title: Fast-track writing of a scientific paper with 30 authors: how to do it.
abstract: This paper describes the process of writing a scientific paper for a multi-centric study on 'screening tuberculosis patients for diabetes mellitus in India', with four facilitators and 25 class participants, who were all co-authors of the paper. By Day 3, a complete paper was sent to international authors for review and comment. Key factors in the success of this venture were: standardised facility-level data collection, a 'zero' draft prepared before the module, a first draft ready at the end of Day 1 and a plenary session on Day 2, with participants providing critical input for the second draft.
authors.affiliation: South-East Asia Office, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satyanarayana
authors.affiliation: South-East Asia Office, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A M V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Central Tuberculosis Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Sharath
authors.affiliation: The Union, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
keywords: diabetes mellitus; multiple authors; operational research; scientific writing; tuberculosis