Introduction to Research: How to develop a scholarly capstone project By Bioethics and CCGH

Introduction Bioethics and Professionalism Honors Program (BPHP) and the Center for Community and Global Health (CCGH) Programs Extra and co-curricular activities to enhance medical school experience and help students learn how to integrate their interests and service into medical career. Provide structure and mentoring for student interests and service One mechanism for receiving recognition for student efforts Opportunity for presenting scholarly work at national conferences

Capstone & Scholarly Project Aims Bioethics Capstone: to develop a topic, issue, case or formative experience into a scholarly project. Educational, Service, Clinical/Empirical, Conceptual Completion = June of MS3 year Poster Presentation to Faculty and Peers = June M3 year CCGH: to develop a scholarly project focusing on an underserved population or cross-cultural comparison on a health-topic of a student’s choice Service project: literature review, survey study, program evaluation Mentored research with established faculty Completion = M4 year Poster presentation to Faculty and Peers = May of M4 year

Topic Idea Activities Literature Review Advisor Refine Topic

CAPSTONE PRESENTATION Educational Service Empirical Conceptual Activities Programs IRB? Intervention Evaluation Select Method Protocol IRB Review Data Analyze Write Refine Topic Thesis Analyze Issues Draft Final CAPSTONE PRESENTATION

I am interested in X and want to do a project… I am interested in X and want to do a project…..(physician-patient communication) Bioethics Examples: Service: How can Dr-Pt communication be improved in low income settings? Empirical: Does Dr-Patient communication differ depending on insurance status of patients? Educational: How ongoing simulation training can improve Dr-Pt communication Conceptual: What factors contribute to improved Dr-Pt communication? Does poor communication lead to poorer outcomes?

CCGH Scholarly Project Categories Service project evaluation Literature Review Example: You participate in community blood pressure screenings monthly. For your project you decide to analyze the literature to identify outcomes of community screening in order to propose best practices for future events Survey Study Example: You participate in a patient education group. For your project, you decided to survey participants for pre- and post- intervention changes in health knowledge or attitudes Quality Improvement Study Example: You volunteer in a clinic. For your project, you work with the clinic team to improve pre-visit outreach calls aimed at improving a particular disease outcome OR Mentored research with established faculty researcher through SSOM or outside researchers addressing underserved population

Scholarship in Community Service STEP 1: Identify a “Site Mentor” at the site where you serve STEP 2: Elicits thoughts on community needs/problems STEP 3: Focus your inquiry and develop your research question STEP 4: Design the study collaboratively E.g. For survey or QI- understand the impact on site staff/resources (recruitment, data collection and storage) STEP 5: Analyze data STEP 6: Share findings with your Site Mentor and with the Loyola community, especially with other students who will continue to serve

Literature Review – 1st step for any project! Narrow your topic into a specific research question Decide scope # articles? Years to include? Populations? Determine which databases you will search Define search terms Search!

Lit Review Tips It’s an iterative process Search, read, refine; search, read refine Keep track of your searches (terms and databases) Summarize in your own words as you read Keep track of why a source is important (for it’s lit review, methods?) Work with our fabulous librarians Take advantage of other library resources, like free bibliographic software Look for comprehensive reviews especially if your topic is broad/you’re just getting started

How do I know if I need IRB approval? Are you collecting information from people? Any people – not just patients (med students are people too!) Are you collecting information about people from existing sources? e.g., medical records Are these existing sources publicly available (websites, federal data sets) or is access restricted (Loyola patient medical records)?

What is “exempt” research? Research that is: Minimal risk Anonymous or no risk from breach (e.g., no sensitive questions) Examples: Community surveys about health habits Focus groups with medical students about curriculum Chart reviews (distinct process in IRB portal) Exempt research still needs IRB review! You request, they decide May not need written (signed) informed consent No continuing review

Getting started with the IRB application Identify a faculty member to serve as Principal Investigator Complete CITI training Draft a comprehensive formal protocol Brief background, research question, and aims Outline risks and benefits Methods for: Identifying participants Recruiting participants Informed consent Data collection Data storage and analysis Privacy protections Including a list of any additional documents Recruitment materials Consent form – see/use the template Data collection instruments – these must be final for the IRB submission Send to your advisor Go into portal to upload once your protocol has been finalized

Faculty Contacts Katherine Wasson, PhD - kawasson@luc.edu Emily Anderson, PhD – emanderson@luc.edu Amy Luke, PhD – aluke@luc.edu Amy Blair, MD – ablair1@lumc.edu Lucia Garcia, MEd – lucgarcia@luc.edu