The course objectives are to equip participants with tools and skills to critically read and assess scientific papers with a special view to medicines. The course will also train participants in drafting a scientific article in these fields.

The course presents a variety of topical issues with respect to article reading and writing. The course content includes topics such as:

• How to write a paper
• Databases and Journal Impact Factors
• Evidence-based medicine, levels of evidence
• The Cochrane Library, critical reviews, meta-analyses, and the QUOROM statement
• Reporting of randomised clinical trials, incl. the CONSORT statement
• Reporting of biopharmaceutical studies
• Effects in trials vs. efficacy in practice
• Scientific reporting of pharmacoepidemiology
• Reporting of evidence from qualitative studies
• The Editor's requirements, guidance to authors and guidance to reviewers
• Guidance for authorship and contributorship and good scientific practice
• Training in writing a paper
• Training in critical article scrutiny

The topics are illustrated by papers published in journals with various scopes and publishing styles.

The course is based on the active involvement of participants and encompasses several individual and group tasks. Two specific tasks will be presentation of an article and writing a draft paper (with introduction, methods section, outline of results section, points for discussion and conclusion, if applicable). Preparation for the course includes critical reading of selected book chapters and articles. A selection of relevant journals will be displayed during the course.

The course material will consist of selected papers contributed by the lecturers, author instructions/guidance from a selection of scientific journals and the two books:
Trisha Greenhalgh: How to Read a Paper, BMJ Books, BMA House London (most recent edition)
George M Hall, ed: How to Write a Paper, BMJ Books, BMA House London (most recent edition)

The articles will be available to participants at the course website ahead of the course.

Based on the partipant's performance, with a special view to the two individual assignments, a pass/fail is given by the course directors.

6 to 10 February 2012.

4.5 ECTS credit points (European Credit Transfer System).

120 working hours (35 for preparation, 35 for course, 40 for evaluation, and 10 for report).

Professor Ebba Holme Hansen, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, and Associate Professor Bente Steffansen, Department of Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

Total course fee: DKK 9,100 (including lunch),

of which operating costs: DKK 1,600.

15 December 2011.

18 participants.

Applicants enrolled in part-time master's programs at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen may participate in the course.

The course will be held in English.