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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Topic Idea
Activities
Literature Review
Advisor
Refine Topic

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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!

10. 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

11. 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)?

12. 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

13. 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

14. Faculty Contacts Katherine Wasson, PhD - kawasson@luc.edu
Emily Anderson, PhD –
Amy Luke, PhD –
Amy Blair, MD –
Lucia Garcia, MEd –