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I want to participate in research, but I don’t have an idea yet?It is highly recommended to start your research journey by completing certification. This certification provides insight into the basic requirements of most researchers and ensures that you understand the ethical and scientific quality standards for conducting research.Complete Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training, valid for 3 years.
OR obtain certification, valid for 2 years.Research certification is mandatory before initiating any research activity at ALNAS
Hospital, for more information, kindly check page 6 “Scientific Research Ethics Policy”من الجريدة الرسميه
How to get a research idea?Start by exploring topics you are passionate about.Conduct a literature review in potential areas of interest. This will help you understand what has already been done and identify gaps or questions that remain unanswered. Reach out to the head of your department, your colleagues, or peers, they might have ideas that align with your interests.Participate in workshops, seminars, or conferences related to your field. These events can provide insight into current research trends and spark new ideas.Take advantage of resources offered by ALNAS Hospital, such as research department guidance, labs, and research advisors, research committee to help guide you in developing a research idea.I have an interesting case for a patient and want to share it as a publication?Ensure you have to share their medical data, medical findings in a publication, maintaining compliance with ethical standards and privacy regulations.Ensure you have to share the patient data, try to include insights into the implications of the case for clinical practice, research, or future studiesResearch existing literature to understand how similar cases have been documented and to highlight the uniqueness of your case.Determine the target audience for your publication and select an appropriate journal that aligns with the case's medical specialty and significance. You also can get help from ALNAS Research department.⭐Use to know exactly what you need to mention as an author(s) in the case report. Follow the standard structure [the introduction, case description, discussion, and conclusion]. Before submission, seek feedback from colleagues or head of department to refine your report and address potential weaknesses. You also can get help from ALNAS Research department.I have a research idea, what is the first step?Begin by performing literature review related to your research idea. This will help you understand the existing body of knowledge, identify gaps, and refine your research question.Outline a detailed research plan in , including objectives, methodology, data collection and analysis techniques, and a timelineClearly define the research question or hypothesis you wish to explore. Ensure it is on SMART format.
Evaluate the feasibility of your research idea by considering factors such as available resources, ethical prospective, and potential challenges.What is ALNAS research approval process?After Scientific Committee approval, the final version will be presented in the
upcoming Institutional Review Board (IRB) meeting for ethical approval■ Some protocols, like interventional clinical trials, may require additional approvals
from regulatory bodies such as the Higher Council for Research Ethics Review
and/or the Egyptian Drug Authority (e.g. ). You are allowed to start your data collection after How to know the upcoming research committee, IRB committee meeting?
How I’m going to get a reply of my protocol from scientific committee reply on my protocol?How to enhance my chance for protocol being accepted?Write a detailed research plan in , including objectives, methodology, data collection and analysis techniques, and a timelineObtain department head approval for conducting this research.Get guidance from ALNAS research department and do the necessary modifications.As a researcher, how can I determine if my protocol requires an informed consent from the patient/gradian?Human Subject Involvement – If your study involves direct interaction with human participants or their identifiable private data, informed consent is typically required.Identifiable Patient Data – If the study uses personally identifiable health information, consent is usually needed unless an ethics committee or IRB grants a waiver.Sensitive or Confidential Data – If the data involves sensitive topics (e.g., genetic information, mental health records), consent is often required for ethical and legal reasons.Type of Study – Clinical trials, interventional studies, and research involving vulnerable populations (e.g., minors, cognitively impaired individuals) generally require informed consent.Prospective Observational Studies – If you are actively collecting new data from patients (e.g., surveys, interviews, follow-ups), informed consent is typically required.Ethical and Regulatory Requirements – Check institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee guidelines, as they dictate when consent is necessary.Exemptions and Waivers – Some studies (e.g., retrospective chart reviews, minimal-risk surveys) may qualify for an IRB-approved waiver of consent.Use of De-identified Data – Research using fully anonymized or publicly available data may not require informed consent.When Informed Consent May Not Be Required:Retrospective Studies Using De-identified Data – If the study uses anonymized patient records or publicly available data, informed consent may not be necessary.Ethics Board or IRB Waiver – Some minimal-risk studies (e.g., retrospective chart reviews) may qualify for an exemption or waiver of consent.Use of Secondary Data – If the data was previously collected for another study with consent, and no new interaction with participants is required, additional consent may not be needed.Single Case Report – If the report involves one patient and focuses on a unique medical case without generalizable research intent, IRB approval is usually not required. However, patient consent for publication is necessary. Upon patient/ guardian approval, kindly2️⃣get an approval on the for data sharing in your publication.De-identified Patient Information – If all patient identifiers (e.g., name, DOB, medical record number) are removed, it may not require IRB review.
