Review for 10.1186/s12876-022-02307-9 (2022)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Multimodal Intervention to Improve the Transition of Patients with
Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Pediatric to Adult Care: Protocol for a
randomized controlled trial
Version: 
1 
Date: 
28 Mar 2022
Reviewer's report:
1. The primary concerns with this submission remain. That is, that despite this
being a study protocol that is inherently going to include a greater level of detail,
the most pertinent aspects of the multimodal intervention are quite difficult to
parse out due to the high level of information/detail included in the description
of the protocol. I would suggest looking through other published study protocols
in BMC Gastroenterology and other peer-reviewed journals as a guide for
summarizing the study protocol in a succinct manner. 
2. A feasibility assessment is not necessary at this point. However, the virtual
nature of study visits is not a sufficient rationale to address feasibility concerns,
given the number of visits (twice yearly for follow-up period, 3-4 meetings in
year around transfer) and the quantity of content that is proposed. While the
virtual approach may address feasibility on the part of the study participants,
feasibility on the part of the health care professionals needs to be addressed as
well, since this will presumably occur above and beyond other clinical
responsibilities.
3. Replicability is poor; opportunities for others to replicate this study protocol
remains a significant concerns, for the reasons noted above. 
4. It is clear that the authors have used STARI reporting guidelines to craft this
manuscript, and the authors are commended for this. However, the paper needs
to be much more succinct in the description of the implementation science. This
would then free up the authors to describe in greater detail, the e-Learning
modules, the behavioral skills curriculum, skill mastery, etc. 
5. The major concerns lies with the novel contribution that this study protocol
could make to the literature, if the information was presented in a more succinct
manner. In its current form, a reader is not likely to be willing/able to read the
paper in its entirety, and thus the contribution of this paper will be lost. 
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes