In today’s world of information overload, we all want to know more about different things. Sometimes, the information we consume is good and accurate; while other times it can be downright delusional in the fantastical narratives being told.
In this same vein, when it comes to the medical field, it seems that everyone believes themselves to be an expert. This article will look at setting the record straight and establishing what an accurate take on a topic in the broad field of medicine is. And it all begins with medical writing.
In a nutshell, medical writing is the process by which one who is familiar with searching medical literature, understanding and presenting research data, along with the document review process, and also the editing and publishing requirements writes different types of scientific documents to appeal to the understanding level of their target audience.
Like most things, medical writing isn’t without its complexities. Medical writing is an umbrella topic that encompasses a range of different sub-categories. According to a paper written by Dr Sharma, a medical reviewer at Sciformix Corporation, these include: medical journalism, medical education, medical marketing of healthcare products, publication/presentation, research documents, and regulatory documents.
When it comes to the consumption of medical information, it’s safe to say that everyone is a consumer. However, marketing is ineffective when the target audience is undefined; so for the purpose of effectiveness the target audience for medical writing has been narrowed down to include patients, healthcare practitioners (HCPs), regulatory boards, and the general public.
Medical writing is focused on:
Patients and the general public through education material.
HCPs through various kinds of promotional literature, internet content, and conference materials.
Regulatory boards through detailed, accurate, and clear research pieces and review articles.
While capable of delivering within all these categories, Westlink Creative Solutions focuses on medical writing that looks at medical education, medical marketing of healthcare products, and publications. The categorisation in our organisation looks a little different to those put forth by Dr Sharma – Westlink Creative Solutions sub-categories under the umbrella of medical writing are medical copywriting and medical content writing.
On one hand, medical copywriting is the process of creating accurate and persuasive content with the goal of promoting a medical product or service; while medical content writing aims primarily to educate and inform consumers on various healthcare topics.
When is medical writing necessary?
Medical writing is necessary whenever there is a need to communicate healthcare information in a manner that is concise, yet understandable.3 This could be when new medical information needs to be conveyed to the target audience(s) mentioned above, or when existing medical information needs to be communicated in a new and fresh way in order to attract new product/service consumers.
Imagine having access to information necessary for your wellness (or survival), but it’s practically useless because you’re unable to understand it. Or worse still, there is medical information available, but the quality thereof is unreliable – how do you know who to trust?
This is the core of why medical writing is necessary – this skill makes it so that those of us who aren’t trained to comprehend the complexities and nuances of medical jargon are able to consume and digest the information at our fingertips.
The information is refined to be comprehensible while retaining the accuracy and reliability of the expert source(s) from which it originates. Medical writing is an indispensable skill which serves to ensure that otherwise meticulous research does not appear flawed when it is presented to the target audience(s).
Because the underlying goal of all medical writing is to educate and inform the consumer, it has to be well-structured and clear in its presentation. The rate at which medicine and healthcare is advancing is unprecedented with all the innovations and research data paving the way. Thus, there is a high need to clearly communicate these findings and innovations to the target audience(s). Medical writing is essential to do exactly this.
Unlocking the power of persuasive medical communication is easy with Westlink Creative Agency – it is, after all, what we do best. We enable your brand to transform complex concepts into compelling narratives to elevate your brand’s voice in the healthcare industry, so that you can focus on doing what you do best.
Let us write excellence into your brand today.
References
AMWA. Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Medical Writer. AMWA. [Online]. 2022. Available at: https://info.amwa.org/ultimate-guide-to-becoming-a-medical-writer
Sharma S. How to Become a Competent Medical Writer? Perspect Clin Res. 2010;1(1):33–37.
Medico Digital. Medical copywriting. Medico Digital. [Online]. 2024. Available at: https://www.medicodigital.co.uk/medical-copywriting/
Ali N. What Is Medical Copywriting And Why Is It On The Rise? Fox54 News Now. [Online]. 2022. Available at: https://www.wfxg.com/story/47737675/what-is-medical-copywriting-and-why-is-it-on-the-rise
