Randomised control trial
study where no. of similar people are randomly assigned to 2/more groups to test specific drug/treatment/intervention. 1 group (experimental group) has the intervention being tested, the other (comparison/control group) has alternative intervention/placebo/ no intervention at all.
Single-blinded study
treatment assignment (to either experimental or control group) is unknown to patients
double-blinded study
neither the subjects nor the investigators know who is receiving the active treatment
Triple Blinded Study
The study subjects, investigators, and statistician analysing the data are kept in the dark.
practice creep
gradual change in practice without founded evidence base
practice drift
Deviating from standard practice/loss of knowledge despite it existing
Duty of Care
The duty of all persons to exercise a reasonable amount of care in their dealings with others. Failure to exercise due care is negligence.
Power relationships & coercion
consent in appropriate setting, issue information in advance of treatment date
anonymity/confidentiality
Participants privacy must be protected/keep data secure + confidential
Risk of harm
researchers not put participants in a situation where they might be at risk of harm as a result of their participation/ pt should fully understand + can pull out whenever
Equity in treatment
participants should be fully aware of risk/benefit of study + option of not participating
Fully informed consent
Entails giving participants comprehensive info concerning nature + purpose of study + their role in it.
Access to medical records
pts should be able to see/obtain copies of their medical records + request corrections if they identify errors.
research
The systematic enquiry of materials + sources to extend knowledge + reach new conclusions.
service evaluation
evaluation of how well a service is achieving its aims. designed + conducted to define/judge a current service. results can be used to inform local decision making
Clinical audit
The use of research methods to determine whether existing clinical knowledge, skills and resources are effective and are being properly used/investigating effect care has on outcome + quality of life for pts
What is methodology?
The process utilised for data collection process
What is a method?
What was carried out/ Research Design Choices
paradigm
model e.g., Qualitative Data, Quantitative Data, Mixed Data
Qualitative Approach
Understand subjective experiences, beliefs, and concepts, emphasizes people's experiences in their own words, and researcher's interpretation of those experiences
Quantitative Approach
Measure variables, describe frequencies, averages, and correlations, Test hypotheses + effectiveness of new treatment/ program/product
mixed methods
research approach combining quantitative + qualitative elements; involves measurable data + the individual's subjective response to it.
Multiple methods used to increase the validity of the findings - 'data triangulation'
Questionnaire
a written set of questions to be answered by a research participant to collect (hopefully) consistent data from many people
interview
A face-to-face or telephone questioning of a respondent to obtain desired information/Ideas can be explored in-depth with a smaller group
Survey
a detailed study for gathering information and analysing it.
Characteristics of good questionnaire
Validity Reliability Interesting Succinct avoid jargon ethically approved
literature review
entails identifying and studying all existing studies on a topic to create a basis for new research
Types of questions
open ended closed ended Scaled questions
interview types
Structured Semi structured Focus Group/Group Interview Unstructured
Hawthorne effect
A change in a subject's behavior caused by the awareness of being studied
Data Collection Methodologies
Experimental Quasi Experimental Surveys Longitudinal Studies Audits
experimental design
manipulation of independent variable + measure a dependent variable to determine a cause-and-effect relationship
quasi-experimental design
compares two groups that already exist in the population/ compare preselected variables to assess impact of variable changes
longitudinal studies
studies the same variables multiple times over time
Audits
Measures against Standards/Assesses current practice against guidelines
independent variable
experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
dependent variable
measured variable whose value depends on independent variable.
confounding variable
a factor other than the independent variable that might impact experiment
aims and objectives
Aim- expresses intention/aspiration of study Objectives- explains how aims are to be accomplished/SMART
Cochrane reviews
systematic reviews of primary research in human health care and health policy; currently the highest standard in evidence-based health care. They investigate the effects of interventions for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
meta-analysis
Statistical analysis of trial data from multiple studies; Combining these brings high confidence to the results obtained so practice may change.
PICO analysis
Critical analysis
The process of critically evaluating research
limitations
Limitations are present in every study. in well-designed study these are not "failings" but limits of what the investigation can achieve. understanding these limitations, develops an understanding of potential impact and future research before collecting any data.
research outcomes and implications
How the finding may be important for policy, practice, theory and future research, supported by the evidence/ study's parameters explained by the limitations/ How will your research affect the targeted participants
Types of Implications (2)
practical theoretical
Practical implications
direct impact of the finding on related practices/participants
theoretical implications
how does it inform or shape theory?
Research Integrity
is conducting research so that others trust and have confidence in the methods used +the findings that result Creates trust and confidence in the institution, research output and wider research community
Ethics
Moral standards of behaviour; principles of right and wrong
Research Ethics
Set of principles governing the research to protect research participants' dignity, rights and welfare. Traditionally based on investigating human experiences, now includes future impact on humans and the environment.
Virtue
excellence of any kind A virtuous person is right in the middle, able to see + do what is right in the specific situation, and knows how to avoid the extremes of showing too little or too much
The Nuremberg Code (1946)
set of guidelines for ethical practice in research
Declaration of Helsinki (1964)
undergone several revisions. shares many basic principles of the Nuremberg Code, but some differences e.g., allowed consent by a legal guardian if the research participant can't consent.
misconduct
falsification
fabrication
misinterpretation
plagiarism
manipulation/malicious accusation
SMART
specific measurable achievable reliability time-bound