7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
1/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
2/42
Dr. Farhan Hassan Dar
Health Research Methodology
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
3/42
Learning Objectives
At the end of this interactive lecture, learners
should be able to;Demonstrate the significance of health research
Get acquaintance with the basics of research
methodology
Apply the attained knowledge to developresearch projects in their respective batches and
in future as well
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
4/42
What is Research?
A process of systematic, scientific data;
Collection Analysis &
Interpretation
So as to find Solutions to a problem.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
5/42
Etymology
French word
"recherche "to go about seeking
earliest recorded use of the term in 1577
(Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary)
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
6/42
Why Is Research Important?
Research is important because:
Each study answers scientific questions.
Each study helps scientists prevent, screen for,
diagnose, manage, and treat a disease. People who take part in clinical trials contribute to
the knowledge of how a disease progresses.
Clinical trials test how well new approaches and
interventions work in patients/people.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
7/42
Types of Research
Basic Research
Applied Research
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
8/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
9/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
10/42
Most Important Component of aResearch Project
A Research Topic!
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
11/42
Criteria for Selecting a ResearchTopic
Relevance
Interest Innovation
Feasibility
Acceptability
Cost-effectiveness
Ethical consideration
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
12/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
13/42
Literature Search:
Allows one to search in a purposeful and
systematic manner, through a range of literature
or information relevant to ones particular field,
and to hone in on material relevant to ones
interest and objectives.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
14/42
Why Literature Search IsDone?
To keep up with the latest developments in your
field.
To learn more about some topic.
To document important facts and ideas you wish
to research in light of previous work done on it.
To understand your data in the context of what is
already known.To provide your readers with sources they can
consult on their own.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
15/42
Searching Sources
Journal articles
Research organizations
Conference proceedings
Database search
PMRC directory
Corresponding author
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
16/42
Where can we find these differentsources?
Different sources of information can be consulted
and reviewed at various levels of the
administrative system within your country and
internationally.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
17/42
ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
18/42
Database Search
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
19/42
Research Objectives
The OBJECTIVES of a research projectsummarize, what is to be achieved by the study.
SMART Objectives
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
20/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
21/42
Why Should Research ObjectivesBe Developed?
The formulation of objectives will help you to:
Focus the study (narrowing it down toessentials);
Avoid the collection of data which are not strictlynecessary for understanding and solving the
problem you have identified; and
Organize the study in clearly defined parts orphases.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
22/42
How to State Objectives
Using proper action verbs like;
To determine,
To compare,
To identify,
To calculate etc.
Avoid the use of vague non-action verbs such as:
to know, to appreciate, to understand, or to
study.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
23/42
Examples
To determine the frequency of anemia in pregnant
women visiting Teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi
district.
To determine association between maternal
smoking and Low Birth Weight.
To compare demographic variables and clinical
spectrum of patients admitted with suspecteddengue fever at allied hospitals of RMC.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
24/42
Operational Definition
Is the definition of the exposure and outcome
variables of interest in context to objective in a
particular study and their means of
measurement/determination.
e.g., Hypertension
AnaemiaHyperglycaemia
Dengue fever
S d D i
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
25/42
Study Designs
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
26/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
27/42
Sampling
A sample is a sub set of the population, with allits inherent qualities. Inferences about the
population can be made from the measurements
taken from a sample, if the sample is truly
representative of the population. Since a sampleis expected to represent the whole population, the
sampling procedure has to follow three
fundamentals:
1. Should be representative.
2. Large enough.
3. The selected elements should have been
properly approached, included andinterviewed.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
28/42
Sampling Techniques
Sampling Techniques
Non probabilityProbability
Accidental Judgmental Quota Snowball
Systematic Stratified ClusterSimple
Random
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
29/42
Sample Size
1. Type of study.
2. Prevalence/Magnitude of the outcome of interest
derived from previous studies.
3. Type of statistical analysis required (comparing
means or proportions).
4. Level of significance / Power.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
30/42
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
31/42
DATA COLLECTION
Various data collection techniques can be usedsuch as:
Using available information
Observing
Interviewing (face-to-face)
Administering written questionnaires
Focus group discussions
Projective techniques, mapping, scaling
D C ll i T h i &
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
32/42
Data Collection Techniques &Tools
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
33/42
Designing Questionnaire
It should be ensured that the format of thequestionnaire be attractive and easy for therespondents to fill, overcrowding or cluttershould be avoided and all questions and
pages clearly numbered The questionnaire should not be too long
To maintain flow of the instrument, questionsconcerning major areas should be groupedtogether
Simple questions about age, birth date etcshould be put at the beginning to warm up therespondent
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
34/42
Cont.
Questions should be close ended, possibleanswers to close ended questions should be linedvertically, preceded by boxes, brackets ornumbers
Example
How many cigarettes do you smoke daily (checkone)
[ ] None
[ ] 1-2
[ ] 3-4
[ ] 5-6
[ ] 7 or more
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
35/42
Cont.
If more details are required pertaining to aquestion , then filter/skip technique should beused to save time and allow respondents toavoid irrelevant questions.
Example:Have you ever been told that you have
hypertension?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No If yes proceed to next question
How long back were you told that you havehypertension?
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
36/42
Cont.
Wordings of questions should be simple andfree from ambiguity, non judgmental and besoliciting only one response.
Sensitive topic questions should be left forthe end.
Always try to ensure that if questions are tobe asked in any language besides English,they shall be so written too.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
37/42
Data Analysis
Microsoft Excel
Analysis Softwares
(SPSS-Statistical Package for Social Sciences)
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
38/42
Writing References
Vancouver Style
All authors should be listed, if there are six or
less.
Halpern SD, Ubel PA, Caplan AL. Solid organ
transplantation in HIV-infected patients. N Engl J
Med. 2002 Jul 25;347(4):284-7.
If More than six authors, List the first six authors
followed by et al.
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
39/42
Research Ethics
Five Principles for Research Ethics Intellectual Property
Multiple Roles
Follow Informed Consent Rules
Respect Confidentiality & Privacy
Ethics Resources
(American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical
principles of psychologists and code of conduct.
American Psychologist, 57(12).)
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
40/42
Medical Writing Crimes
Falsification
Fabrication
Plagiarism
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
41/42
Take Home Message
"Research is to see what everybodyelse has seen, and to think whatnobody else has thought"
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Hungarian Biochemist
Nobel Prize for Medicine
7/29/2019 Health Research Methadology
42/42