DIY Learning (Online)

Prepare yourself with background knowledge before attending the F2F course activities

TOPIC 1: Study types and designs

Having a fundamental understanding of these topics is crucial to get you started off on the right foot.

To interpret and use evidence based medicine, knowledge on research types and study designs, as well as the quality of evidence produced by research is important to prevent from misinformation or incorrect application into patient care.

Randomised control trials

Case control studies

Cohort studies

Cross-sectional studies

TOPIC 2: Avoiding biases in research

In research, biases occur when systematic errors are introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or results over others.

Biases can occur at any phase of research, including study design or data collection, as well as in the process of data analysis and publication.

Knowing about and outlining potential sources of bias enables (1) articulating the rationale for and choosing an appropriate research design to meet the study aims, (2) planning a research designs that minimise biases, as well as (3) greater critical evaluation of the research findings and conclusions.

Recall bias, Transfer bias, Misclassification of exposure or outcome

Selection and sampling biases, Attrition bias, Measurement bias

Hawthorne effect,

Allocation bias, Ascertainment bias

Randomisation, Why randomise, Different techniques, Common errors

Intervention bias, Response bias, Spectrum bias

Sampling, Why important, Different techniques, Common errors

Analysis bias, Performance bias, Expectation bias, Expectancy bias

What are confounders, characteristics of counfounders, How to address

TOPIC 3: Medical and research ethics

Ethics provide guidelines for the responsible conduct of research and good medical practice.

Knowledge of good research ethics will promote the aims of research in finding and disseminating knowledge and truth, avoiding errors and fabrication, promote values essential to collaborative work and accountability to the public.

Relevant topics include principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, the Belmont Report and boundaries between clinical practice and research.