What is the scientific research Ethics policy for ALNAS hospital?IRB committee have external members, how to be sure my research idea will not be shared?What are the expected IRB decisions on protocol submitted?Possible outcomes: Acceptance, Conditioned Acceptance (modifications required), or Refusal (justified in a detailed report).How I’m going to get a reply of my protocol from IRB committee?Feedback on protocols will be shared via email or WhatsApp, including recommendations for modifications.When should I start my data collection? You are allowed to start your data collection only after
1️⃣ receiving an r and
2️⃣ signing the and
3️⃣ submitting the .What if I have external IRB approval (University IRB) and want do the data collection from ALNAS hospital?You need to send to the scientific committee and attach the IRB approval, approved protocol, Informed consent (if applicable) and .What if I modified my research protocol in my university while collecting the data from ALNAS hospital?If it is major edit, You need to resubmit the new protocol for the scientific committee.
How literature classifies study designs?According to the phase (PhaseI, Phase II, Phase III, Phase IV)According to the study Design configuration ☂️Umbrella design, 🧺Basket designAccording to Study Purpose (Experimental, observational, Review)Experimental studiesObservational StudiesReviewsAccording to the number of centers involved in the trial (Single center, Multi-center study)According to the study type of comparison (Superiority study, Equivalence study, Non-inferiority study, Dose-response relationship trials)According to Allocation: Randomized vs non-randomized trialsAdaptive trial designsAdaptive randomization designGroup sequential designFlexible sample size re-estimation designDrop-the-losers (play-the-winner) designAdaptive dose finding designBiomarker-adaptive designAdaptive treatment-switching designAdaptive-hypotheses designSeamless adaptive trial designMultiple adaptive designAccording to real world evaluation Context: Pragmatic Clinical Trial.How to select the most appropriate study design?What are strength and weakness of different study designs?What are the types of experimental trials (Interventional studies)?How to improve your observational study?How to select study participants (Inclusion/Execution criteria)?What are the types of sampling?How to calculate effective sample size?
What are the 5 ways to control for confounders?
How to minimize biases in Study planning?What strategies can be used to ensure the reliability and accuracy of research findings?What is the relationship between different types of research studies in terms of their validity and cost?
How to coordinate my clinical workload and research activities within the week?In line with promoting culture of research, we are implementing a new policy
to allocate 10% to 20% of the workload for our specialists, associate specialists,
and fellows to engage in research activities.To proceed, please contact your department head to discuss reducing your clinical workload and submit the necessary supporting documents outlining your involvement in the research projects and your specific role in them.
Contact the ALNAS research department to create an account on the organizational account of ALNAS hospital on 
Can I register a clinical trial after it has started, has closed to recruitment, or has completed?
As a researcher, how can I determine if my protocol requires an from the patient/gradian?Human Subject Involvement – If your study involves direct interaction with human participants or their identifiable private data, informed consent is typically required.Identifiable Patient Data – If the study uses personally identifiable health information, consent is usually needed unless an ethics committee or IRB grants a waiver.Sensitive or Confidential Data – If the data involves sensitive topics (e.g., genetic information, mental health records), consent is often required for ethical and legal reasons.Type of Study – Clinical trials, interventional studies, and research involving vulnerable populations (e.g., minors, cognitively impaired individuals) generally require informed consent.Prospective Observational Studies – If you are actively collecting new data from patients (e.g., surveys, interviews, follow-ups), informed consent is typically required.Ethical and Regulatory Requirements – Check institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee guidelines, as they dictate when consent is necessary.Exemptions and Waivers – Some studies (e.g., retrospective chart reviews, minimal-risk surveys) may qualify for an IRB-approved waiver of consent.Use of De-identified Data – Research using fully anonymized or publicly available data may not require informed consent.When Informed Consent May Not Be Required:Retrospective Studies Using De-identified Data – If the study uses anonymized patient records or publicly available data, informed consent may not be necessary.Ethics Board or IRB Waiver – Some minimal-risk studies (e.g., retrospective chart reviews) may qualify for an exemption or waiver of consent.Use of Secondary Data – If the data was previously collected for another study with consent, and no new interaction with participants is required, additional consent may not be needed.Single Case Report – If the report involves one patient and focuses on a unique medical case without generalizable research intent, IRB approval is usually not required. However, patient consent for publication is necessary. Upon patient/ guardian approval, kindly2️⃣get an approval on the for data sharing in your publication.De-identified Patient Information – If all patient identifiers (e.g., name, DOB, medical record number) are removed, it may not require IRB review.
