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Creating a good research question…
Pediatric Research Rounds Dr. LA Allwood Newhook
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outline Research sequence Research ideas What is a research question
Qualities of a good question Primary versus secondary FINER PICO Examples Checklist
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Research Sequence Development of a research idea
Formulating a research question Review of the literature Primary research question Secondary research questions Develop the protocol Sample size Pretest/revise the protocol Funding Ethics/ institutional approvals Do the Study recruitment analysis conclusions Knowledge Translation Present research publish
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Where do research ideas come from?
Clinical practice Observations of patients Talking with colleagues, other researchers National meetings and conferences Reading the literature New advances bring new questions…. Teaching and students Skeptical about prevailing beliefs
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What is a research question?
“ A research question is a clear unambiguous question able to be answered through your research project” (Albert et al) “A research question is an excellent way to pull things together. Writing a research question forces you to focus your thoughts and summarize your goals in a single interrogative sentence…” (Belgrave et al)
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What are the qualities of a good research question?
Narrowed to a concrete, focused, researchable issue Transformable into a feasible and valid study plan After a detailed literature review, there should be evidence that there is a need for your study; it addresses a scientific or medical knowledge gap Is it important to patients?
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What are Primary and Secondary Questions?
A single primary question around which to focus the development of the protocol and sample size estimates Secondary research questions: can be related to the primary question or to other hypotheses Common error : overloading the study with too many objectives and too much data collection (keep it simple)
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Is your research question FINER?
Feasible Interesting Novel Ethical Relevant
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Feasible Is the scope of the project manageable?
Do you have access to participants? What is preliminary sample size? Do you and your research team have the necessary expertise? Do you have adequate resources (time, money, personnel, equipment)?
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Novel Confirm or refute previous findings
Extend knowledge of previous findings Provide new findings
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Interesting Is your question interesting to your peers? Your research team? Will it be interesting to the funding source? Will you be able to publish your results? Getting to the truth is interesting!
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Ethical Your study should not pose unacceptable physical risks or invasion of privacy Discuss with HREA
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Relevant What are the various possible outcomes? How can each outcome:
Advance scientific knowledge Influence clinical management and health policy Guide future research Is it important to patients?
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PICO An acronym used in formulating patient-centered questions.
What is the Patient, Population, or Problem? Which Intervention is being considered? What Comparator to this intervention will be used? What Outcome will be measured?
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The P.I.C.O. Model for Clinical Questions
P Patient, Population, or Problem How would I describe a group of patients similar to mine? I Intervention, Prognostic Factor, or Exposure Which main intervention, prognostic factor, or exposure am I considering? C Comparison or Intervention (if appropriate) What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention? O Outcome you would like to measure or achieve What can I hope to accomplish, measure, improve, or affect? What Type of question are you asking? Diagnosis, Etiology/Harm, Therapy, Prognosis, Prevention Type of Study you want to find What would be the best study design/methodology?
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Writing your research question:
Write down the question… What is the uncertainty that you want to resolve Begin with a general concern then narrow down to a concrete, researchable idea Master the literature in that area Read, read, read… Focus on studies that support the need for your study Establish a single primary research question which you will use to develop study plan and estimate sample size supplement with secondary questions
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Examples What is the relationship between depression and health? Interesting, but vague Should operationally define “depression” and “health” Difficult to determine causality – does depression lead to worse health or vice versa? what population? “Among postpartum mothers, does post-partum depression assessed by the “PPD questionnaire” predict health status of their children by age 5 years as measured by the “Child Health Inventory Scale” at age 5 years?” Is this FINER compatible? Is this PICO compatible?
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Examples Does parental smoking cause cancer in children?
Interesting, but vague “Is the amount of environmental tobacco smoke exposure in infancy as measured by infant urinary and hair cotinine levels, associated with the occurrence of childhood cancer by age 14?” Is this FINER compatible? Is this PICO compatible?
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Research Question Check-list:
FINER PICO Is it a clear unambiguous question? Is it summarized in a single sentence? Is it feasible? Is it interesting? Is it novel? Is it ethical? Is it relevant? Is the Patient, Population, or Problem described? Is the Intervention, Prognostic Factor, or Exposure described? Have you considered the comparison or intervention (if appropriate)? Have you chosen the primary and secondary outcomes you would like to measure or achieve?
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