What is a Case Report?

A case report is a detailed description of a single patient’s clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. It often highlights unusual cases, rare conditions, unexpected treatment responses, or unique clinical findings that add value to medical literature.

Why is it Important?

 Case reports play a vital role in medical education and research by:

• Sharing rare or novel clinical scenarios.
• Generating new research hypotheses for Original Research.
• Enhancing diagnostic and treatment knowledge for clinicians.

They are often the first step for students and early-career doctors to start publishing in indexed journals.

Does a Case Report Add Value to Your CV?

Yes! Case reports are a valuable addition to any medical CV. They showcase your ability to analyze clinical cases, write scientifically, and navigate the publication process.

For USMLE Aspirants: Case reports hold similar value to other research types (original articles, meta-analyses, reviews). Having published case reports demonstrates research skills and clinical interest.

For UK Aspirants: In specialty applications, case reports score: 5 points if published in a PubMed-indexed journal and 3 points if published in a non-PubMed journal. (Original research scores are slightly higher: 8 for PubMed, 6 for non-PubMed as first or corresponding author.)

For AMC (Australia) Aspirants: Case reports are considered at par with other research types and significantly strengthen your CV.

For Indian PG Residents & Physicians: Publication of case report in UGC-listed, Scopus, Web of Science, or PubMed-indexed journals help in promotions and academic growth. Some institutions even provide incentives or cover publication fees. Case reports also boost your profile for scholarships and international fellowships.

1. Identify a Suitable Case: Choose a case worth sharing—such as a rare condition, a common disease with an unusual presentation, or a novel treatment approach.
2. Write the Case Report:  Follow standard CARE guidelines and include: Abstract, Introduction, Case Description, Discussion and References. Prepare clear, high-quality images/tables as needed.
3. Select the Right Journal: Assess journals based on: Specialty focus, Peer-review and publication timeline, Publication fees and Indexing (PubMed, Scopus, etc.)
4. Prepare Required Documents: Create supporting documents such as: Cover Letter, Title Page and Patient Consent Forms (if applicable)
5. Submit to the Journal: Upload the manuscript and required files via the journal’s submission portal.
6. Address Peer Review Comments: Respond to reviewer queries and make necessary revisions.
7. Publication or Resubmission: If accepted, wait for proofs and final publication. If rejected, revise and submit to another suitable journal.

Q1: How do I register? What happens after registration?

Simply register by paying the fees listed in the table above. Once you register on the website, you will gain immediate access to three detailed videos along with explanatory PDFs:

• Case Report Guidance: How to write a case report following standard care guidelines, including a PDF and checklist.
• Journal Selection Process
• Article Submission Process

For CR-V, only these three resources are provided.
For CR-M, CR-MP, CR-W, and CR-WP, mentorship sessions or writing assistance will be conducted through the TGRP App. You will receive an email with instructions to download the app and will be added to the respective group within 24 hours.

Q2: Why do you charge mentorship or writing fees?

The Good Research Project (TGRP) is an educational platform. Just like exam preparation classes involve fees for tutors’ time and guidance, TGRP charges mentorship or writing fees to compensate for the time and effort of 2–4 research mentors involved in guiding you through the process. They provide continuous support through videos, checklists, and group discussions.

Q3: Is publication fee included?

No, publication fees are not included in TGRP charges. We are a mentorship platform, not a publishing house. Publication charges, if applicable, are paid directly to the journal by the student.

Q4: What can be the publication fees for case reports?

Publication charges vary widely from $0 to $2500 USD. However, TGRP recommends carefully curated hybrid or no-fee journals to minimize costs. If a publication fee applies, TGRP will guide you on ways to avail discounts as part of the mentorship program.

Q5: How is the journal selected? Can I choose my own journal?

Yes, you can suggest journals. Here’s the process:

• Step 1: Watch the journal selection video provided.
• Step 2: Create a list of 5 journals based on: Specialty relevance, Review time and Publication fees
• Step 3: Share your list with mentors in the group with all the details.

A final decision will be made collectively between students and mentors, focusing on the best chances for acceptance.
Note: TGRP will help with submission to two journals only. If not accepted, submission to a third journal is the student’s responsibility.