What if I’ve collected patient data from a patient 🚫📝does not sign the informed consent?What happens if a patient 📝signs the informed consent, then later on decides to stop participating in the study? Participant's Right to Withdraw – Patients have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, without any consequences or impact on their standard medical care.Filling Out a Withdrawal Form – If a participant chooses to withdraw, they need to 📝sign the .After withdrawal, the patient will no longer participate in any further study procedures, but any data collected prior to withdrawal may still be used, depending on the study protocol and regulations. The patient’s future medical care will not be affected by their decision to withdraw.Sometimes, a participant cannot give full legal consent but can still agree to take part of research. In these cases, we use an along with a signed and fingerprint by a legal representative.📌 Who needs an Assent Form?
1️⃣ Minors (under 21 years old) – A child can sign an if they understand the research, but a parent or guardian must sign the
2️⃣ Individuals with limited decision-making ability – If someone has cognitive or mental health challenges, they can provide assent, while a legally authorized representative (LAR) signs the .Assent ensures ethical research participation while respecting the individual’s ability to understand.How should I report for adverse reaction/ adverse event?What happed if I deviated from the protocol? You need to fill , the research department will do its best to help you in this situation.What If my IRB approval expired amid of ongoing project?Scenarios That Need an Extension of IRB ApprovalIf data collection or patient follow-up continues past the expiration of the current IRB approval period.If the analysis of collected data requires access to identifiable patient information, IRB approval has expired.If participants are still receiving study-related interventions or follow-ups.If new participants are still being recruited, consented, or enrolled into the study.If unresolved adverse events, serious adverse events, or protocol deviations need to be reported to the IRB.If the study findings have not yet been published, and access to identifiable data or follow-up with participants is required.If changes to the protocol require IRB review, but approval is about to expire, an extension ensures continuity.If the study involves prolonged monitoring of participants beyond the original approval timeline.If the IRB approval status is needed for compliance with external regulations or sponsors.Scenarios That Do Not Need an Extension of IRB ApprovalIf all data collection and participant interactions are finished, and only de-identified data is being analyzed.If the study data is fully anonymized (de-identified) and no further participant interaction or identifiable information is involved.If no new participants are being enrolled, and the study does not involve additional follow-ups or data collection.If the study is only awaiting publication or administrative processing and no research activities are ongoing.What happens to my active research if I plan to resign from the hospital?We are sorry to see you go. If you decide to resign, please inform your research team and ALNAS research department as soon as possible. You will need to complete a , which ensures that all your research responsibilities are properly transitioned. This will allow us to make arrangements to either transfer your duties to another team member or help you wrap up your tasks before your departure. We will work together to ensure a smooth transition and the continuity of your research.
Why is it important to collect data at the highest level possible (e.g., numerical continuous rather than categorical)?How to identify the type of variable?How to arrange datasheet for data collection? How to code the categorical data?Tips for data entry of numerical variablesHow to code missing or unavailable Data?How to minimize biases during study implementation?What are the methods to minimize loss to follow-up?
What are the researcher responsibilities in regard to informed consents?
How to exploring data for errors before running the statistical analysis?How to deal with missing data?How can I effectively choose the most appropriate charts, and figures for my data to ensure clear and impactful visualization in my writing process?What is the difference between descriptive statistics and inferential statistics?How to report descriptive and inferential data?What key factors should be considered when choosing the appropriate statistical test for data analysis? How to identify the proper measure of association for my research?what is the proper effect size should I represent in the manuscript?What are the different measurements in epidemiology?What are the 5 ways to control for confounders?How to minimize biases in Data analysis?
