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Report Writing from meetings and presentations
- 1. Report Writing forPublic Health Physicians Daprim Ogaji MBBS (UPH), MQI(Helsinki), MBA (South Wales), PhD (Manchester), MNIM, FMCPH, FISQUa Professor of Health Systems & Community Medicine. Leader, Africa Centre of Excellent in Public Health & Toxicological Research, UNIPORT, Rivers State
- 2. Intended Learning Outcomes •At the end of this discourse, the participant would be able to: – Understand some fundamentals in report writing – Identify key components in different reports – Learn to improve clarity, structure and presentation of a report – Understand how to create clear, professional & impactful reports in various context – Apply best practices in writing technical & research reports 2
- 3. The Accountability Era 3 Whatgets measured gets done If you don’t measure results, you can’t tell success from failure If you can’t see success, you can’t reward it If you can’t reward success, you’re probably rewarding failure If you can’t see success, you can’t learn from it If you can’t recognize failure, you can’t correct it. If you can demonstrate results, you can win public support. Re-inventing government, Osborne and Gaebler, 1992
- 4. Importance of ReportWriting 4 Ensures accountability & transparency Effective communication to internal & external stakeholders Documentation of progress and results Informs decision-making for policy & further interventions Promote collaboration Problem solving Facilitate public engagement & knowledge translation Professional development Critical thinking, problem solving, communication skills
- 5. Types of Reportsin Public Health • Academic Research Reports – Thesis/Dissertation • Scientific Reports – Research manuscript, clinical, field trials • Surveillance & Epidemiologicl Reports • Case Investigation reports • Training Report • Project Report • Programme Evaluation Reports 5 Academic Business Scientific
- 6. Types of Reportsin Public Health • Reports can also be categorised based on how they are written. – Formal or informal – Short or long – Single or multiple project report – Internal or external. – Vertical report (shared with people on different levels of the hierarchy) or lateral report (shared with people on the same level but in different departments). 6
- 7. Nexus: Project design+ Implementation + Evaluation & Project Report • Good project report - product of good design + implementation • Report is an essential aspect of project & programme management – Essence of project intervention – solve problem, improve system, assure better performance • Reports should emphasise facts not faults! • The project should involve Setting of clear goals Effective observation Practical documentation and Open, continuous communication 7 PROJECT PLANNING + IMPLEMENTATION + EVALUATION PROJECT REPORT
- 8. Key values inreport writing Fairness Thoroughness Objectivity Independence Systematic approach Evidence-based procedures Support learning and knowledge management 8
- 9. Writing Style • Usesimple direct language • Logical sequence • Avoid jargon; define all technical terms • Use active voice for clarity • Be concise but informative • Provide citations (footnote or reference list) • Use tables and charts effectively • Label figures and tables clearly • Ensure accurancy and consistency in data reporting style • Follow ethical guidelines for data presentation & disclosures during reporting • ToC for lengthy reports 9
- 10. Structure of aScientific Report • IMRAD format – Introduction – Methods – Results – Discussion • A standard for original articles set in 1972 by the American National Standards Institute and the most used format today.
- 11. If you arehaving difficulty writing, consider Manuscript section • Introduction = • Methodology = • Results = • Discussion = • Conclusion = What I read What I did What I found What I reckon Summary of all
- 12. Research Reporting Guidelines •Statements/guidelines/checklists for reporting academic manuscripts: • CASP (Critical Appraisal Skill Program), • CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials), • PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis), • ENTREQ (Enhancing Transparency in REporting the synthesis of Qualitative research), • COREQ (Consolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research), • CARE (CAse REport guidelines), • SQUIRE (Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence), • STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology), • SPIRIT Standard Protocol Items for Interventional Trials, • CHEERS Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards; • STARD (Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies), • MOOSE (Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology), • AGREE (Appraisal of Guidelines Research & Evaluation), • GUIDED (a guideline for reporting intervention development studies). 12
- 13. Structure of aProject Report • Title Page – Clear & concise title, authors, institution, date • Executive Summary – key information of background, methods, findings and implications in brief • Introduction – Background, rationale, objectives • Project Scope – boundaries, goals • Methodology – Study design, data collection, analysis • Implementation details: Description of activities, challenges • Findings – Achievements, progress, data representation • Discussion & Lessons Learned–Evaluation of project success, limitations, improvements, lessons learnt • Conclusion & recommendations – Key takeaway, future actions • References & Appendices: Supporting documents, data 13 Structure to suit specific purpose, audiences and writing styles
