Understanding the Question

When an interviewer asks about your process for conducting a literature review at the start of a new writing project, they are probing into several key areas of your expertise as a Medical Writer. This question assesses your methodological rigor, your ability to source and evaluate relevant scientific literature, and how you integrate this information into your writing projects. It's not just about what steps you take but also why you take them and how they contribute to the creation of accurate, evidence-based medical documents.

Interviewer's Goals

The interviewer has several objectives with this question:

1. Methodological Understanding: They want to see that you have a structured, systematic approach to gathering and analyzing information.
2. Critical Analysis: Assessing your ability to critically evaluate the relevance, quality, and reliability of different sources.
3. Information Synthesis: Gauging how you condense and integrate information from various sources into coherent, accessible writing.
4. Adherence to Guidelines: Understanding if you are familiar with and follow established guidelines for medical writing and literature reviews (e.g., ICMJE, CONSORT).
5. Time Management: Evaluating your efficiency in conducting literature reviews, an essential skill given the often tight timelines in medical writing projects.

How to Approach Your Answer

When structuring your answer, consider highlighting the following elements:

1. Initial Planning: Start by mentioning how you define the scope of the literature review based on the project's objectives.
2. Database and Search Strategy: Discuss the databases you typically use (e.g., PubMed, Embase), how you develop your search strategy, including keyword selection, and any tools or software you use to manage your searches.
3. Screening and Selection: Explain your criteria for including or excluding studies and how you prioritize sources.
4. Critical Appraisal: Share how you assess the quality and relevance of the literature you find.
5. Synthesis and Writing: Describe how you synthesize the gathered information into your writing, ensuring it supports your document's objectives and adheres to guidelines.
6. Referencing: Conclude by mentioning how you ensure accurate and compliant referencing.

Example Responses Relevant to Medical Writer

"I begin my literature review process by clearly defining the objectives of the writing project, which helps me develop a focused search strategy. For instance, when tasked with creating a manuscript on a new therapeutic area, I start by identifying key themes and questions that need to be addressed. I then select relevant databases such as PubMed and Embase and use a combination of keywords and MeSH terms tailored to each database's specificities.

My search strategy also includes setting up alerts for new publications and reviewing reference lists of key articles to identify additional sources. Once I have a collection of articles, I use tools like EndNote for organizing references and screening titles and abstracts based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

For critical appraisal, I rely on checklists from sources like the Cochrane Handbook to assess the quality of studies, focusing on aspects such as study design, bias, and statistical analysis. This ensures that only high-quality, relevant information is synthesized into the document I'm working on.

Throughout the writing process, I ensure that the information is presented in a clear, logical manner, supported by evidence and properly cited according to the required style guide, such as AMA or APA. My aim is always to create a document that is both informative and accessible, meeting the needs of the target audience."

Tips for Success

• Be Specific: Provide concrete examples from your experience to illustrate your process.
• Reflect on Improvements: Mention any strategies you've developed over time to make your literature review process more efficient or effective.
• Stay Updated: Highlight if you keep abreast of new tools, databases, or methods in literature review processes.
• Customize Your Approach: If possible, tailor your answer to the specific type of writing project mentioned in the job description or during the interview.
• Explain Your Choices: Don't just list what you do; explain why you do it that way and how it adds value to your writing projects.

By demonstrating a thoughtful, systematic approach to literature reviews, you can show potential employers that you have the skills and mindset needed to produce high-quality medical writing.