The 1:3:25 approach to report writing

A reader friendly style of report writing is the 1:3:25 approach. The idea behind it is to write about the key messages right at the beginning of the report, so even busy people can read one page of main messages. Every report the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) prepares follows these same 1:3:25 guidelines:

• 1 page of main messages
• followed by a 3 page executive summary
• then the findings are presented in no more than 25 pages.

‘Reader Friendly Writing: the 1:3:25 approach’ is available as a PDF file from the Communication Notes section of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation website.

Report Writing

‘Report Writing’
The University of Surrey, UK, has developed a 'skills pack' that includes a communications section. In this section is a chapter on report writing as "...formal reports communicate information to others without the need for meetings. If you are required to explain your work to others in this way, effective reports are vital. Effective reports will give you a professional image and get others to take your work seriously."

‘Report Writing: Process, principles and styles’
(PHC RIS JournalWatch, December 2004)
Writing reports is often seen as a time consuming and pointless exercise. However, by sharing information, reports can help develop common purposes and aims, spread successful innovations, build on successes, and avoid reinventing wheels and duplicating mistakes

‘How to report on surveys’
This SAGE Publication includes guidelines for preparing and interpreting charts, tables, and figures, and a step-by-step account of how to present each part of the survey-from the survey's objectives, design and psychometric properties through to the conclusions.

WRITING FOR PUBLICATION

'Writing for Publication - a guide for new authors'
Dixon N 2001. Writing for Publication - a guide for new authors. International Journal for Quality in Health Care 13 (5): 417-421.

Writing for publication seminar presentations
Presentations include: 'Principles of good writing' and 'Writing a scientific paper'

Articles of interest

‘Writing a research article: advice to beginners’
There are a number of rules to follow when writing an article for a peer-reviewed journal. Perneger T & Hudelson P (2004). Writing a research article: advice for beginners, International Journal for Quality in Health Care 16:191-192.

‘Publishing in peer review journals: Criteria for success'
McIntyre, E., Roeger, L., Magarey, A., Eckermann, S., Keane, M. [2007], Australian Family Physician, 36(7), 561-562