What is the proper sequence in ✍🏻writing the manuscript? 4. Write the . Finalize the Results and Discussion before writing the introduction. This is because, if the discussion is insufficient, how can you objectively demonstrate the scientific significance of your work in the introduction?What is the proper sequence presenting the manuscript?What are the common mistakes authors make in their manuscripts?Why is it important to select the appropriate reporting guideline when preparing your research article?Checklist for writing process monitoring toolHow to write a good abstract for research paper?Why abstract are rejected in conference submission?What specific words are typically used in the Results section and how do they differ from Discussion section?How to write the Discussion section of a research paper?How to write conclusion section?References: How can I manage my references and citations effectively for my research?You can rely on EndNote Online, which is available through the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. EndNote Online is a powerful tool that helps you organize and manage your references and citations, making the process of writing and submitting your research papers much more efficient. It allows you to store references, create bibliographies, and easily format citations according to various citation styles. Additionally, you can explore other reference management tools like Mendeley and Zotero, which also offer similar features for managing your research data and citations. References: What is APA format?
Defining the Role of Authors and ContributorsWho is an Author?Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; ANDDrafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content; ANDFinal approval of the version to be published; ANDAgreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.Who is the Corresponding author?Who is non author?Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted TechnologyWhat is meant by Ghost, guest or gift authorship?What is Equal authorship?Order of Authorshipdescending order of contribution, placing the person who took the lead in writing the manuscript or doing the research first and the most experienced contributor last, and alphabetical or random order. Who is Last author in by-lines?Usually senior researcherHead of the department, often corresponding authorGuarantor of the integrity of the whole research work who guide throughout research and writingWhat are the signs that might indicate authorship problems?
What are the Associations that are concerned with authorship problems?How to select the suitable journal?A journal finder is a tool or resource that helps researchers identify the most suitable journals for their work. Here are a few popular journal finder tools you can use:What should I do if I find it difficult to find a free journal to publish my manuscript?First, consider looking for open-access journals that offer free publication options or funding support. Many open-access journals do not charge publication fees if you meet certain criteria, such as being from a low-income country or having specific research funding. You can use tools like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to find suitable journals. Secondly, to offer publication fees waivers for Egyptian researchers, which can be a great opportunity for you. Kindly, review the journal’s policies thoroughly before submitting to ensure there are no hidden costs.
Lastly, you can ask for ALNAS Hospital publication fees support in high impact journals , Kindly fill What is the journal editorial process?What is the significance of publishing research in both national and international journals, and how can researchers choose the right platform for their work?Publishing in national journals helps researchers address region-specific challenges, influence local policies, and gain recognition within their country. International journals, on the other hand, provide broader visibility, foster global collaborations, and contribute to advancing knowledge worldwide.To choose the right platform:Assess Scope and Audience: Match the journal's focus with the research topic and target readership.Impact Factor and Reputation: Prioritize journals with high impact factors and strong reputations in the field.Publication Goals: Decide whether the aim is to influence local practices or contribute to global scientific dialogue.Open Access vs. Subscription: Consider accessibility for readers based on the journal's publication model.How to write the “Cover letter”?
