The instructions for submitting a paper to your professional organization require that you write a 200-word abstract. Your team’s template for technical reports requires an executive summary. You would like to write an introduction for a paper or report. But what is the difference between an abstract, an executive summary, and an introduction? And how do you write each? In the previous blog, we reviewed a 5-Question Method for Writing Abstracts. Now let’s explore the executive summary.
A well-written executive summary (or simply summary) is a succinct, cohesive overview of a business, technical, or scientific investigation, situation, task, or proposal. A summary can serve as the basis for an oral briefing on the findings, situation, or proposed work and as the basis for an abstract. A summary is written so that interested readers, regardless of technical knowledge, can understand the contents of the paper/report and the relevance of the findings and recommendations.
Depending upon the length of the summarized paper/report, a summary may be positioned on the same page as the discussion that follows, in a separate section, or even in a separate volume (as in a lengthy proposal). The length of a summary is in proportion to the length of the summarized paper/report, usually not exceeding two to ten percent of the summarized document. The length of a proposal’s Executive Summary is typically stipulated in the Request for Proposals’ instructions.
In the summary, you distill every main section of the paper/report. That is, you define the purpose of the investigation, situation, task, or proposal; extract the most important aspects of the methodology/approach, results, and conclusions; and present recommendations. A summary focuses on high-level findings and recommendations and does not include content beyond the scope of the summarized paper/report. Like an abstract, a summary is stand-alone in the sense that all abbreviations used are spelled out and there are no cross-references to the body of the paper/report. Unlike an abstract, a summary can contain high-level graphics. Both text and graphics must be understandable by a reader who has not yet read or may not read the paper/report. For optimal readability, paragraphs are short and lists emphasize key points. The style is professional, factual (objective), and plainspoken.
Like a concise briefing on a topic, a summary is an informative abstract with a less limiting word count. So to jump-start writing a summary, you can once again apply the 5-Question Method. As you may recall, you answer the five questions at a high level; then remove the questions. To illustrate, we can re-visit our Ebola virus example [created for writing instruction purposes only]:
1. Context/Motivation: What is the context for the issue? Why do the problem and results matter? In what way will your results improve or change the reader’s methodology, the organization, or the world? TIP: Lift the motivation statement from your Introduction.
The Ebola virus, an aggressive pathogen causing a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates, has claimed more than 1,500 lives in the current West African outbreak—only the third epidemic in human history to be officially designated an international public health emergency. Officials estimate that at least 10 per cent of reported deaths have been healthcare workers combatting the disease.
2. Problem/Purpose: Why was the study/research/work performed? What problem are you solving? What question are you answering? What is the scope of your work? TIP: Lift the purpose statement from your Introduction.
Healthcare facilities require the latest information about this often fatal illness.
3. Approach/Methodology: How did you solve or make progress on the problem? Briefly describe the basic methodology, being sure to list the key techniques used and to highlight any distinctive features of your approach. TIP: Lift your approach statement(s) from your Methods section.
Medical and virological literature were reviewed to assemble lessons learned from previous epidemics as well as key facts about Ebola including its pathogenicity and virulence in humans, the progress of vaccine development, and the World Health Organization’s infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare workers in a healthcare environment.
4. Findings/Results: What did you learn? Anticipate and answer your readers’ most important questions about the information. Summarize key findings such as quantitative results or trends. Highlight and explain any new or unusual results. Use only the high-level information; save the details for the discussion in your paper/report. TIP: Lift your findings/results statement(s) from your Results section. Key points are often found at paragraph beginnings and endings.
Lessons Learned from Previous Epidemics
Successful prevention and control measures undertaken in previous epidemics have included: (1) preventive education/publicity; (2) locating cases and tracing the infection’s source; (3) introducing five major control measures (compulsory isolation/surveillance of contacts, stopping school/university education sessions, exchanging epidemiological information between infected areas, temperature-checking travelers at entry/exit points, and area-wide cleansing campaigns); (4) strengthening collaboration/communication among infected areas and with the World Health Organization; and (5) developing a quick diagnostic test for the disease. For previous Ebola outbreaks, effective measures have included educating people about safe burial practices and having health care workers follow strict infection control procedures in hospitals.
Pathogenicity and Virulence
Ebola was introduced into humans through close contact with bodily fluids of infected animals such as other primates, fruit bats, and wild/domestic animals used for food. Ebola then spread and is spreading through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with infected people’s bodily fluids, and indirect contact (through environments contaminated with such fluids). Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with infected deceased persons play a role in Ebola transmission. Also, men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery. Health-care workers have been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola. This occurred through close patient contact without strict infection control precautions.
Progress of Vaccine Development
No FDA-approved Ebola vaccines or therapeutics are available. The standard treatment for Ebola remains supportive therapy: balancing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure, and treating any complicating infections.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) started human trials September 2014 on an Ebola vaccine. Not containing infectious Ebola virus materials, the vaccine cannot cause the vaccinated person to become infected. GSK plans to manufacture 10,000 doses for emergency use. The supply of Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s ZMapp, an experimental treatment for Ebola-infected individuals, is exhausted. A combination of three monoclonal antibodies obtained from genetically engineered tobacco plants, the drug will take months to reproduce.
