Fast-track writing of a scientific paper with 30 authors: how to do it.

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.