Rédaction d'un article scientifique médical en anglais

A medical scientific article follows a standard structure called IMRaD: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. This structure helps readers find information quickly and ensures your research is presented logically. The Introduction explains why the study was needed, the Methods describe how you did it, the Results show what you found, and the Discussion interprets the findings. Most medical journals require this format, so mastering it is essential for your future career.

The Introduction moves from general background information to the specific research question. Start by describing the broader medical context, then narrow down to what is still unknown — this is called the 'gap' in the literature. Finally, state your objective clearly, often using phrases like 'The aim of this study was to...' or 'We hypothesized that...'. Keep the introduction concise, usually 3-4 paragraphs, and avoid detailed results or conclusions.

The Methods section describes your study design, participants, materials, and statistical analysis. Use the past simple tense and often the passive voice: 'Blood samples were collected from 120 patients.' The Results section presents your findings objectively, without interpretation. Use tables and figures to summarize data, and refer to them in the text: 'As shown in Table 1, the mean age was 58 years.' Never discuss the meaning of results here — that belongs in the Discussion.

The Discussion section answers the question 'So what?' — it explains the meaning of your results. Start by summarizing the main findings, then compare them with previous studies. Acknowledge the limitations of your study honestly, such as small sample size or short follow-up. Finally, conclude with the clinical implications and suggest directions for future research. Use hedging language like 'suggest', 'may', or 'appears to' to avoid overclaiming.