TRUES Modules 2024
The Most Advanced Step in the TRUES Steps Towards Publication
Date: November 2023 - September 2024
Venue: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University
DEADLINE for registration and payment: 3 November 2023
For Naresuan University Staff - please contact our program manager, Ms. Sirintip, regarding the payment.
Goal: The overall goal of TRUES Modules is to assist healthcare researchers in conducting research using a meta-analysis approach and preparing a manuscript suitable for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.
Objectives: Participants who register for TRUES Modules are expected to achieve the following specific objectives:
Formulating relevant research questions appropriate for potential meta-analysis.
Demonstrating proficiency in data collection for conducting a meta-analysis.
Gaining experience in conducting a meta-analysis or network meta-analysis.
Capable of preparing a meta-analysis research manuscript suitable for submission to an international peer-reviewed journal.
Overall activities: The comprehensive program spans 10 months and encompasses various activities, including training, conducting research, follow-up, and consulting. Throughout this duration, participants will engage in 5 modules, spanning a total of 11 days, to facilitate the step-by-step completion of a meta-analysis study at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Naresuan University. The integrated module (SICAM) comprises the following contents:
Searching
Identifying eligible studies
Collecting data and quality assessment
Analysis
Manuscript preparation
Detail for each module
Module 1: Searching: 8-10 November 2023
Activities:
Formulating research questions.
Evaluating the suitability of research questions for conducting a meta-analysis.
Creating search strategies.
Drafting a research protocol.
Conducting a bibliographic search and compiling search results for each database.
Conducting preliminary title/abstract screening.
Interim tasks 1: 11 November 2023 - 7 February 2024
Activities:
Conducting title/abstract screening independently.
Collaborating with another reviewer to determine article eligibility.
Performing full-text reviews for articles that pass the title/abstract screening.
Engaging in discussions with another reviewer to assess article eligibility.
TRUES Mentoring:
Providing follow-up and guidance during the study selection process.
Serving as a third reviewer in cases where consensus between two reviewers cannot be reached.
Module 2: Identifying eligible studies: 8-9 February 2024
Activities:
Concluding the selection of articles for the systematic review.
Creating a data extraction form.
Acquiring the skills to assess the risk of bias in the selected studies.
Practicing data extraction and evaluating the risk of bias in the chosen studies.
Registering the research protocol in PROSPERO
Interim tasks 2: 10 February - 8 May 2024
Activities:
Extracting data from included studies, including study characteristics, PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), and outcome measures.
Evaluating the risk of bias in the included studies.
Collaborating with another reviewer to ensure the accuracy of data extraction and consensus on the risk of bias assessment.
TRUES Mentoring:
Offering support and guidance during the data extraction and quality assessment process.
Acting as a third reviewer in situations where agreement between two reviewers cannot be achieved.
Module 3: Collecting data and quality assessment: 9-10 May 2024
Activities:
Completing data extraction for all included studies.
Concluding risk of bias evaluation for all included studies.
Gaining practical experience in using statistical software to conduct a meta-analysis for one outcome.
Applying additional analysis approaches, such as sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis.
Interim tasks 3: 11 May - 10 July 2024
Activities:
Carrying out meta-analysis for the remaining outcomes.
Employing additional analysis approaches for the remaining outcomes.
Investigating potential sources of heterogeneity, if present.
Preparing a results presentation, which includes search results, study characteristics, and the quality of the included studies.
TRUES Mentoring:
Offering support and guidance during data analysis and outlining results presentation.
Module 4: Analysis: 11-12 July 2024
Activities:
Completing data analysis.
Compiling results of all outcomes.
Summarizing the results of all outcomes.
Integrating the quality of included studies into the interpretation of findings.
Exploring the key messages and practical implications of the study results.
Interim tasks 4: 13 July - 4 September 2024
Activities:
Preparing the first draft of the manuscript to be completed by 15 August 2024.
Compiling a selection of suitable journals for manuscript submission.
Identifying potential reviewers.
TRUES Mentoring:
Assisting by providing feedback on the initial manuscript draft.
Module 5: Manuscript preparation: 5-6 September 2024
Activities:
Revising the manuscript in accordance with comments provided by the TRUES mentor.
Creating an abstract that conforms to the journal's style requirements.
Preparing relevant appendices.
Composing a submission cover letter.
Submitting the manuscript.
For more information please contact: Miss Sirintip Intarapasit at sirintipi@nu.ac.th