Health Research Methodology

Dr. Farhan Hassan Dar

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 develop research projects in their respective batches and in future as well

What is Research?
A process of systematic, scientific data;
Collection Analysis & Interpretation So as to find Solutions to a problem.

Etymology
French word "recherche "to go about seeking earliest recorded use of the term in 1577

(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

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.

Types of Research
Basic Research
Applied Research

Most Important Component of a Research Project

A Research Topic!

Criteria for Selecting a Research Topic

Relevance Interest Innovation Feasibility Acceptability Cost-effectiveness Ethical consideration

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.

Why Literature Search Is Done?

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.

Searching Sources
Journal articles Research organizations Conference proceedings Database search PMRC directory Corresponding author

Where can we find these different sources?

Different sources of information can be consulted and reviewed at various levels of the administrative system within your country and internationally.

ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS

EXAMPLES OF RESOURCES

Database Search

Research Objectives
The OBJECTIVES of a research project

summarize, what is
SMART Objectives

to be achieved by the study.

Why Should Research Objectives Be Developed?

The formulation of objectives will help you to:
Focus the study (narrowing it down to

essentials);
Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly

necessary for understanding and solving the problem you have identified; and
Organize the study in clearly defined parts or

phases.

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.

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 suspected dengue fever at allied hospitals of RMC.

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 Anaemia Hyperglycaemia Dengue fever

Study Designs

Sampling
A sample is a sub set of the population, with all its 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 sample is 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 and interviewed.

Sampling Techniques
Sampling Techniques

Non probability

Probability

Accidental

Judgmental

Quota

Snowball

Simple Random

Systematic

Stratified

Cluster

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.

DATA COLLECTION
Various data collection techniques can be used such as: Using available information Observing Interviewing (face-to-face) Administering written questionnaires Focus group discussions Projective techniques, mapping, scaling

Data Collection Techniques & Tools

Designing Questionnaire
It should be ensured that the format of the

questionnaire be attractive and easy for the respondents to fill, overcrowding or clutter should be avoided and all questions and pages clearly numbered The questionnaire should not be too long To maintain flow of the instrument, questions concerning major areas should be grouped together Simple questions about age, birth date etc should be put at the beginning to warm up the respondent

Cont.
Questions should be close ended, possible

answers to close ended questions should be lined vertically, preceded by boxes, brackets or numbers
Example

How many cigarettes do you smoke daily (check one) [ ] None [ ] 1-2 [ ] 3-4 [ ] 5-6 [ ] 7 or more

Cont.
If more details are required pertaining to a

question , then filter/skip technique should be used to save time and allow respondents to avoid 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 have hypertension?

Cont.
Wordings of questions should be simple and

free from ambiguity, non judgmental and be soliciting only one response.
Sensitive topic questions should be left for

the end.
Always try to ensure that if questions are to

be asked in any language besides English, they shall be so written too.

Data Analysis
Microsoft Excel

Analysis Softwares

(SPSS-Statistical Package for Social Sciences)

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.

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).)

Medical Writing Crimes

Falsification
Fabrication Plagiarism

Take Home Message

"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought"
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Hungarian Biochemist Nobel Prize for Medicine