The majestic mountains of Lesotho!

Only in Canada!

P Among adults, I does prolonged hours of sitting C compared with not sitting O increase the risk of incidence of disease, mortality and hospitalization, controlling for physical activity?

Key Message Prolonged sedentary time is independently associated with deleterious health outcomes after adjusting for physical activity: HR [95% CI]  All-cause mortality: 1.24 [1.09; 1.41]  CVD mortality: 1.18 [1.11; 1.26]  CVD incidence: 1.14 [1.002 ;1.73]  Cancer mortality: 1.17 [1.11; 1.24]  Cancer incidence: 1.13 [1.05; 1.21]  Type 2 DM incidence: 1.91 [1.64; 2.22].

Scientific Writing and Publishing Your Research Lehana Thabane, PhD Professor, McMaster University ISIBALO 5: African Young Statisticians Conference June 13-17, 2016 Pretoria, South Africa 6

Research aims to produce generalizable knowledge—to guide decision-making, policy, further research, and practice

Research is useful only if published (ie. made public); even better if published through a peer-reviewed system

5 Practical Strategies: All worked for my trainees through deliberate planning or trial-and-error

 Every stage of the planning of a study should yield at least one paper

Start with a systematic review of the literature Review = 2 papers  Protocol paper  Results paper

Example 1: Systematic review of male participation in HIV transmission programs

Example 2: WelTel Kenya 1 Trial

Example 3: This can be done for type of study Mixed methods RCTs Observational studies IPD meta-analysis

The WelTel Kenya I trial protocol paper Highly accessed Includes description of  Primary, secondary, subgroup and sensitivity analyses— hypothesis, outcome measure and method of analysis  Adjustment of alpha for multiple analyses  How assumptions will be tested  How results will reported

This is used as an example of best practices by the SPIRIT 2013 Guidelines SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) BMJ 2013;346:e7586

For every analysis Publish the protocol first Then, publish the results paper Volunteer to lead a methods paper

 Plan to take part: each study can offer at least 7 opportunities

 Manuscripts:  Protocol paper of the systematic review  Results paper for the systematic review  Protocol paper for the study  Results paper for the study  Qualitative results paper to supplement quantitative work  Presentations at a professional meeting  Local presentation in Department/Faculty  National meeting  International meeting Use the rule of 4-3

Dr Lawrence Mbuagbaw CIHR HIV Clinical Trials Network International Fellowship: Training and mentorship in HIV trials CAMPS (Cameroon Mobile Phone SMS) Trial had excellent output

That’s 14 manuscripts so far and still counting…

For every study, look for opportunities to use the data to write more papers for publication

Example: Take the lead on sensitivity analysis paper Different methods of analysis Handling missing data Methods for handling correlation at different levels: centre, community, state/province, country Methods for handling centre in analysis of multi-centre trials

 Every research process/experience is worth sharing

Papers based on my mentor- mentee relationships

Papers based on courses I developed

Papers based on efforts to build capacity

Papers based on challenges in studies

Writing about lessons gained in research can have major impact and contributions

Key Paper based on my experience on REBs and panels reviewing pilot RCTs

Key Paper based on my experience as journal editor and member of RCT panels

Make achieving research productivity part of your annual goals

Our training systems don’t teach us anything about “success” What it is What it isn’t How to achieve it

Set goals early and devise strategies to achieve them

Clear goals provide the basis for defining “success”

Dave’s determinants of success Mentoring—get a mentor Regular use of priority checklist Good time management skills

Take courses on Time management Stress management How to manage meetings effectively People management—conflict resolution; how to work with difficult people Effective scientific writing etc

Scientific writing

Some important tips on how to get started, and be successful at your writing efforts

Tip #1: Protect time each week for writing

Watch out for time robbers  “ Birds of a feather flock together” –Don’t hang around with people who waste time  Procrastination –"Procrastination is the thief of time" -- Edward Young, Night Thoughts, 1742 –Establish your own deadlines and stick to them

and Phone disruptions There is a time for everything— use time wisely to check and respond to s Sometimes it is best to use a phone

Tip #2: Find a place conducive for productive writing

Tip #3: Write it down: Always start with a)An abstract or synopsis b)An outline

Tip #4:  Use conferences to present only the works that you plan to publish  Use conference presentation or poster as a starting point

Tip #5: Produce a complete draft before editing or revising

Thank You!