E-PICOS Assistant
Click the Need Help? -- Ask E-PICOS Assistant for guidance button (the first of the three shortcuts on the dashboard) to open the Assistant dialog.
What the Assistant offers
When the dialog opens you see the heading "E-PICOS Assistant" and a short introduction:
"How can I help you? I can assist you with study design, statistical analysis, and research management. Choose an option below or describe your needs."
Below that, four quick-action buttons are arranged in a 2x2 grid:
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Study Design -- "Get help planning your research study" | Closes the dialog and opens the Designer module |
| Statistical Analysis -- "Choose the right statistical test" | Closes the dialog and opens the Calculator & MyData module |
| Meta-Analysis -- "Systematic review and meta-analysis tools" | Closes the dialog and opens the E-PICOS Meta module |
| Professional Help -- "Request expert consultancy services" | Closes the dialog and opens the Consultancy Form |
Important: The current Assistant dialog is a navigation helper, not a chat interface. It guides you to the most appropriate module based on what you want to do -- it does not yet hold a free-form conversation. The actual analysis is performed inside the module you are sent to.
You can close the dialog at any time by clicking the X in the top-right corner or by clicking the dark area outside the dialog.
Requesting Professional Consultancy
Choosing Professional Help opens a separate form titled "Request Professional Consultancy" with five fields:
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | Free text |
| Yes | Validated as a proper email address | |
| Institution | No | Free text -- optional |
| Project Type | Yes | Dropdown: Clinical Trial, Observational Study, Meta-Analysis, Other |
| Description | No | Free text describing your project |
After filling in the form, submitting it closes the dialog.