Antecedentes de los Cursos MECOR

The ATS MECOR Program is an intensive one week course for physicians and related health care professionals designed to strengthen capacity and leadership in epidemiological, clinical and operations research related to respiratory conditions, critical care and sleep medicine in middle and low income countries. 

The ATS MECOR Program offers four component courses:

• Level 1:  Introduction to Clinical Research Methods
• Level 2:  Advanced Clinical Research Methods
• Level 3:  Advanced Clinical Research Methods: Protocol Development
• Level 4:  Advanced Clinical Research Methods: Data Analysis & Scientific Writing

MECOR Latin America

Mexico City, Mexico  1994
Cuernavaca, Mexico  1995
Santiago, Chile  1996
San Paulo, Brazil  1997
Buenos Aires, Argentina  1998
Cuzco, Peru 1999
Quinamavida, Chile 2000
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2002
Buenos Aires, Argentina 2003
Punte del Este, Uruguay  2004
Quito, Ecuador 2005
Alphaville, Brazil 2006

In collaboration with Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax 
Quinamavida, Chile  2007
Neuquén, Argentina  2008
Botucatu, Brazil  2009
Bogota, Colombia 2010
Guayaquil, Ecuador 2011
Pelotas, Brasil 2012
Montevideo, Uruguay 2013
Bogotá, Colombia 2014
Puebla, Mexico 2015
Buenos AIres, Argentina, 2016
Bogotá, Colombia 2018

Introduction
The ATS MECOR Program in Latin America began in 1994. The program was designed to help clinicians develop better skills in research methodology. The ATS MECOR Program is conducted as a series of one week intensive courses or “levels”. In 2007 the Asociacion Latinamericana del Thorax joined the American Thoracic Society to provide the MECOR program in Latin America. Over 800 physicians have completed one or more levels in the ATS MECOR Program since 1994.
The MECOR Program model is based upon the concept that all clinicians can benefit from basic training in clinical research methods, regardless of their ultimate career choices. The first two levels are recommended for all clinicians. The more advanced courses are intended for physicians who are interested in doing research, and for physicians who are in an academic setting. The courses have had lasting impact as course graduates have gained specialized knowledge not readily available locally, have translated their knowledge into local research studies which has resulted in presentations at major international meetings and publications in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. In addition course graduates have gained valuable colleagues and friends within the larger scientific community as they participate in the ongoing mentoring program within the MECOR program.
The ultimate goal of the MECOR Program is to improve global lung health through the development of local and regional research capacity. This, in turn, will provide the capacity for collaboration in clinical and epidemiologic projects and a cadre of trained physicians and scientists. With this in mind, the content of the MECOR Program has been carefully chosen to emphasize local and regional problems that are of public health importance.

Level 1: Introduction to Clinical Research 
This level is appropriate for clinicians and academicians who are engaged in the clinical practice of respiratory and sleep medicine, public health, allergy and critical care and wish to improve their skills in clinical research and investigation. No prior experience with research is needed. The textbooks used are Epidemiology by Leon Gordis (2nd Edition, Saunders) and Research Methods for Promotion of Lung Health, published by the Union (previously the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease).

Level 2: Advanced Clinical Research Methods 
This level is a continuation of the Level 1 Course and focuses on clinical epidemiology and advanced clinical research methods. Level 2 is recommended for anyone interested in advancing their skills in clinical research. It is also appropriate for individuals who wish to improve their skills in reading the literature and research design. A prerequisite is MECOR Level 1 or equivalent in experience in basic research methods. The textbook used isDesigning Clinical Research by Stephen Hulley (3rd Edition, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins).

Level 3: Advanced Clinical Research Methods
This level is designed for the individual who would like to do clinical research and/or pursue an academic career and who is in the process of considering or planning a particular research study and would like to work on this with faculty consultation. A prerequisite is the MECOR Level 2 or equivalent experience. The majority of course time is devoted to individual work with faculty consultation and a beginning, mid-course, and final presentation of a study protocol to faculty and students for discussion and suggestions. Lecture time is minimal and reserved for topics (e.g., sample size/power estimation, data analysis planning) relevant to specific studies on which students are working.

Level 4: Applied Clinical Research Methods
Is designed for individuals for who have collected research data and are ready to analyze their data and/or write up their results for publication. Students are expected to work largely independently, though faculty can assist with analysis & interpretation of data and with manuscript preparation. Students whose focus is on improving their skills in analyzing data are expected to bring their own data with them to the course and to their own statistical software on their laptops; they should also be familiar with using this software.