Source: https://github.com/aipoch/medical-research-skills

Meta Protocol Writer

This skill helps users generate a standard protocol for PROSPERO registration (without the registration number) for a Meta-analysis or Systematic Review.

When to Use

• Use this skill when you need generates a prospero-compliant meta-analysis protocol based on title and picos. use when the user wants to write a protocol for a systematic review or meta-analysis in a reproducible workflow.
• Use this skill when a protocol design task needs a packaged method instead of ad-hoc freeform output.
• Use this skill when the user expects a concrete deliverable, validation step, or file-based result.
• Use this skill when scripts/utils.py is the most direct path to complete the request.
• Use this skill when you need the meta-protocol-writer package behavior rather than a generic answer.

Key Features

• Scope-focused workflow aligned to: Generates a PROSPERO-compliant Meta-analysis protocol based on Title and PICOS. Use when the user wants to write a protocol for a systematic review or meta-analysis.
• Packaged executable path(s): scripts/utils.py.
• Reference material available in references/ for task-specific guidance.
• Structured execution path designed to keep outputs consistent and reviewable.

Dependencies

• Python: 3.10+. Repository baseline for current packaged skills.
• Third-party packages: not explicitly version-pinned in this skill package. Add pinned versions if this skill needs stricter environment control.

Example Usage

cd "20260316/scientific-skills/Protocol Design/meta-protocol-writer"
python -m py_compile scripts/utils.py
python scripts/utils.py --help

Example run plan:

1. Confirm the user input, output path, and any required config values.
2. Edit the in-file CONFIG block or documented parameters if the script uses fixed settings.
3. Run python scripts/utils.py with the validated inputs.
4. Review the generated output and return the final artifact with any assumptions called out.

Implementation Details

See ## Workflow above for related details.

• Execution model: validate the request, choose the packaged workflow, and produce a bounded deliverable.
• Input controls: confirm the source files, scope limits, output format, and acceptance criteria before running any script.
• Primary implementation surface: scripts/utils.py.
• Reference guidance: references/ contains supporting rules, prompts, or checklists.
• Parameters to clarify first: input path, output path, scope filters, thresholds, and any domain-specific constraints.
• Output discipline: keep results reproducible, identify assumptions explicitly, and avoid undocumented side effects.

Workflow

Follow these steps to generate the protocol.

1. Validate Title

Check if the user provided a title.

• If Title is missing: Ask the user to provide a title or suggest one based on PICOS if provided.
• If Title is present: Validate it using the Title Review Rules (see below).

Title Review Rules:

• Must contain "Meta-analysis" or "Systematic review".
• Must cover PICOS elements (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome).
• Must be concise (< 25 words).

If the title fails validation, explain why and ask for a revised title.

2. Gather Inputs

Ensure you have the following information (PICOS):

• Participants (P)
• Interventions (I)
• Comparisons (C)
• Outcomes (O)

If any are missing, ask the user.

3. Generate Protocol Sections

Use the prompts in references/prompts.md to generate the three main sections. You must follow the content requirements and word counts strictly.

Step 3.1: Administrative Information

• Use the Administrative Information Prompt in references/prompts.md.
• Inputs: Validated Title, Author information (if known, else use placeholders).

Step 3.2: Introduction

• Use the Introduction Prompt in references/prompts.md.
• Inputs: PICOS.
• Constraints: Rationale (5-150 words), Objectives (10-200 words).

Step 3.3: Methods

• Use the Methods Prompt in references/prompts.md.
• Inputs: PICOS.
• Critical: For the Search Strategy, use the Current Date as the end date.
  • You can run python scripts/utils.py to get the exact current date if needed, or just use today's date known to you.
  • Start date must be "inception". Do NOT set a specific start year (e.g., 2000) unless requested.

4. Final Output

Combine the sections into a single Markdown document.

Structure:

1. Administrative Information
2. Introduction
3. Methods

Ensure all headings match the PROSPERO requirements.

Error Handling

• If required inputs are missing, state exactly which fields are missing and request only the minimum additional information.
• If the task goes outside the documented scope, stop instead of guessing or silently widening the assignment.
• If execution fails, report the failure point, summarize what can still be completed safely, and provide a manual fallback.
• Do not fabricate files, citations, data, search results, or execution outcomes.

Input Validation

This skill accepts requests that match the documented purpose of meta-protocol-writer and include enough context to complete the workflow safely.

Do not continue the workflow when the request is out of scope, missing a critical input, or would require unsupported assumptions. Instead respond:

meta-protocol-writer only handles its documented workflow. Please provide the missing required inputs or switch to a more suitable skill.