INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PROCESS
By Prof.Midhu Kurian
Senior Writer, Healthcare Digital
- What is Research? Research is a systematic investigation to discover new knowledge or validate existing knowledge. For medical/nursing students, it’s about improving patient care.
- Steps in Research Process:
- Identify the problem (e.g., Why do patients skip meds?).
- Review existing info (library dive!).
- Formulate a question/hypothesis (e.g., Does education improve med adherence?).
- Design the study (plan it out).
- Collect data (surveys, tests, etc.).
- Analyze data (numbers or trends).
- Share findings (write or present).
- Importance: Helps evidence-based practice in healthcare.
Mnemonic (Code): I Really Prefer Doing Cool Analysis, Sweet!
(I = Identify, R = Review, P = Problem/Question, D = Design, C = Collect, A = Analyze, S = Share)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Morning: While brushing teeth, think of one healthcare problem (e.g., long wait times).
- Evening: Count down 2 steps you’d take to investigate it (e.g., ask patients, check records).
2. RESEARCH PROBLEM/QUESTION
Notes:
- What’s a Research Problem? An issue or gap in knowledge (e.g., Why do some wounds heal slower?).
- Characteristics: Clear, specific, researchable, relevant to medicine/nursing.
- Formulating Questions:
- Use PICO: Population (patients), Intervention (treatment), Comparison (alternative), Outcome (result).
- Example: "In diabetic patients (P), does daily exercise (I) vs. no exercise (C) improve healing (O)?"
- Feasibility: Can you study it with time/resources available?
Mnemonic (Code): PICO Frames Clear Questions
(P = Population, I = Intervention, C = Comparison, O = Outcome, F = Feasibility, C = Clarity, Q = Question)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Lunchtime: Pick a patient scenario (e.g., asthma attacks) and write a PICO question in 2 minutes.
- Night: Discuss it with a friend or mentally tweak it for clarity.
3. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Notes:
- Purpose: Understand what’s already known, avoid repetition, find gaps.
- Sources: Books, journals (PubMed), theses, clinical guidelines.
- Steps:
- Search (keywords like “diabetes management”).
- Select relevant studies (recent, credible).
- Summarize findings (what works, what doesn’t).
- Cite properly (APA, MLA).
- Tip: Focus on studies relevant to healthcare practice.
Mnemonic (Code): Sift, Select, Sum, Cite
(S = Search, S = Select, S = Summarize, C = Cite)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Morning Coffee: Search one keyword (e.g., “nursing burnout”) on Google Scholar, skim 1 article.
- Evening: Summarize 1 key point in your phone notes.
4. RESEARCH APPROACHES AND DESIGNS
Notes:
- Approaches:
- Quantitative: Numbers-based (e.g., blood pressure stats).
- Qualitative: Descriptive (e.g., patient feelings about treatment).
- Mixed: Both combined.
- Designs:
- Experimental: Test cause-effect (e.g., drug trials).
- Observational: Watch without interfering (e.g., smoking vs. lung disease).
- Case Study: Deep dive into one case (e.g., rare disease).
- Choosing Design: Depends on question and resources.
Mnemonic (Code): Quan, Qual, Mix – Experiment, Observe, Case
(Q = Quantitative, Q = Qualitative, M = Mixed, E = Experimental, O = Observational, C = Case Study)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- During Class: Note one patient scenario and decide if it’s quan/qual (e.g., pain level = quan).
- Before Bed: Sketch a quick study design (e.g., survey vs. trial) for it.
5. SAMPLING AND DATA COLLECTION
Notes:
- Sampling: Picking who/what to study.
- Random: Everyone has equal chance (fair).
- Non-random: Chosen for reason (e.g., only ICU patients).
- Sample Size: Big enough to trust, small enough to manage.
- Data Collection:
- Primary: You gather (surveys, BP readings).
- Secondary: Use existing (patient records).
- Tools: Questionnaires, interviews, lab tests.
- Ethics: Consent, privacy matter!
Mnemonic (Code): Randomly Sample, Collect Primary, Secondary Data
(R = Random, S = Sample, C = Collect, P = Primary, S = Secondary, D = Data)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Lunch Break: Pick 5 classmates randomly, ask a health question (e.g., sleep hours).
- Evening: Check a hospital chart (if accessible) for secondary data practice.
6. ANALYSIS OF DATA
Notes:
- Types:
- Descriptive: Summarize (e.g., average BP).
- Inferential: Draw conclusions (e.g., drug works?).
- Tools: Excel, SPSS, or basic stats (mean, median).
- Steps:
- Organize data (tables/charts).
- Analyze (stats or themes).
- Interpret (what’s it mean for patients?).
- Common Tests: t-test (compare groups), chi-square (relationships).
Mnemonic (Code): Describe, Infer, Organize, Analyze, Interpret
(D = Descriptive, I = Inferential, O = Organize, A = Analyze, I = Interpret)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Morning: Track your pulse for 5 mins, calculate average (descriptive).
- Night: Guess if it’s higher after exercise (inferential thinking).
7. INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS
Notes:
- What’s Biostats? Math for health data (e.g., disease rates).
- Key Concepts:
- Mean/Median/Mode: Averages.
- P-value: Chance result is random (<0.05 = significant).
- Confidence Interval: Range of trust in results.
- Uses: Prove treatments work, track epidemics.
- Software: SPSS, R (start with Excel).
Mnemonic (Code): Mean, P-value, Confidence – Stats Prove
(M = Mean, P = P-value, C = Confidence, S = Stats, P = Prove)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Afternoon: Calculate average hours of sleep this week (mean).
- Evening: Guess if coffee affects it (P-value mindset).
8. COMMUNICATION AND UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH
Notes:
- Communication: Share findings clearly.
- Written: Reports, articles.
- Oral: Presentations, talks.
- Utilization: Apply research to practice (e.g., new wound care method).
- Barriers: Time, resistance to change.
- Tips: Simplify for nurses/docs, use visuals.
Mnemonic (Code): Write, Orate, Use, Simplify
(W = Written, O = Oral, U = Utilize, S = Simplify)
Day-to-Day Activity:
- Morning: Explain a health tip to a friend in 1 minute (oral).
- Night: Write a 3-sentence summary of a study idea (written).
Final Tips for Medical/Nursing Students:
- Review Mnemonics Daily: Flashcards or sticky notes with codes.
- Link to Practice: Relate each chapter to patient care (e.g., sampling = picking patients for a trial).
- Group Study: Quiz friends using day-to-day activities.
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