With support form EMPHNET, the Jordan Field Epidemiology Training Program and the Ministry of Health conducted a one month and on-site workshop. The workshop targeted first-year Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) residents to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed for effective scientific writing. It covered various core aspects of the research processes, including developing and formulating research questions, writing introductions, study objectives, methods, discussion, references, and identifying and submitting to the target journal.

The workshop was designed to provide participants with practical skills and, therefore, it utilized data from Jordan's 2019 National Stepwise Survey (STEPs) of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors to address the workshop topics and objectives. By using Jordan's STEPs data, the participants gained an understanding of the current health problems in Jordan and learned through the process of producing evidence-based findings that are interpretable and linkable to local health policies. Participants were also taught about each topic according to the logical structure of writing a scientific paper. They were given the opportunity to apply what they learned and received feedback from the research team to simulate the peer review process. The workshop culminated in a research paper related to NCDs that was conducted and written by the FETP residents and reviewed by the research team.

The workshop included presentations, lectures, group exercises and opportunities for questions and answers. Given that scientific writing forms an integral part of the FETP residents’ training and publication forms a central part of their future careers, this workshop has proven to be a fruitful addition to the Jordan FETP.

This workshop is part of EMPHNET’s support to FETPs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region as the region’s FETP network. EMPHNET works to build the programs’ capacities with a focus on enhancing residents’ skills in scientific writing, including the generation of case studies, scientific papers, scientific reports, abstracts, and manuscripts which EMPHNET also supports in disseminating to contribute knowledge sharing.