FAQs
What is the significance of doing a nation-wide multi-centric study?
Nation-wide multi-centre observational studies are studies that involve multiple centres or institutions across a country and collect data from a large and diverse population of participants. These studies have several advantages over isolated institutional studies, which are studies that are conducted in a single centre or institution and have a smaller and more homogeneous sample size.
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They can increase the generalizability and external validity of the findings, as they can represent the variability and heterogeneity of the population in terms of demographics, geography, culture, healthcare systems, and other factors.
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They can increase the statistical power and precision of the estimates, as they can provide a larger sample size and reduce the sampling error and bias.
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This quality and significance of research may warrant publication in some of the most prestigious and influential journals in the scientific community, such as Nature or The Lancet.
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They can facilitate the collaboration and networking among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers from different centres or institutions, and foster the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and resources.
Are there any requirements or limitations to become an investigator?
The study is open to collaboration from any academic who meets the criteria for conducting research on the patients in their respective institutes. This means that they need to have the necessary qualifications, permissions, and ethical approvals to carry out the study.
Can multiple investigators take part in the study from the same center?
The study welcomes the participation of multiple investigators from the same institute, as long as they coordinate with the corresponding state and regional lead investigators to ensure a fair and adequate distribution of the collected data. However, the responsibility of obtaining ethical clearance from the institution lies with the local lead investigator, who also has to ensure that there is no duplication of samples during the data collection process.
What happens if I don't manage to get ethical approval from my center?
You will not be eligible to participate in the study without getting ethical approval from your center.
What if I do not manage to find 25 respondents within the given time-period?
You are allowed to submit the data that you have collected, even if you do not reach the target of 25 respondents within the specified time-frame. However, this would not be sufficient to qualify you as a collaborative author of the study. Therefore, your name will be acknowledged as a contributory author in the publication.