The People's Review Protocol chosen as Article of the Month

We were very pleased to hear that the editors, Richard Stephens and Sophie Staniszewska, chose this protocol as the Article of the Month. This article was not an easy paper to prepare. There was no blueprint to follow. It was months in the making, with many hours spent brainstorming, reflecting, collaborating, discussing, and deliberating before we could even begin to start writing! It was all worth it in the end.

This article outlines how we plan to involve the public in The People's Review – an online citizen science project. It is a unique way for people to get involved in health research from the comfort of their own home.

Richard and Sophie said: "We published 14 papers in March, almost one every 48 hours, and we had five of them on our shortlist for Article of Month. In the end we chose this paper for three reasons. Firstly is a Protocol about Involvement in a wider research project, and we do not receive many Protocols at all. Secondly the wider research project is to involve the public in a systematic review online, which will not only promote the concept of involvement but offers the opportunity for members of the public to learn about the foundations of good research - what do we already know and how do we find out? Thirdly it proposes a methodology of learning by doing, in keeping with a Citizen Science approach, which for some of us may prove more useful than the training for involvement that is provided via webinars or workshops. So there is much to enjoy - enjoy!"

A huge thank you to everyone involved in the process of publishing this article – the authors, the editors, and the peer-reviewers. We are chuffed with the recognition from the journal, and grateful for the encouragement at the early stages of The People's Review.

Read the full article here.