Parallel Researching with Online Collaboration (PROC), a new cost effective model for multicentre multinational research

By

Rodrigo, Chaturaka
Rajapakse, Senaka

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2012-8-6

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

2

Pages

1--4

Subjects

Clinical trials , Cost effectiveness , online collaboration , research methodology

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7750/BioDiscovery.2012.2.3

 

Abstract

The traditional model of multicentre multinational studies is a costly exercise that limits its feasibility for resource limited settings. We propose an alternate model for such studies named Parallel Researching with Online Collaboration (PROC). If implemented, this hypothetical model will make multicentre trials feasible in many resource limited settings. PROC can be summarized in five phases; phase I – academics using free access social networking sites to collaborate and develop research questions, phase II – further consolidation of an idea and expansion of it with online contributions from experts, identification of key persons to carry out the study in parallel at different centres, phase III – drawing up a common research protocol and study tools, phase IV – each satellite centre functioning independently to carry out the common protocol, Phase V – pooling of data in a common summarized format and writing up the findings.