a publishing opportunity in a peer-reviewed, Elsevier-indexed journal? Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) has a perfect venue for you, in the form of HelpDesk Answers. EBP is an independent monthly subscription publication that has subscribers from all over the U.S. and around the world, published without advertising bias, using the best available and current evidence;HDAs also make excellent resident research projects
Contributors receive a free subscription as a special "thanks" from us!
What are HDAs? At a glance, HDAs:
- typically take 6-8 weeks for the full writing and editing process, and are a great way to improve your clinical research and writing skills if you want to work on Clinical Inquiries later.
- are structured responses to the clinical questions of practicing family physicians collected by the Family Physicians Inquiries Network (FPIN), or that author clinicians formulate based on their own clinical experience
- are based on the best available evidence; this includes: systematic reviews, a meta-analysis, evidence-based guidelines, original research studies, or, if none of these is available, authoritative guidelines
- The “HelpDesk” is the most popular feature of EBP amongst its readers
Who can author HDAs?
- It is helpful for HDA authors to have experience in writing evidence-based summaries of medical literature and they should be involved in direct patient care.
- Resident physicians, medical students and other clinicians-in-training may author an HDA with faculty co-authors who have the aforementioned qualifications. View the full HDA Author Guidelines here.
Some Examples (written by residents with mentor co-authors):
What exercises are most effective for relieving the pain of patellofemoral syndrome?
Evidence-Based Answer
Exercise therapy with quadriceps strengthening reduces pain in patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Open- and closed-kinetic chain exercises are equally effective in relieving patellofemoral pain. (SOR B, based on systematic reviews.)
PFPS is a common complaint among…
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Does long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids affect the growth of asthmatic children?
Evidence-Based Answer
Inhaled corticosteroids have been shown to decrease growth velocity in asthmatic children during the first year of use. However, long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids in children has not been shown to cause a statistically significant decline in the attainment of target adult height. (SOR B, based on cohort studies.)
Little high-grade evidence is available to determine if…
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For a full set of available topics, or for more information on HDAs and Evidence-Based Practice, contact EBP Project Manager Jon Crowell ( ebp@fpin.org)