Research Mentorship Program of Hospital Escuela
The Antonio Vidal Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (IAV), in collaboration with the Academic Management and Research Department of the Hospital Escuela, has implemented a Research Mentorship Program designed to strengthen the research capacities of health professionals and students. This program, part of The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean project (TGHN LAC), focuses on promoting professional development and the generation of high-quality scientific knowledge.
General Objective:
- To strengthen scientific research capacities of health professionals and students, promoting their professional development and the generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge.
The program is divided into two main focuses:
- Research Mentorship: Focus on Scientific Communication:
- This focus aims to improve participants' skills in scientific writing and publishing.
- Participants will work on creating articles, abstracts, blogs, and other scientific communication formats to effectively communicate their research findings.
- Research Mentorship: Focus on Research Methodology:
- This focus develops essential methodological research skills.
- Participants will focus on study design, development of research protocols, data collection and analysis.
Both program focuses aim to promote ethical and high-quality research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the health field.
Annual Mentorship Program – Focus on Scientific Communication
2025 Plan
The Academic Management and Research Department of the Hospital Escuela and the Antonio Vidal Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (IAV), within the framework of The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean Consortium (TGHN LAC), have developed a Mentorship Program to strengthen scientific research capacities. One of the focuses is on Scientific Communication, including mentorship in scientific writing and publication for health professionals and students, promoting their research development and dissemination of ethically conducted, high-quality scientific knowledge.
Objective of the Mentorship Program – Scientific Communication Focus
To strengthen the scientific communication skills of health professionals and students, promoting their professional development and dissemination of scientific knowledge.
Duration and Modality
- 12 weeks – Hybrid format (virtual sessions and in-person meetings).
- Weekly meetings and continuous communication between mentor and mentee to review the communication piece (e.g., scientific article, conference presentation, blog).
- Completion of a training session on Research4Life resources and reference management provided by the National Medical Library (optional).
- Completion of a self-paced online course on the AuthorAid platform (optional).
- Writing a blog post on a selected topic for submission to the AuthorAid platform (optional).
- Invitation to participate (subject to availability) in a 5-day scientific writing and publishing workshop developed by the Sustainable Sciences Institute, sponsored by the Hospital Escuela and the Antonio Vidal Institute within the framework of the TGHN LAC Project, October 2025.
Requirements
- Have a clear idea and data available for writing the scientific communication piece (article, conference abstract/presentation, blog).
Expected Final Product
At least one of the following:
- Manuscript ready for submission to a scientific journal
- Abstract and presentation ready for submission to a scientific event
- Communication piece ready for blog or other platform submission
Mentorship Content
|
Week |
Topic / Activity |
Expected Submission |
|
1 |
Importance of publishing, writing principles, good clinical practices. Identification and definition of the idea for the scientific communication piece. Responsible authorship. |
Idea identified. |
|
2 |
IMRAD structure. Conclusion. Argument Tree, 1st draft. |
First submission: Argument Tree draft. |
|
3 |
Results: Data presentation, tables and figures. |
Second submission: Draft of results, tables and figures. |
|
4 |
Journal selection and reference management. Argument Tree, 2nd draft. |
Third submission: Journal selected and references managed. |
|
5–6 |
Methods: Study design and data collection. |
Fourth submission: Methods section draft and prior content. |
|
7–8 |
Discussion: Interpretation of results and study limitations. Argument Tree, 3rd draft. |
Fifth submission: Discussion draft and prior content. |
|
9–10 |
Introduction: Rationale, research questions, and hypotheses. |
Sixth submission: Introduction draft and prior content. |
|
11 |
Abstract, Keywords, Title, Ethical Aspects. |
Seventh submission: Draft of Abstract, Keywords, Title, Ethical Aspects, and prior content. |
|
12 |
Final revision. |
Eighth submission: Final manuscript or document. |
Content Development
1. Week 1: Importance of publishing, writing principles, good clinical practices
1.1. Importance of publishing scientific results: Communicating findings to advance knowledge and contribute to health solutions, increasing visibility, evaluation and application of research, career benefits, funding opportunities, and influence on clinical practice.
1.2. Principles of scientific writing: Clarity and precision, short sentences and appropriate technical language, examples of clarity and precision, prior structuring: starting with tables and figures, identifying enough data to support an article.
1.3. Brief course on Good Clinical Practices: Ethical and regulatory principles to ensure participant safety and data integrity, available online: https://globalhealthtrainingcentre.tghn.org/ich-good-clinical-practice/
1.4. Submission: Identification of idea.
2. Week 2: IMRAD structure, Conclusion, Argument Tree
2.1 IMRAD structure of a scientific article according to Vancouver Style
2.1.1 Title: Should be clear, concise, and reflect the article’s content.
2.1.2 Authors: List those who made substantial contributions to the study.
2.1.3 Affiliation: Institutions to which the authors belong.
2.1.4 Abstract: Brief description of the study purpose, methods, key results, and conclusions (250–400 words).
2.1.5 Keywords: Terms that reflect the article’s content (3–5 keywords, https://decs.bvsalud.org/en/).
2.1.6 Introduction: Contextualize the problem, justify the study, and present objectives.
2.1.7 Methods: Describe study design, population, inclusion/exclusion criteria, data collection and analysis.
2.1.8 Results: Present findings objectively, using tables, figures, and statistical analysis.
2.1.9 Discussion: Interpret results, compare with existing literature, highlight limitations and possible applications.
2.1.10 Conclusion: Highlight key message, main contributions, and implications for practice and future research.
2.1.11 References: Follow Vancouver style guidelines.
Figure 1. IMRAD structure of a scientific article according to Vancouver Style.