Q6: Who can be authors?

The student enrolling in the program will be listed as the primary author. It is recommended to include the treating physician or mentor who managed the case as the senior author. Most journals permit 3–4 authors in total. Please note that TGRP mentors and writers will not be included as authors.

Q7: How many journals will TGRP submit to? What if it is still not published?

TGRP will submit your article to two journals with good acceptance chances. Journals will be selected based on student preferences for publication time and indexation. Note that publication can take up to 6 months. If both reject the article, students can submit to additional journals on their own.

Q8: I have an incompletely-written case report. Can you help me?

Yes, we can assist you. If you already have a partially written case report, you can choose from two options based on your needs. Our Mentorship Service provides guidance to help you complete and refine your existing draft. Alternatively, you can opt for our Writing Service, wherein professional writers will write a case report for you.

Q9: What if two students want mentorship for the same case report?

Mentorship fees are per student, even if the same case report is used. Both can be authors, along with additional colleagues.

Q10: What if two students want the writing service for the same case report?

The writing service fee is charged per case report, not per student, so students may share the cost among themselves if they wish. However, only one student will be added to the TGRP group for all communication and coordination. Despite this, multiple author names can still be included in the final manuscript as per journal guidelines.

Q11: Is publication guaranteed?

No. We cannot guarantee publication, as acceptance depends on the journal’s editorial decision and peer-review process. However, we provide complete support for submission to two journals as part of our publication support services in CR-MP and CR-WP.

Q12: What is the difference between Writing Service and Mentorship Service?

• Mentorship Service (CR-M and CR-MP): You as a student will write the case report yourself under the guidance of our TGRP mentors, who provide feedback, structure, and tips to ensure it meets journal standards.
• Writing Service (CR-W and CR-WP): TGRP’s expert writers prepare the case report for you in 7–10 days based on the details you provide, with one round of revision included.

Q13: What is the difference between services with and without Publication Support?

• Without Publication Support (CR-M and CR-W): TGRP mentors guide you in writing (or write for you), but you as a student have to handle journal selection, submission, and peer-review responses.
• With Publication Support (CR-MP and CR-WP): TGRP mentors will assist in journal selection, document preparation, submission, and help you respond to reviewer comments (or do it for you, depending on the plan).

Q14: I already have a case. Which service should I choose?

It depends on your goals and availability. This table will help you choose the best Case Report service based on your situation and requirements.

Q15: What time commitment is needed?

For mentorship services (CR-M and CR-MP), you are expected to complete your article within one month. This is to ensure that you do not drag the process and to respect your mentor’s time commitment. Typically, 10–15 days is an ideal timeframe. You will need around 10 hours to watch three instructional videos and complete the writing, plus an additional 1–2 hours for corrections suggested by your mentor. 

For writing services (CR-W and CR-WP), the case report is delivered by our expert writer within 7–10 days.

Q16: Do I need to arrange my own case? Where can I find one?

Yes, you will need to provide your own case. You can ask residents or faculty in your medical college and collect all necessary details, including a detailed history, case sheets, clinical features, lab reports, imaging findings, and clinical photographs. It is essential to obtain the patient’s consent for publication. Ethics committee approval is generally not required for case reports.

Q17: What can be published as a case report?

Case reports can include a variety of scenarios, such as rare cases, rare symptoms of common diseases, diagnostic challenges or unique findings, new treatment modalities that worked or caused side effects, innovative surgical procedures with good outcomes, rare drug side effects and their management, or challenging cases involving a multimodal diagnostic or treatment approach.

Q18: I’m a beginner and have never written a case report. Will this help me?

 Yes! This program is specifically designed for beginners. We teach the entire process from scratch, including how to write, format, and prepare your case report for submission.

Q19: Can all case reports be published?

In most cases, yes. Well-written and structured case reports almost always find a suitable journal. Very rare and unique cases are more likely to be accepted in PubMed-indexed journals. Less unique cases can be published in Scopus, Web of Science, or DOAJ-indexed journals. Even common cases can be published in newer, non-indexed journals, which are still a good addition to your CV.