Presenters: Dr Iveta Simera, Head of Programme Development, EQUATOR Network
Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Oxford, UK
Colaborators: Dr Regina Castro, KMC/PAHO and Eleana Villanueva, HSS/PAHO
Language: English
Translation: No
Target audience: Editors and peer reviewers of journals publishing medical research; health research scientists and all professionals involved in conducting, supporting or publishing health related research.
Type of workshop: discussion, will not need computers for participants
Outline:
Transparent and accurate reporting of research findings is a necessary component of good research practice. Acquiring a sound knowledge of the principles of high quality reporting for different types of health research is crucial for researchers, editors, peer reviewers, and other professionals involved in the publication of medical research.
This workshop will provide an overview of the major scientific and ethical issues relating to the quality of health research reporting. Key reporting guidelines as well as examples of good and bad research reports will be discussed. Information about how the EQUATOR Network can help editors and peer reviewers will be presented (including information about online resources, training, tips on setting up journal policies regarding research reporting, and sample texts for instructions to authors). We will also briefly discuss how reporting guidelines can help researchers to design, write and peer review research and how health information professionals can help in disseminating information about available guidelines and other resources.
New knowledge acquired during this workshop will benefit all professionals who are involved in the conduct and publication of health research.
Learning objectives:
1. Understand the importance of transparency and accuracy in reporting health research and be familiar with common deficiencies in the reporting of research studies
2. Understand the key concepts of reporting guidelines and their efficient use
3. Learn about the main elements of selected reporting guidelines: CONSORT (reporting RCTs); PRISMA (reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and STROBE (reporting epidemiological studies)
4. Understand and efficiently use the EQUATOR Network online resources available in English and Spanish (www.equator-network.org; www.espanol.equator-network.org)
5. Discuss the practical implementation of reporting guidelines within health research journals and organisations