Al-Azhar University

Faculty of Dental Medicine, Cairo, Boys

Committee of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR)
2017 / 2018

Format for the Research Protocol Writing

The research protocol is generally written according to the following format:

• English cover page includes the research title, candidate name, department
and supervisors.
• Introduction.
• Aim of the study.
• Methodology.
• Consent form if needed.
• References.
• Arabic cover page and supervisors in Arabic.

General guidelines:
1. Please read well "How to submit a research protocol" and "Format for
the research protocol" available in your department before start writing
your protocol.
2. The thesis supervisory committee and head of department are the only
sides that carry the commitment of directing this format perfectly.
3. Protocol writing should be of font size 14, Times New Roman font
face and 1.5 line space on A4 page size.
4. The numerical dates in Arabic cover page should be in Arabic
numerals.
5. The introduction, aim and methodology should not exceed 6 pages.
6. Submit your protocol signed by supervisory committee to the Vice
Dean for Graduate studies on the 3rd Thursday of the month for 10 days.
Protocols submitted beyond that date will be postponed to the next
month. This format will be valid in Dec 1st 2017.

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 Title: The title should explain the project. It should be descriptive and concise

Protocol submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master or Doctor

Degree in ...speciality...
By
.....Candidate name....
BDS, ..year.. G, Faculty of .........., .............. University
MDSc, ..year.. G in ...speciality..,
Faculty of .................., ................... University
...position.., ....working place......

Supervisors

Dr. ..........primary supervisor name............ Dr.........secondary supervisor name.....................

Professor, Department of ...speciality.... Lecturer, Department of ...speciality....

Faculty of Dental Medicine, Boys, Cairo Faculty of Dental Medicine, Boys, Cairo

Al-Azhar University Al-Azhar University

Department of ......speciality....
Faculty of Dental Medicine, Boys, Cairo
Al-Azhar University
143 H- 201 G

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 Introduction

1. Why the research needs to be done?

2. What will be its relevance?

▪ It should include a well documented statement of the problem that is

the basis of the project, the cause of this problem and its possible
solutions.
▪ A brief description of the most relevant studies published on the
subject should be provided to support the rationale for the study.

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 Aim of the study

1. State the purpose of the study in a single sentence.

2. Objectives should be simple (not complex), specific (not vague), and stated
in advance (not after the research is done).
3. After statement of the primary objective, secondary objectives may be
mentioned.

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 Materials and methods

Study design:

The methodology section of the protocol starts with the description of the
study design; it may be described as observational or interventional; if
observational, it may be either descriptive or analytic; if analytic it could either be
cross-sectional or longitudinal etc. If experimental, it may be described as a
controlled or a non controlled study.

Study setting and population:

This includes information regarding site of the study, e.g. dental school,
hospital or community based, single or multiple site study. The target population of
the study should be well defined.

Eligibility criteria of population:

This describes the inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, and criteria for
discontinuation.

Sample size:

This explains how the sample size will be calculated, the power of the
sample and how subjects will be recruited. The basis on which sample size is
calculated should be explained here.

Interventions:

The methods section should be organized under meaningful subheadings and

describe techniques used in sufficient detail. Established methods should be
referenced but no description is necessary. For published but not well known

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methods, a reference as well as a brief description should be given. New or
substantially modified methods should be clearly described, with reasons given for
using them and with their limitations outlined.

Observations:

Information should be provided on the observations to be made, how they

will be made, and how frequently will they be made. If the observation is made by
a questionnaire, this should be appended to the protocol. Laboratory or other
diagnostic and investigative procedures should be described. For established
procedures, reference to appropriate published work is enough. For new or
modified procedures, an adequate description is needed, with a justification for
their use.

Ethical consideration:

If human subjects are involved in the study, it should be stated that the
research protocol is approved by the ethical committee, Faculty of Dental
Medicine, Al-Azhar University and that the enrolled patients should sign a written
consent form.

For animal studies approval is required from the animal welfare committee
of the institute or its equivalent. If no such committee exists, a statement signed by
the principal investigator(s) should indicate that the research will be carried out in
accordance with the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research
involving Animals.

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Data management and analysis:

This should provide information on how the data will be managed, including

data coding for computer analysis, monitoring and verification. Information should
also be provided on the available computer facility. The statistical methods used
for the analysis of data should be clearly outlined. It is good to document the
software program with version to be used.

References: The protocol should end with a list of relevant references on the
subject.
• The references should be cited in the Vancouver style.
• The journal titles should be abbreviated, as is the practice in most but
not all journals.
• List of journals abbreviation can be accessed through (http:
//www.nlm.nih.gov).
• List the names and initials of the authors, as it appear in the original
article, up to six authors.
• If more than six authors, list the first six authors followed by et al.
• Book as a reference: authors' names. title of the book . ed .. , place
of publication : publisher ; year of publication.
• Chapter in a book as a reference: authors of the chapter. Chapter title.
In: authors of the book. Title of the book. . ed .. , place of
publication : publisher ; year of publication. p 11-44.

Examples:

Up to six authors:
Zakhary I, El-Mekkawi H, Elsalanty M. Alveolar ridge augmentation for implant
fixation: status review. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2012;
114: S179-S89.

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 More than six authors:
Wang S, Zhang Z, Zhao J, Zhang X, Sun X, Xia L et al.Vertical alveolar ridge
augmentation with β-tricalcium phosphate and autologous osteoblasts in canine
mandible. Biomaterials 2009; 30:2489-98.

Book as a reference:
Ringsven MK, Bond D. Gerontology and leadership skills for nurses. 2nd ed.
Albany (NY): Delmar Publishers; 1996.
Chapter in a book as a reference:
Phillips SJ, Whisnant JP. An introduction to gerontology. In: Ringsven MK, Bond
D, editors. Gerontology and leadership skills for nurses. 2nd ed. Albany (NY):
Delmar Publishers; 1996. p. 465–78.

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 ‫العنوان ‪ :‬يجب أن يكون معبرا عن مشروع البحث وأن يكون وصفيا موجزا‬

‫خطة بحث مقدمة كجزء من مقومات الحصول على درجة الماجستير‪ /‬او‪ /‬الدكتوراه في مادة التخصص‬

‫مقدم من الطبيب‬
‫‪.....‬اسم الطالب‪......‬‬
‫بكالوريوس‪... , ...................‬سنة التخرج‪ , ...‬كلية‪ , ..............‬جامعة ‪..........‬‬
‫ماجستير ‪......‬التخصص‪... ,.........‬سنة التخرج‪ , .....‬كلية‪ , ..............‬جامعة ‪..........‬‬
‫‪...‬العمل‪.... , ...‬محل العمل‪....‬‬

‫المشرفون‬

‫د‪........................... /‬‬ ‫د‪......................../‬‬

‫مدرس‪,‬قسم‪............‬‬ ‫استاذ‪,‬قسم ‪.........‬‬

‫كلية طب االسنان ‪ ,‬بنين‪ ,‬القاهرة‬ ‫كلية طب االسنان ‪ ,‬بنين ‪ ,‬القاهرة‬

‫جامعة االزهر‬ ‫جامعة االزهر‬

‫قسم ‪.....‬التخصص‪......‬‬
‫كلية طب األسنان ‪ ,‬بنين ‪ ,‬القاهرة‬
‫جامعة األزهر‬

‫‪ 201‬م ‪143 -‬ﻫ‬

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