- 14. Research Versus ProjectReports Criteria Research Report Project Report Purpose Present findings from original or review research Report progress, challenges or outcomes of a project Philosophy Inductive, deductive Realist, pragmatism Focus Investigates a hypothesis or a research question Describes implementation & execution of a project Structure Includes literature review, methodology, results, discussion Includes objectives, timeline, methodology, outcomes Audience Academic, scientific and policy makers Stakeholders, funding agencies, project teams Data Presentation Emphasis on data analysis & interpretation Emphasis on achievements, lessons learnt and impacts Example Thesis, clinical trials, field trial Training report, PH intervantion reports, programme implementation reports 14
- 15. Sample Training Report Theannual workshop on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis held from the 24th to 28th of June 2024. It was conducted to upskill postgraduate students and faculties on the practice of evidence-based health care 15 ❑ Title Page ❑ Executive Summary ❑ Introduction – ❑ Background on training institution ❑ Course description ❑ Aim & Objectives ❑ Intended learning outcomes ❑ Intended participants ❑ Training summary ❑ Training Methodology ❑ Workshop execution ❑ Training Schedule ❑ Training proceedings ❑ Pre-post test of participants’ competencies ❑ Analysis of feedback from participants ❑ Challenges ❑ Lessons learnt ❑ Pictorial gallery ❑ Conclusion ❑ Appendix ❑ Profile of course facilitators ❑ Attendance list & signed attendance ❑ Participant evaluation sheet
- 16. Pre- & postcompetency scores 16 COMPETENCE ON ASPECTS OF EVIDENCE- BASED HEALTHCARE AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEW MEAN COMPETENCY SCORE MEAN DIFF T-TEST DF = 259 P-VALUE Pretest Post-test Knowledge of the common types of reviews in healthcare 2.01 2.99 0.98 7.14 0.000 Setting up or joining a Systematic Review Team 1.63 2.85 1.22 8.47 0.000 Structuring systematic review title 1.68 3.01 1.33 10.03 0.000 Formulating systematic review questions 1.63 2.97 1.34 10.28 0.000 Defining inclusion and exclusion search criteria 1.88 3.21 1.33 9.31 0.000 Conducting literature searches for Systematic Review 1.95 3.02 1.07 7.70 0.000 Managing search results with reference managers 1.82 2.86 1.04 7.66 0.000 Eligibility Assessment of Studies for a Systematic Review 1.67 2.90 1.23 9.55 0.000 Selecting studies that should be included in a systematic review 1.70 2.87 1.17 8.88 0.000 Extracting data from studies included for the systematic review 1.75 2.89 1.14 8.71 0.000
- 17. Evaluation of TrainingProcess & Facilitation 17 Evaluation focus Response – freq (%) Poor Good Excelle nt Appropriateness or usefulness of the training (n=104) 0 (0.0) 16 (15.4) 88 (84.6) Workshop support (n = 102) 2 (2.0) 44 (43.1) 56 (54.9) Registration (n = 102) 2 (2.0) 44 (44.4) 53 (53.5) Virtual/Physical Learning Environment (n = 99) 2 (2.0) 44 (42.3) 53 (53.5) Facilitator Evaluation focus Response – freq (%) Poor Good Excellent XXXXX Knowledge on the subject matter 1 (1.0) 11 (10.8) 90 (88.2) Teaching skills 0 (0.0) 16 (15.8) 85 (84.2) Engagement with participants 0 (0.0) 15 (14.7) 87 (85.3) XXXX Knowledge on the subject matter 0 (0.0) 7 (6.7) 97 (93.3) Teaching skills 0 (0.0) 13 (12.5) 91 (87.5) Engagement with participants 0 (0.0) 18 (17.3) 86 (82.7)
- 18. Sample Project EvaluationReport The MDGs-Conditional Grants Scheme Interventions were implemented across all LGAs in Nigeria including the FCT. An independent monitoring team were engaged to periodically monitor and report progress 18 ❑ Title Page ❑ Executive Summary ❑ Introduction – ❑ Background on MDG-CGS ❑ Independent monitoring ❑ Aim & Objectives of M&E ❑ Methodology for the M&E ❑ Findings from the M&E Exercise ❑ M&E Schedule & Participants ❑ Project characteristics ❑ Phases of project ❑ Receipt of “No Objection”, Contract award, Implementation ❑ Presentation of summary performance of all project ❑ Performance on each project ❑ Narrative report on project performance ❑ Constraints & Solutions ❑ Lessons learnt ❑ Pictorial gallery showing state of each project ❑ Conclusion
- 19. Project Performance 19 AREA Visitdate Date of contract Award Project Duration Av. Contract Duration % Compl % branded % in use Abakaliki 12.02.17 25.05.16 3 months 8 months 93.6 95.5 95.5 Afikpo South 13.02.17 25.05.16 3 months 8 months 100.0 100.0 100.0 Ezza South 14.02.17 25.05.16 3 months 8 months 100.0 100.0 100.0 Ikwo 15.05.17 25.05.16 3 months 8 months 95.4 96.4 100.0 Ishielu 16.02.17 25.05.16 3 months 8 months 100.0 100.0 100.0 Izzi 18.02.17 25.05.16 3 months 8 months 100.0 100.0 100.0 State 98.2 98.7 99.4
- 20. Conclusion • Report writingis an important skills for public health professionals • Report is an important consideration in Professional, business & research project • Nuance exits in the various forms of reports • Reports should be objective, fair, thorough • Emphasis should be placed on lessons learnt and knowledge management 20
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