Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01405-w (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The Durham Initiative for Stomach Health (DISH): A pilot community -based Helicobacter  
pylori education and screening study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 01 Jul 2020  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:  
 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research 
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?  
Yes - there is a clear objective  
 
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for the 
objective?  
Yes - the approach is appropriate  
 
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow 
confidence in the results?  
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately  
 
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?  
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study  
 
INTERPRETATION - Is the c urrent interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not 
overstated?  
Yes - the author's interpretation is reasonable  
 
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically 
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?  
Probably - with minor revisions  
 
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:  
 
GENERAL COMMENTS:  
This is a well written and well executed pilot proram to sensitize and guide minorities to check 
and addreaa HP infectio. Some unecessary details and redu ndancies can be removed to 
streamline the paper reading. The findings can NOT be generalizable to African AMericans or to 
Churchgoers as socioeconomic status differs. The studied population has higher education nd 
incomes &gt;60k and as such more prone to positively respond to the stidy if faith leader helps in 
installing trust.  
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:  
Redundancies and some details need to be removed.  Data NOT generalizable unless in 
populations with similar socioeconomic status. The barriers to HP treatment (Antibiotic 
resistance, adherence to treatment and physician follow up) are general and this pilot study can 
not address them. The pilot study presented here can be considered a good and successful 
sensitization campaign. The cited barriers ne ed to be addressed by clinicians and scientists within 
and beyond the context of minorities public health.  
 
 
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No 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include t he necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to ass ess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess th e statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you receiv ed reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests i n relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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recommendation.  
 
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