2.2 Conclusion
2.2.1 Importance of defining the key message.
2.2.2 Concise, results-based writing.
2.2.3 Practical exercise: Writing the conclusion.
2.2.4 Focus on a strong, impactful conclusion.
An original article is published in a linear structure but should not be written in a linear process (Figure 2). Writing an article assumes that the authors have already analyzed their data and drawn conclusions…
Figure 2. Suggested approach: Start writing the manuscript from the conclusion.
2.3 Building the Argument Tree (Figure 3)
2.3.1 A tool to plan the manuscript and organize ideas. Step-by-step construction of the argument tree. (Source: Arbelaez MP, Gaviria MB, Franco A, Restrepo R, Hincapié D, Blas E. Tuberculosis control and managed competition in Colombia. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2004 Oct-Dec;19 Suppl 1:S25-43. doi: 10.1002/hpm.775. PMID: 15686059.)
2.3.2 Practical exercise: Drafting the argument tree.
2.3.3 Submission: Argument Tree draft.
Figure 3. Argument Tree. Tool for planning a manuscript: structuring main study ideas and their logical connections to support coherent writing (Source: https://lac.tghn.org/noticias-es/taller-de-escritura-y-publicacion-biomedica-honduras-21-al-25-de-octubre-de-2024/).
3. Week 3: Results
3.1. Data and figure presentation: Clarity in tables and graphs, units, exact figures and sample sizes, avoiding data duplication, examples of result presentation from different types of studies.
3.2. Practical exercise: Drafting tables and figures.
3.3. Second submission: Draft of results, tables, and figures.
4. Week 4: Journal Selection, Reference Management
4.1. Selecting the journal: Choosing appropriate journals based on the topic and scope (e.g., Revista Médica Hondureña). Useful tools:
4.1.1. JANE: http://jane.biosemantics.org/
4.1.2. Journal Finder: http://journalfinder.elsevier.com/
4.2. Literature search strategies:
4.2.1. Use of bibliographic databases.
4.2.2. Assessment of literature quality.
4.3. Use of reference managers like Zotero or Mendeley: Citation and bibliography organization, practical demonstration of reference managers.
4.4. Third submission: Journal selection and reference manager.
5. Weeks 5–6: Methods
5.1. Detailed description of study design, population and procedures, inclusion and exclusion criteria, data collection and analysis.
5.1.1. Practical exercise: Writing the Methods section.
5.1.2. Publication standards: EQUATOR Network: https://www.equator-network.org/ – guidelines according to study type: CONSORT, STROBE, CARE, PRISMA, STARD, SRQR; choosing and applying the appropriate guideline.
5.1.3. Fourth submission: Draft of the Methods section.
6. Weeks 7–8: Discussion
6.1. Interpretation of results and comparison with literature.
6.2. Identification of study limitations.
6.3. Implications for practice and future research.
6.4. Practical exercise: Writing the Discussion section.
6.5. Fifth submission: Draft of the Discussion section.
7. Weeks 9–10: Introduction
Contextualization of the problem and justification of the study.
7.1. Review of relevant literature.
7.2. Definition of study objectives.
7.3. Practical exercise: Writing the Introduction.
7.4. Sixth submission: Draft of the Introduction.
8. Week 11: Abstract, Keywords, Title, Ethical Aspects
8.1. Abstract: Concise and engaging writing.
8.2. Keywords: Selection of relevant terms (DeCS: https://decs.bvsalud.org/en/).
8.3. Title: Creating a clear and descriptive title.
8.4. Ethical aspects in publishing: Originality and plagiarism, informed consent and confidentiality, conflicts of interest. Examples of ethical situations.
8.5. Guidelines for acknowledgments and funding statements.
8.6. Practical exercise: Writing the abstract, selecting keywords, and creating the title.
8.7. Seventh submission: Draft of Abstract, Keywords, Title, Ethical Aspects.
9. Week 12: Submission and Final Review
9.1. Adherence to the “Instructions for Authors” of the selected journal.
9.2. Peer and co-author review before submission.
9.3. Cover letter summarizing the value of the article and suggesting reviewers.
9.4. Eighth submission: Final manuscript or document.
Role of the Mentor
- Accompany the mentee at each stage of the process.
- Provide feedback on writing and structuring the manuscript, reviewing each submission in a timely manner.
- Facilitate the use of resources and publication guidelines.
Considerations:
- This schedule is flexible and can be adjusted according to participants' needs.
- Interaction and collaborative learning are encouraged during the mentorship sessions.
- It is recommended to allocate time for review and feedback between mentor and mentee.
References
- Biomedical Writing and Publishing Workshop. Tegucigalpa, Honduras; October 21–25, 2024. Sponsored by: Academic Management and Research Department, Hospital Escuela; Antonio Vidal Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases; The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean (TGHN LAC); Sustainable Sciences Institute (SSI), San Francisco, California, United States of America.
- The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean. [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available at: https://lac.tghn.org/
- Good Clinical Practice [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available at: https://globalhealthtrainingcentre.tghn.org/ich-good-clinical-practice/
- DeCS – Health Sciences Descriptors [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available at: https://decs.bvsalud.org/en/
- JANE: Journal/Author Name Estimator [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available at: http://jane.biosemantics.org/
- Elsevier Journal Finder [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available at: http://journalfinder.elsevier.com/
The EQUATOR Network [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 20]. Available at: https://www.equator-network.org/