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Continuing Medical Education (CME) on Writing Protocol for Postgraduate Thesis

Asia/Calcutta
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A well-structured research protocol is the foundation of a high-quality postgraduate thesis. It ensures scientific validity, ethical integrity, feasibility, and clarity of objectives. This CME is designed to equip postgraduate students with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to develop a robust, ethical, and methodologically sound research protocol.

Objectives

By the end of the CME, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the components of a thesis protocol.

  2. Formulate a clear research question using FINER and PICO principles.

  3. Design appropriate study methodology (study design, sample size, inclusion–exclusion criteria).

  4. Develop a statistical analysis plan.

  5. Prepare documents required for Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) submission.

  6. Identify common mistakes in protocol writing and strategies to avoid them.

Key Topics Covered

  • Structure of a research protocol

  • Framing research questions and hypothesis

  • Review of literature and referencing (Vancouver style)

  • Study designs in clinical and experimental research

  • Sample size calculation and power analysis

  • Randomization, blinding, and bias minimization

  • Data collection tools and validation

  • Basics of biostatistics relevant to protocol writing

  • Ethical considerations and informed consent

  • Timeline (Gantt chart) and budgeting

Target Audience

  • MD/MS Postgraduate students

  • Junior residents

  • Research scholars

  • Faculty mentors involved in thesis supervision

Teaching–Learning Methods

  • Interactive lectures

  • Case-based discussions

  • Hands-on protocol drafting session

  • Group activities for research question formulation

  • Q&A and expert panel discussion

Expected Outcomes

Participants will be able to independently draft a complete thesis protocol ready for departmental and ethics committee submission, thereby improving research quality and reducing delays in approval.