Background

The 2023 NHARCON Abstract Mentor Programme (AMP) is designed and rolled out with the objective of helping young or less experienced researchers improve their abstracts before submitting them to the Conference. The key rationale is to increase the chance of these abstracts being accepted for presentation at NHARCON.

This Abstract Mentor Programme is targeting researchers from Ghana and other resource-limited countries who lack access to opportunities for rigorous mentoring in research and scientific writing and for whom online distance education has been proven to cost-effectively build research capacity.  There is evidence that such programmes increase the motivation of early-career researchers from developing countries.

NHARCON 2023 has a pool of experienced mentors who are experts in their field of study and are willing and available to assist young writers to submit abstracts to each of the NHARCON 2023 tracks.

PART ONE

General Rules

The draft abstract submitted to the mentor must follow the 2023 NHARCON abstract submission guidelines.

• Each person can submit up to 2 abstracts to the programme for mentoring:

• One abstract may be submitted for review and re-submitted after revision based on mentor feedback
• OR

• Two separate abstracts may each be submitted once for mentor feedback
• Submitted abstracts that do not follow the 2023 NHARCON abstract submission guidelines or do not have a satisfactory level of English, will be directly returned to the submitter without review.
• Mentors will help abstract submitters answer questions around formal requirements for abstracts, research methods and analysis, as well as how to select appropriate tracks and categories.
• Mentors will not make any edits/changes in submitted abstracts.
• Mentors cannot indicate if s/he thinks the abstract is likely to be selected or not.
• Questions submitted must be of a practical nature e.g. “Is my introduction extensive enough?”; “Have I thoroughly described the methodology?”; “Is my conclusion clear?”
• A question unrelated to the AMP, such as general inquiries regarding the HIV & AIDS epidemic or questions about other conference-related programmes such as scholarships will not be answered.

PART TWO

Abstract Mentor Programme – Practical Steps

STEP 1: Complete the mandatory scientific writing: conference abstracts e-course

• STEP 2: At the end of the mandatory course, you will be asked to participate in a short survey. After the survey is completed, you will be given a code number. Please make a note of this code – you will need it to register for the Abstract Mentor Programme. 
• STEP 3: Prepare a draft abstract for submission in accordance with the 2023 NHARCON abstracts submission guidelines. 
• STEP 4: If possible, ask a supervisor or colleague to review your draft abstract and give you feedback. 
• STEP 5: If available, use spelling and grammar check (e.g. Office Word Spelling and Grammar function).
• STEP 6: Log in to the NHARCON 2023 website, and use the code received at the completion of the e-course to submit your draft abstract for mentoring.

PART THREE

2023 NHARCON ABSTRACT MENTOR PROGRAMME

Guidelines for assessing abstracts/Mentor Feedback Guidelines

Track and Title

1. Is the track chosen appropriate? (If applicable)
Refer to the Track Descriptors
2. Does the title reflect the content of the abstract?

Structure

1. Does the abstract follow scientific and formal criteria?
2. Do the ideas cohere together?
3. Does each section provide relevant information?

Language/Grammar

1. Is terminology used correctly?
2. Is the language concise and clear?
3. Is the abstract well-written and easy to follow?

SCIENTIFIC DESIGN

Background

1. Are the objectives clear and well-presented?
2. Is the research design appropriate for the aim of the study?

Methods/Descriptions

1. Is the methodology appropriate for the study?
2. Is it easy to understand what methods the authors have used and why?
3. Is the data analysis and interpretation appropriate?

Results/Lessons learned

1. Are the findings explained clearly and relate to the objective and methods?
2. Are the results accurately reported and the most important ones included?
3. If tables and figures are included, are they sufficiently clear and useful?

Conclusions/Next steps

1. Are the conclusions clearly laid out and based on the findings?
2. Is the study innovative? Does it provide new insights?
3. Are the results analysed in a broader context?
4. Are the future implications of this study discussed?

MENTORS do not need to indicate whether they think an abstract is likely to be selected for the conference.

Acknowledgments and declarations

This Concept draws heavily from previous AMPs e.g. those organized by the IAS.

Abstracts can be submitted via the AMP portal at www.nharcon2023.com

AMP abstract submission:

Opening: 30^th August 2022

Closing:  15^th  February, 2023