World Health Organization’s infection prevention and control recommendations
The World Health Organization recommends the following: (1) Initial Ebola symptoms take two to twenty-one days to develop and may be non-specific: fever, headache, nausea, a drop in blood pressure. Therefore, health-care workers should apply standard precautions consistently with all patients – regardless of diagnosis – in all work practices at all times. These precautions include basic hand and respiratory hygiene, using personal protective equipment (according to the risk of contact with infected materials), safe injection practices, and safe burial practices. (2) In addition to standard precautions, health-care workers caring for patients with suspected/confirmed Ebola virus should apply infection control measures to avoid any exposure to the patient’s body fluids and to avoid direct unprotected contact with the possibly contaminated environment. (3) Laboratory workers are also at risk. Only trained staff in suitably equipped laboratories should handle suspected Ebola case samples.
5. Conclusions/Recommendations: What is the solution to the problem? What is the answer to the question? What are the implications of your answer—the basis for the recommendation? What is the significance of what you learned? What is the path forward? TIP: Lift your conclusions/recommendations statement(s) from your Conclusions/Recommendations section(s).
This information should be used to update healthcare facilities’ infectious disease guidelines and procedures. Facilities should continue to update their guidelines and procedures as new information becomes available.
Then we remove the five questions, and “voilà!”—an executive summary.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Ebola virus, an aggressive pathogen causing a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever syndrome in humans and other primates, has claimed more than 1,500 lives in the current West African outbreak—only the third epidemic in human history to be officially designated an international public health emergency. Officials estimate that at least 10 per cent of reported deaths have been healthcare workers combatting the disease.
METHODOLOGY
Healthcare facilities require the latest information about this often fatal illness. To that end, medical and virological literature were reviewed to assemble lessons learned from previous epidemics as well as key facts about Ebola including its pathogenicity and virulence in humans, the progress of vaccine development, and the World Health Organization’s infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare workers in a healthcare environment.
FINDINGS
Lessons Learned from Previous Epidemics
Successful prevention and control measures undertaken in previous epidemics include: (1) preventive education/publicity; (2) locating cases and tracing the infection’s source; (3) introducing five major control measures (compulsory isolation/surveillance of contacts, stopping school/university education sessions, exchanging epidemiological information between infected areas, temperature-checking travelers at entry/exit points, and area-wide cleansing campaigns); (4) strengthening collaboration/communication among infected areas and with the World Health Organization; and (5) developing a quick diagnostic test for the disease. For previous Ebola outbreaks, effective measures have included educating people about safe burial practices and having health care workers strictly follow infection control in hospitals.
Pathogenicity and Virulence
Ebola was introduced into humans through close contact with bodily fluids of infected animals such as other primates, fruit bats, and wild/domestic animals used for food. Ebola spread and is spreading through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with infected people’s bodily fluids, and indirect contact (through environments contaminated with such fluids). Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with infected deceased persons play a role in Ebola transmission. Also, men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery. Health-care workers have been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola. This occurred through close patient contact without strict infection control precautions.
Progress of Vaccine Development
No FDA-approved Ebola vaccines or therapeutics are available. The standard treatment for Ebola remains supportive therapy: balancing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure, and treating any complicating infections.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) started human trials September 2014 on an Ebola vaccine. Not containing infectious Ebola virus materials, the vaccine cannot cause the vaccinated person to become infected. GSK plans to manufacture 10,000 doses for emergency use. The supply of Mapp Biopharmaceutical’s ZMapp, an experimental treatment for Ebola-infected individuals, is exhausted. A combination of three monoclonal antibodies obtained from genetically engineered tobacco plants, the drug will take months to reproduce.
World Health Organization’s infection prevention and control recommendations
The World Health Organization recommends the following: (1) Initial Ebola symptoms take two to twenty-one days to develop and may be non-specific: fever, headache, nausea, a drop in blood pressure. Therefore, health-care workers should apply standard precautions consistently with all patients – regardless of diagnosis – in all work practices at all times. These precautions include basic hand and respiratory hygiene, using personal protective equipment (according to the risk of contact with infected materials), safe injection practices, and safe burial practices. (2) In addition to standard precautions, health-care workers caring for patients with suspected/confirmed Ebola virus should apply infection control measures to avoid any exposure to the patient’s body fluids and to avoid direct unprotected contact with the possibly contaminated environment. (3) Laboratory workers are also at risk. Only trained staff in suitably equipped laboratories should handle suspected Ebola case samples.
CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
This information should be used to update healthcare facilities’ infectious disease guidelines and procedures. Facilities should continue to update their guidelines and procedures as new information becomes available. [639 words]
With a working definition of the term executive summary and with the 5-Question Method, you are now equipped to write executive summaries. In our next blog, we’ll explore how to write introductions for a paper or report.
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