Week 1: Research process, selecting a topic/research question

2 types of scientific methods to generate knowledge about health:

Epidemiology and biostatistics
- this course is a blend of both

Types of health research

Clinical
Population
Biological (basic medical)

Clinical research

ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat health issues that affect individuals and families

Population research

focuses on the health outcomes and the determinants of health in groups of humans - populations

Biological research

looks at changes at human cellular level that can be related to health outcomes

the 5 steps of the research process:

1. Identify a study question
2. select a general study approach
3. design the study and collect data
4. analyze data
5. Write and share a report about the findings

Demography

study of human populations, therefore used in population health research

Exposure, disease/outcome, population (ED/OP)

Exposure:
A personal characteristic (socioeconomic status), environmental encounter or intervention that might change the likelihood of developing a health condition

Disease/ Outcome:
An observed event such as the presence of disease in a participant study

Population: A group of individuals, communities or organizations with identifiable similar characteristics

Standard of health Research: PICOT

P: patient or population group and problem that will be studied
I: Intervention that will be tested
C: What will the intervention be compared to, Control group?
O: Outcome of interest?
T: Timeframe for follow-up?

A good research question must be:

A real question
Testable
Generalizable
Purposeful

Sequential vs Independent Objectives

Sequential:
Chronological list of actions that will achieve the main goal

Independent:
Related but independent objectives. When one objective is not achieved, it will not prevent successful completion of the other objectives

SMART

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely

Theoretical framework

a set of established models in the published literature that can inform the components and flows of the conceptual framework for a new research study

Lalonde's model

First modern Western government doc to propose the health field look beyond the biomedical health care system

proposed health field = human biology + environment + lifestyle + health care organization

Evans and Stoddart Model

Provides a broad conceptual framework for considering the factors that influence health in a community

Eco-social model: The big picture

Macrosystem
Exosystem
Mesosystem
Microsystem
The individual: sex, age, health

conceptual model

the model a researcher sketches using boxes and arrows to illustrate the various relationships that will affect the study

Protective factor

a factor that reduces a person's potential for harmful behavior

nonmodifiable factor

a risk factor for a disease that CANNOT be changed through health interventions. e.g. age -> cannot be reduced.

Modifiable risk factors

a risk factor that CAN be avoided or mitigated

3 levels of prevention

1. Primary
2. Secondary
3. Tertiary

primary prevention

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring. e.g. nutritious diets, exercise

Secondary prevention

Early identification of potential illness, providing treatment, and conducting activities that prevent worsening health status. e.g. early detection and treatment of diabetes

tertiary prevention

Actions, such as immediate and effective medical treatment, that are taken after illness, injury, or abuse occurs and that reduce the harm or preventing disability.

Comorbidity

the co-occurrence of two or more disorders in a single individual

Hypothesis

An informed assumption about the likely outcome of a well-designed investigation that can be tested using scientific methods. Should also be falsifiable

Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG)

uses nodes and arrows to illustrate hypothesized pathways

Feasibility acronym: FINER

F: Feasible
I: Interesting
N: Novel
E: Ethical
R: Relevant