What are the main reasons that lead to journal rejection, and how can researchers address them?Weak Language Skills: Researchers may lack the ability to paraphrase or interpret previous studies correctly, leading to copying. Improving language proficiency and studying field-specific terminology can help reduce this issue.Inadequate Citation Practices: Some researchers rely on secondary sources rather than primary ones, leading to citation errors. It’s crucial to use proper citation methods and always refer to original sources.Poor Analytical Skills: Failing to analyze and interpret findings critically results in copying ideas without adding unique contributions. Researchers should focus on critical thinking and developing their interpretations.Weak Writing Skills: Lack of knowledge about scientific writing rules, including quoting and paraphrasing techniques, leads to unintentional plagiarism. Learning and applying proper writing standards is essential.Time Management Issues: Rushing to publish work may result in carelessness, increasing plagiarism risks. Researchers should allocate enough time for thorough writing and review.Ignoring Journal Guidelines: Failure to follow submission rules and formatting requirements can also increase similarity rates. Researchers must carefully review journal instructions and check their work using plagiarism detection tools before submission.Is there ALNAS publication award prizes🏆?What are Journal quartiles? In addition to the Impact Factor or Impact Index, rankings of journals in each subject category are divided into quartiles by both JCR and SJR.These quartiles rank the journals from highest to lowest based on their impact factor or impact index. There are four quartiles: Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.Q1 is occupied by the top 25% of journals in the list; Q2 is occupied by journals in the 25 to 50% group; Q3 is occupied by journals in the 50 to 75% group and Q4 is occupied by journals in the 75 to 100% group.Q1 is occupied by the top 25% of journals in the listQ2 is occupied by journals in the 25 to 50% groupQ3 is occupied by journals in the 50 to 75% groupQ4 is occupied by journals in the 75 to 100% group.Which are the differences between JCR and SJR?JCR stands for Journal Citation Reports, which is a resource that provides information about academic journals, including their impact factor and ranking based on citation data. It helps researchers evaluate the significance and reputation of journals in their field.JCR is a paid-for tool which is accessed via the Web Of Science platform. The database of citations on which it is supported – the Web Of Science Core Collection – is also a paid-for service. [It is available on ]
SJR stands for SCImago Journal Rank. It is a metric that ranks journals based on their citations and prestige in the academic community, similar to the impact factor but with a more comprehensive approach. The SJR indicator takes into account the quality of the journals that cite a given journal, making it a broader measure of influence.SJR is free of charge. However, the database of citations on which it is supported – Scopus – is a paid-for service.the impact factor values provided by JCR are fixed and non-variablethe values provided by SJR and the other indicators on the platform are all variablein JCR the citation period covers two years and every citation has the same weighting and the same valuein SJR the citation period covers three years and the citations are all weighted, meaning that the value of the citation depends on the position occupied by the journal in which the citations are madeHow should researchers handle frustration after receiving a journal rejection, even when their work is of high quality and involved significant effort?Journal rejection is a common experience, even for groundbreaking research. Professor Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, who won the 🏆Nobel Prize in Medicine, once faced rejection from Nature for his work on oxygen sensing mechanisms. Yet, his perseverance led to discoveries that earned the highest scientific recognition.Nature rejection letter 
Rejection does not define the value of your work. Key Takeaways for Handling Rejection:Reflect, Revise, and Resubmit – Carefully review the feedback, make necessary improvements, and target another high-impact journal.Seek Constructive Feedback – Engage with mentors or collaborators for additional insights to refine the paper further.Celebrate the Effort – Reaching the submission stage itself is a major accomplishment. Rejections often open doors to better opportunities.Stay Resilient – Remember that persistence and adaptability are critical traits of successful researchers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Press the toggle (triangle) to get answers of the listed questions
Start Research Journey Section
Foundational elements and desired outcomes essential for the progress and success of a clinical-research endeavor.
Protocol design: Before–during–after writing phase (feasibility, study aims, methodology, guidelines and observed discrepancies, internal and external review, regulatory and ethics validations, final registration of the protocol).
Scientific Committee Meetings held on the first Wednesday of every month📆.
Feedback on protocols will be shared via email or WhatsApp, including
recommendations for modifications.
○ Possible outcomes: Acceptance, Conditioned Acceptance (modifications required), or
Refusal (justified in a detailed report).
○ Conditioned acceptance: a list of additional required documents and/or protocol
modification will be provided with a time frame of 15 days from the meeting.
When Informed Consent is Required:
If patient data cannot be fully anonymized, IRB approval is likely needed.
✍🏻All IRB members have signed to ensure all research ideas are protected.
you can begin collecting the data after
1️⃣receiving an approval on the and
2️⃣ signing the , and
3️⃣ submitting the ..
○ Regularly update ALNAS Research Department by submitting progress reports every
quarter (every 4 months) and
○ Report adverse events using the
Researchers are encouraged to follow these guidelines to ensure compliance with ethical and
institutional standards.
Study Design and planning Section
(Parallel design, cross over design, Matched pair design, , , Umbrella design, Basket design)
They are specific configurations used to tailor trials to particular research questions, especially in precision medicine.
