Systematic review / meta-analysis: The most rigorous design here, and usually the slowest to complete.
Prospective study: Needs ethics approval before data collection can start. Build that into your timeline.
Retrospective audit to publication: Uses data that already exists, so it is often the fastest realistic route to a first publication.
Case series: Quick to write up once you have enough eligible cases.
Case report: The fastest to publish, usually written from a single case you are already managing.
How each type is weighted is set by your target college, not by intoSET. Check your specialty’s CV calculator for what it specifically counts.
Getting started
Keep the acceptance email once a paper is ‘in press’. Some colleges count an accepted-but-not-yet-published paper the same as a published one. Check your specialty’s calculator for the exact wording, and keep the email either way as proof for your application.
Many colleges weight first-author work more heavily than co-authored work. See your specialty’s calculator for how it splits the two. Aiming for first authorship on at least one paper is rarely the wrong call.
Research alongside full-time clinical work takes longer than it looks on paper. Build in buffer time rather than assuming the shortest plausible timeline.
Target supervisors with active publication records in your specialty. Check their PubMed profile before applying.
Find candidates to support your research. List your project, set your requirements, and connect with suitable applicants. Every listing is reviewed before publication.