Peer Review History

Original SubmissionFebruary 28, 2021
Decision Letter - Alfio Spina, Editor

PONE-D-21-06700

Using an integrated knowledge translation approach to inform a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial on peer support for individuals with traumatic brain injury: a qualitative descriptive study

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Lau,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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Alfio Spina, M.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments (if provided):

Reviewer #1: The aim of this article is two explore key informants’perspectives (iKT) of barriers and facilitators of participating in peer support interventions and of its effectiveness, among people with TBI. Finally, the authors try to demonstrate how iKT can be useful in the development of a RCT.

The article is well-written in a correct English.

TBI affects millions of people each year worldwide. In addition to the physical and cognitive deficits, TBI can lead to depression, anxiety and reduced quality of life. A promising and cost-effective interventions is peer support.

The topic of the article is interesting and not extensively development yet in neurosurgery. However, the article is, currently, too long and not completely focused on the aim of the study. The article is interesting but it is too long, this means that it is difficult to keep the attention throughout the reading. I think that the paper should be shorter and more tailored on the aim of the study.

Reviewer #2: Integrating peer support into rehabilitation of severe TBI‘S patients is an interesting topic. However, multicenter studies are needed to validate utility in different countries.

Furthermore this study shows the useful integration of iKT in the construction of the RCT protocol.

the work is well written and I thank the authors for their submission.

Academic Editor: Please revise the article according the Reviewers' comments. Reduce the lenght of the manuscript to improve its readability.

[Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.]

Reviewers' comments:

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Revision 1

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your email. I am pleased to hear that you believe that our manuscript will have the potential to be published in PLOS ONE following requested revisions.

As per your request, please find our response to the peer-reviewers’ comments with every change outlined point by point below:

=====================================================================

Editor and Reviewer comments:

Reviewer #1: "The aim of this article is two explore key informants’perspectives (iKT) of barriers and facilitators of participating in peer support interventions and of its effectiveness, among people with TBI. Finally, the authors try to demonstrate how iKT can be useful in the development of a RCT.

The article is well-written in a correct English.

TBI affects millions of people each year worldwide. In addition to the physical and cognitive deficits, TBI can lead to depression, anxiety and reduced quality of life. A promising and cost-effective interventions is peer support.

The topic of the article is interesting and not extensively development yet in neurosurgery. However, the article is, currently, too long and not completely focused on the aim of the study. The article is interesting but it is too long, this means that it is difficult to keep the attention throughout the reading. I think that the paper should be shorter and more tailored on the aim of the study."

- We thank the reviewer for taking the time to provide their feedback on our manuscript. We have taken this feedback into consideration when shortening our manuscript to being more focused on the objectives.

Reviewer #2: "Integrating peer support into rehabilitation of severe TBI‘S patients is an interesting topic. However, multicenter studies are needed to validate utility in different countries.

Furthermore this study shows the useful integration of iKT in the construction of the RCT protocol.

the work is well written and I thank the authors for their submission."

- We thank the reviewer for taking the time to provide their feedback on our manuscript.

Academic Editor: "Please revise the article according the Reviewers' comments. Reduce the lenght of the manuscript to improve its readability."

- We thank the editor for taking the time to provide their feedback on our manuscript. We have reduced the length of the manuscript as suggested.

=====================================================================

• Again, we thank the reviewers and editor for providing their feedback on our manuscript and we have taken all their feedback into consideration when revising our manuscript. Additionally, as per the journal requirements, our manuscript meets PLOS ONE’s style requirements, we specified the participant consent process, we elaborated on our methods section, and we reviewed our reference list to ensure both completeness and correctness. However, in regard to the minimal underlying data set, the relevant data are within the manuscript/supporting information files, and we cannot share the full transcripts publicly as the participants did not consent to such. However, researchers can request for access to these transcripts via the University Health Network’s Research Ethics Board.

=====================================================================

Should your editorial office require any further edits following my most recently submitted submission, please do not hesitate to inform me and we will make these changes as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Stephanie KC Lau, BSc, MD Candidate, on behalf of the study authors

SLau065@uottawa.ca

Attachments
Attachment
Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.pdf
Decision Letter - Alfio Spina, Editor

Using an integrated knowledge translation approach to inform a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial on peer support for individuals with traumatic brain injury: a qualitative descriptive study

PONE-D-21-06700R1

Dear Dr. Lau,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Alfio Spina, M.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Formally Accepted
Acceptance Letter - Alfio Spina, Editor

PONE-D-21-06700R1

Using an integrated knowledge translation approach to inform a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial on peer support for individuals with traumatic brain injury: a qualitative descriptive study

Dear Dr. Lau:

I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS ONE. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now with our production department.

If your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information please contact onepress@plos.org.

If we can help with anything else, please email us at plosone@plos.org.

Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access.

Kind regards,

PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff

on behalf of

Dr. Alfio Spina

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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