A Systematic Approach to Beginning a Retrospective Research Study: A guide for surgical trainees.

•A large proportion of surgical trainees struggle with beginning a retrospective study.•We present a systematic approach for surgical trainees to use when beginning a new study.•Key concepts include developing the aim, conducting a literature review, data considerations, designing the study, and getting the study up and running.•By providing a systematic framework, surgical trainees that lack research experience now have a reference to aid their research design and project start-up.