[Project selection and protocol design in the Study Centre of the German Surgical Society].
BACKGROUND
The Study Centre of the German Surgical Society (SDGC) designs, conducts, and analyses multicentre randomised controlled surgical trials. The aim of this paper is to present the decision-making process and responsibilities of the SDGC from submission of a study idea to full protocol development in order to achieve transparency in trial selection.


METHODS
The process is divided into four steps. Study ideas can be submitted electronically by members of the German Surgical Society using a form via the homepage of the institution. Firstly, ideas are screened by staff members within 4 weeks for methodological and clinical relevance. Feasible and novel ideas are then converted to trial outlines in cooperation with the submitting surgeon. As a third step, the Steering Committee of the SDGC decides whether to accept the project using a list of defined criteria. Finally, the SDGC draws up a full protocol together with the submitting surgeon. All ideas and decisions are accessible via the SDGC homepage.


CONCLUSIONS
The process described should help in the selection of relevant projects, acquisition of grants, and maintenance of transparency in trial selection and the protocol development process.
Studienzentrum der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie, Abteilung für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Unfallchirurgie und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg.
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D003657:Decision Making; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D013502:General Surgery; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical