THESES-M: protocol for the development of a reporting guideline for medical theses.

Abstract

Medical theses represent one of the most widely produced yet least standardized forms of health sciences research. Their structure and reporting vary substantially across institutions, programs, and regions, and no formal reporting criteria exist to guide their preparation. This variability affects the consistency and evaluation of medical theses and may influence subsequent research reporting practices. This study describes the protocol for the development of THESES-M (Transparent and Holistic Evaluation Standards for Educational Studies in Medicine), a reporting guideline for medical theses. THESES-M will be developed in accordance with the guidance proposed by Moher et al. and the recommendations of the EQUATOR Network. The study will include a literature review to identify structural components of medical theses, generation of a preliminary list of reporting items, and three Delphi rounds with an expert panel using a 1-10 Likert scale. Consensus thresholds are predefined (≥80% rating ≥7 for inclusion; ≥ 80% rating ≤4 for exclusion). Agreement and stability will be assessed using median scores, interquartile ranges, and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. Items without consensus will be discussed in an in-person consensus meeting. The study outputs will include a consensus-based checklist and an explanation and elaboration document. Both will undergo pilot testing with medical students to assess clarity, feasibility, and usability. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committees of the Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (FM/DI/068/2025). Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and submission of the final guideline to the EQUATOR Network. THESES-M is registered with the EQUATOR Network as a reporting guideline under development.