On 14 March 2014 I was the twitterviewee of a twitterview organised by the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA).
What is a twitterview?
A twitterview is an interview that takes place over Twitter in real time.
How did the twitterview work?
Using Twitter, EMWA posted a number of questions about medical writing that I answered using a 140 character limit.
Julie Chaccour, a member of EMWA social media team, represented @official_EMWA. @official_EMWA asked the questions and I answered as @AAGMedical. Twitter users could follow the twitterview in real time using #EMWA
Abbreviations used during the tweeterview:
CSR(s): Clinical Study Report(s); EC: Executive Committee; EPDC: EMWA Professional Development Committee; IB(s): Investigator Brochure(s); MW(s): Medical Writer(s); Regs: Regulations; WS: Workshop; WSL(s): Workshop Leader(s);
The text of the twitterview:
@Official_EMWA: We are ready to start out twitterview with @AAGmedical. Follow us under #EMWA!
@Official_EMWA: Alison McIntosh @AAGMedical is an experienced medical writer who, after her PhD, completed 5 years as a postdoc in molecular virology. #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical She started her medical writing career 20 years ago at GSK and has been working as a freelancer for the past 14 years. #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Her experience encompasses #regulatory-related documents (CSRs, IBs, patient narratives, ...) #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical ... and medical communications (manuscripts, abstracts, posters, ...). #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical is a valued EMWA workshop leader since 2001 and currently serves as member of the #EMWA Professional Development Committee.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Alison is also a section editor of the #EMWA journal MEW.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGmedical Hello and good morning, Alison. How are you today? #EMWA
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA I'm well and looking forward to the twitterview. Sunny here in Loughborough #emwa
@Official_EMWA: @AAGmedical Fantastic! Happy to hear. Let's begin with our first question. #EMWA
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA ok #emwa
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical A new medical writer asks: How do I get the most out of attending my first #EMWA conference?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Sign up to WSs, do pre, post WS homework, participate in class exercises. Network and talk to others in breaks & enjoy #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical What would you recommend a new medical writer on how to get experience? #EMWA
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Become a trainee MW. Use workplace training courses and mentoring. Attend #EMWA conferences & take relevant introductory WSs.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Is training a never-ending task for medical writers? #EMWA
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Absolutely. Must keep up to date with regs & guidelines and be aware of any changes. True for regulatory & medcomms #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical How many workshops are on offer at each #EMWA conference?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Up to 56 at Spring #EMWA conference and about 40 at Autumn. All for credit. Varying nos of other noncredit WS also offered.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Being a European organisation, why are all #EMWA workshops centered on English. MW is also done in many other languages.
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Not sure of history. My thoughts:US/EU regdocs in Eng+most #emwa attendees write Eng or translate Eng into other languages…
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA ….also universal language of science considered Eng #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Which measures does the EPDC implement to ensure quality and interest of workshops? #EMWA
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA At each conf EPDC reviews every feedback form re comments & ratings. Concerns followed up with WS leader and addressed #EMWA…
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA WS leader also reviews & receives copy of forms. These forms are vital and why we always ask you to fill them in!! #EMWA…
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA New WSs are always mentored and observed at conference #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical How often are older #EMWA workshops reviewed and updated?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA They should be kept up to date by WSL. Personally I check all links & review content etc before presenting my own WSs #EMWA…
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Topics no longer relevant are removed from the programme #EMWA
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Who can be a 'workshop leader'? Can non-members participate in training?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Majority of WSLs #EMWA members with relevant experience of topic they teach. New WS proposals submitted & considered by EPDC.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Some workshops tend to fill up quite fast. Why not to offer them twice during the same #EMWA Conference?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA All WSL are volunteers & many give >1 WS already. No guarantee that will fill 2 WSs on the same topic at 1 #EMWA conference.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical #EMWA is very well-known for training at Conferences. How will the association cope with eLearning demand in the near future?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA This is separate from EPDC and I believe #EMWA EC is looking into eLearning at the moment. I do not have details.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical What would the ‘cons’ of eLearning be as compared to conference workshops? #EMWA
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Depends on the eLearning model #EMWA adopts. I don’t have info on exact approach being considered. Time for EC update?
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Which is the most popular #EMWA workshop ever? Why?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Several #EMWA WS widely applicable & always popular. They fill up fast & that’s why need to register early to get full choice.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical Which are the least attended #EMWA workshops? Why?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA As with other conferences, at #EMWA the WSs in last morning session are harder to fill ‘cause of attendee travel arrangements.
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical After leading an #EMWA workshop, what makes you think ‘That went well’?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Usually when there has been a lot of good interaction and people leave still talking about what was covered in my WS #emwa
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical How do you relax after a busy day or after a busy week?
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Walk dog, go to cinema or theatre, mainly read a good book, preferably fiction & currently H Mantel Bring up the Bodies #emwa
@Official_EMWA: Thank you, Alison @AAGMedical for answering our questions. Thank you all for following. We hope you enjoyed this #EMWA twitterview.
@AAGmedical: @Official_EMWA Thanks for asking me to do twitterview and to all who submitted these great questions #emwa
@Official_EMWA: @AAGMedical In case you have missed it, you will be able to find a complete transcript on www.emwa.org soon!