Umbrella Design: Tests multiple treatments for a single disease based on different genetic mutations.
يختبر علاجات متعددة لحالة مرضية واحدة، بناءً على طفرات جينية مختلفة في المرضى. يعني أن المرض واحد، لكن العلاجات تختلف حسب الجينات.
لنفترض أننا ندرس سرطان الرئة. يمكن أن يكون لدينا عدة علاجات مختلفة، وكل علاج يستهدف نوعًا معينًا من الطفرات الجينية الموجودة في سرطان الرئة لدى المرضى.
Basket Design: Tests a single treatment on multiple diseases that share a common genetic mutation.
يختبر علاجًا واحدًا لأمراض متعددة تشترك في طفرة جينية معينة. يعني أن العلاج واحد، لكن الأمراض مختلفة وتتشابه في الطفرة الجينية.
لنفترض أن لدينا دواءً يستهدف طفرة جينية معينة. نستخدم هذا الدواء لعلاج أنواع مختلفة من السرطان، مثل سرطان الثدي، وسرطان القولون، وسرطان الرئة، إذا كانت جميعها تحتوي على نفس الطفرة الجينية.
RCT, Non-RCT, N-of-1 trial, stability studies, Bioequivalent studies, Programmatic research
Case control (Trohoc) study, Cross sectional, Cohort study, Case Report, Case series, Survey Research, Post marketing surveillance
Narrative review, Scoping review, Rapid review, umbrella review, Systematic review, Meta analysis
https://ebm.bmj.com/content/21/4/125
From <https://slideplayer.com/slide/3906287/>
A Pragmatic Clinical Trial is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in real-world, routine practice settings. Unlike traditional trials that focus on efficacy under controlled conditions, pragmatic trials aim to provide information that can be directly applied to everyday healthcare decisions. They typically have broader participant criteria and more flexible protocols to reflect typical clinical environments.
The 3-Question Approach: A Simplified Framework for Selecting Study Designs
Question 1: Are we trying to modify/ change the outcome of interest, in the study?
No ➡️ Observational study; Yes ➡️ Interventional study
Question 2a: Do we have more than one group?
No ➡️ Descriptive study; Yes ➡️ Comparative study
Question 2b: Do we have more than one group?
No ➡️ Single arm trial; Yes ➡️ Two-arm trial
Question 3a: Do we have repeated measurements?
No ➡️ Cross-sectional study; Yes ➡️ Longitudinal study
Question 3b: Is randomization present?
No ➡️ Non-Randomized study; Yes ➡️ Randomized study
Reference:
Or the following software programs are designed for sample size calculation and are freely available
Epidemiological studies
Regression modelling:
Up to four predictor variables
Reference: Research Techniques Made Simple: Interpreting Measures of Association in Clinical Research March 2019, 139(3):502-511.e1,
In research, various factors can unintentionally influence study outcomes, leading to inaccurate conclusions. To ensure reliable and valid results, researchers implement strategies that control these influences. By addressing potential challenges early in the research process, studies can produce findings that better reflect the true relationship between variables.
The relationship shows that as the validity of research studies increases, the cost generally increases as well. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses are at the top for validity, while case reports or case series are at the bottom.
Active Research Section
When Informed Consent is Required:
If patient data cannot be fully anonymized, IRB approval is likely needed.
Data Collection Section
Collecting data at the highest level (e.g., numerical continuous rather than categorical) preserves the most detail and flexibility. It is more accurate and can be easily categorized later if needed, enables different types of statistical tests, and provides the option to categorize the data later if needed.
Starting with detailed data ensures you don’t lose valuable information that might be useful for deeper insights or future research.
It is possible to change the type of data variable into another one, but only in one direction:
numerical continuous → numerical discrete → ordinal → nominal
We can change the age from a numerical variable to an ordinal variable if we categorize it into different age groups. Also, we can change the age from an ordinal variable as age groups into a nominal variable of two levels (young, old). But if we collect the data in a categorical form, we cannot transform it into a numerical form.
A well-arranged datasheet should have the following characteristics:
1- Each column represents one variable.
If one variable is measured twice (as before and after an experiment), it should be recorded in two columns.
If a variable consists of 2 elements (as blood pressure consisting of systolic and diastolic blood pressure), each element should be recorded in a single column.
