title: Twelve tips for conducting a postgraduate course on study design and study protocol writing for the medical profession.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is desirable to use a methodological approach of the highest scientific quality when planning and conducting valid research. However, several studies have shown that the biostatistical and epidemiological knowledge of academically active health care professionals is far below the desired level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To outline an approach to conducting a postgraduate course in clinical study design and study protocol writing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We offer 12 tips based on critical reflection of our experience of conducting and continuously improving a course in study design repeatedly over several years, combined with evidence from the literature on pedagogical approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tips are organized in chronological order so that a course director will be able to develop a similar course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining the results of our critical reflection with evidence from the literature has allowed us to develop a successful approach to running courses in study design and study protocol writing. We hope that our extensive experience in conducting this course, as reflected by the 12 tips, will support and inspire others planning similar courses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. rickard.ljung@ki.se
authors.forename: Rickard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ljung
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nordenstedt
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lagergren
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lagergren
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D014956:Writing