2- The unit of measurement is unified in each column.
Height is measured either in meter or in cm, can't be in meter for some patients, and in cm for others.
Age should be in years or in months, not in years for some children and in months for others.
3- Each row represents a case.
The case is the unit about which we collect data. It can be a patient, a rat, a village, a hospital, etc., depending on each study.
4- Each cell contains only one data point.
It can't include both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, or gestational age in weeks and days.
5- Nominal and ordinal data are better coded using numerical codes.
We use numbers as codes for each category instead of writing the name of the category. For example, we may use 1 as code for males and 2 as code for females. Always keep a codebook for your coded variables where you can find the codes and corresponding values (can be in the same Excel file but in a separate sheet).
Reference: Research Techniques Made Simple: Interpreting Measures of Association in Clinical Research March 2019, 139(3):502-511.e1,
○ Ensure that are 🖨️printed on 2 copies (one copy for the hospital and other copy for the patient), signed, fingerprinted by the patient or guardian (mandatory under Egyptian law), and witnessed by at least one hospital staff.
○ Document archiving, storage and confidentiality is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI).
○ All soft copies of research-related documents will be saved in an online shared folder
with restricted access to research members and ALNAS Research Department.
○ Backup hard copies should be securely stored in a well-secured file cabinet located at the
Research department Office.
Data Analysis Section
we need to explore the data to make sure that there are no data entry errors.
This can be done using many techniques:
• Check the minimum and maximum values.
Are there any incorrect extreme values?
Are they consistent with other data values?
• Check the frequency distribution for categorical variables (the categories and the number of individuals in each category).
Are there any typing mistakes or unusual codes or groups?
• Checking the missing values
Are they really not available?
Or we just forgot them during data entry?
• Checking the consistency of data
For example, a male can't be pregnant, disease duration can't be larger than age, and diastolic blood pressure can't be larger than systolic blood pressure.
• Graphically checking the data
A histogram or a boxplot for a single numerical variable, and a scatterplot for two related variables as weight and waist circumference may be helpful to explore possible errors.
Circles (o) → Represent mild outliers (values that fall between 1.5 and 3 times the interquartile range [IQR] beyond the quartiles).
Asterisks (*) → Represent extreme outliers (values that fall beyond 3 times the IQR beyond the quartiles).
Sometimes we encounter some missing data in our datasheet. Missing values might have a negative effect on the study as it causes a reduction in power of the study and might lead to biased estimates.
There are many approaches for dealing with missing data. The following are some of them:
• Do nothing! Just run the statistical analysis ignoring those missing values. but you need to justify it.
• List-wise deletion (complete case analysis)
Delete cases (patients or participants) that have a lot of missing data.
For example: one person participated in a questionnaire filled the demographic characteristics part only. All data of those participants might be ignored. We might choose that participants with complete data only are included, or participants who completed at least 80% of the questionnaire.
• Last observation carried forward
If we have a longitudinal study where patients are followed up over time, the last available observation can be used for the missing data points coming after. In case we are collecting data at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up and one patient have the value for 12 months missing. Then, we can use the value for 9 months also for 12 months.
• Mean imputation
Using the mean of the variable to replace missing data for individuals.
• Regression imputation
Creating a regression model based on the available data to estimate missing values.
Choosing the appropriate statistical test depends on
1. Type of data (nominal, ordinal, or continuous)
2. Distribution of data (normal, etc.)
3. Study design (parallel, crossover, etc.)
4. Presence of confounding variables
5. One-tailed versus two-tailed test
6. Parametric versus nonparametric tests
Reference: Research Techniques Made Simple: Interpreting Measures of Association in Clinical Research March 2019, 139(3):502-511.e1,
It depends on the study design
Reference: Research Techniques Made Simple: Interpreting Measures of Association in Clinical Research March 2019, 139(3):502-511.e1,
Writing Section
In scientific writing, IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) is a common organizational structure for the format of a document.
Authors of research articles frequently forget to report details about their study which are important for readers to know. This can delay publication and stop their work being used, cited or replicated. This is a waste of the human and financial resources invested in the research.
Reporting Guidelines and checklists have been developed - by - for a wide variety of research types and study designs which set up the most important things readers need to know about your work. PDF
https://www.equator-network.org/
has created a to help authors, editors and peer reviewers find the most appropriate checklist and reporting guideline.
Results words for data relations vs. discussion words for logic and mechanism
Publication Process Section
Authorship also implies responsibility and accountability for published work.
The has thus developed criteria for authorship that can be used by all journals, including those that distinguish authors from other contributors.
The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following 4 criteria:
The corresponding author is the one individual who takes primary responsibility for communication with the journal during the manuscript submission, peer-review, and publication process.
The corresponding author typically ensures that all the journal’s administrative requirements, such as providing details of authorship, ethics committee approval, clinical trial registration documentation, and disclosures of relationships and activities are properly completed and reported, although these duties may be delegated to one or more co-authors.
The corresponding author should be available throughout the submission and peer-review process to respond to editorial queries in a timely way, and should be available after publication to respond to critiques of the work and cooperate with any requests from the journal for data or additional information should questions about the paper arise after publication.
Although the corresponding author has primary responsibility for correspondence with the journal, the ICMJE recommends that editors send copies of all correspondence to all listed authors.
Contributors who meet fewer than all 4 of the above criteria for authorship should not be listed as authors, but they should be acknowledged.
editors are advised to require that the corresponding author obtain written permission to be acknowledged from all acknowledged individuals.
Use of AI for writing assistance should be reported in the acknowledgment section.
At submission, the journal should require authors to disclose whether they used artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technologies (such as Large Language Models [LLMs], chatbots, or image creators) in the production of submitted work.
Authors who use such technology should describe, in both the cover letter and the submitted work in the appropriate section if applicable, how they used it.
For example, if AI was used for writing assistance, describe this in the acknowledgment section (see Section II.A.3). If AI was used for data collection, analysis, or figure generation, authors should describe this use in the methods (see Section IV.A.3.d). Chatbots (such as ChatGPT) should not be listed as authors ➡️because they cannot be responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work, and these responsibilities are required for authorship (see Section II.A.1).
Therefore, humans are responsible for any submitted material that included the use of AI-assisted technologies. Authors should carefully review and edit the result ➡️because AI can generate authoritative-sounding output that can be incorrect, incomplete, or biased.
Authors should not list AI and AI-assisted technologies as an author or co-author, nor cite AI as an author.
Authors should be able to assert that there is no plagiarism in their paper, including in text and images produced by the AI.
Humans must ensure there is appropriate attribution of all quoted material, including full citations.
A ghost author is someone who is omitted from an authorship list despite qualifying for authorship.
A guest or gift author is someone who is listed as an author despite not qualifying for authorship
Lesser contributions to a work can be recognized by clearly crediting such person as a “contributor,” rather than an “author.”
Denial of fair authorship - misconduct
Reference
Elsevier
Those who equally contributed to the study. Usually first and second authors
Many different ways of determining order of authorship exist across disciplines, research groups, and countries. Examples of authorship policies include
While the significance of a particular order may be understood in a given setting, order of authorship has no generally agreed upon meaning.
As a result, it is not possible to interpret from order of authorship the respective contributions of individual authors.
Promotion committees, granting agencies, readers, and others who seek to understand how individual authors have contributed to the work should not read into order of authorship their own meaning, which may not be shared by the authors themselves.
1. The authors should decide the order of authorship together.
2. Authors should specify in their manuscript a description of the contributions of each author and how they have assigned the order in which they are listed so that readers can interpret their roles correctly.
3. The primary author should prepare a concise, written description of how order of authorship was decided.
This tool helps you find relevant Elsevier journals by submitting the title and abstract of your manuscript. It suggests journals based on your content.
Similar to Elsevier’s tool, Springer’s Journal Suggester matches your research to relevant Springer journals.
(Journal/Author Name Estimator)
JANE helps identify the most appropriate journal by analyzing your abstract or article content and then comparing it to other publications in the database.
A free journal search tool that suggests journals based on your research topic and article title.
(Directory of Open Access Journals)
If you're interested in open access journals, DOAJ can help you find suitable journals by subject area or keyword.
Another important difference between JCR and SJR relates to the variability of indicators:
In terms of the citation data collected for calculating indicators:
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