Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Quantitative Clinical Research Designs
Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish
Teaching staff
Responsible: Carles Blanch (cblanchm@uic.es)
Introduction
The aim of this course is to guide and to qualify to the students with the epidemiological methods and quantitative tools necessary to critically evaluate research articles in Nursing and Health Sciences published in scientific journals. Moreover, the course provides to the studentes tools to that they can develop and carry out research projects.
The methodology used in this course will consist of theoretical lecturer (30%) and case methods and practices (70%).
Pre-course requirements
There are no prerequisites to take the course.
Objectives
- To know the basics of quantitative research methods and types of epidemiological studies.
- To train the students to design a research study and conduct a research protocol.
- To train the students for critical reading of scientific articles with quantitative methodology.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CE1 - To know how to apply scientific methods, experimental design and biostatistics to answer a question or corroborate a hypothesis in a clinical setting.
- CE2 - To know how to design a research project within a specific context in a clinical setting
- CE3 - To know how to describe both the quantitative and qualitative methodological designs used in health research in the healthcare environment.
- CE4 - To know how to use critical assessment tools for qualitative and quantitative research articles
- CE5 - To know how to apply the language of scientific writing when communicating health outcomes
- CE6 - To know how to describe and apply the most common techniques for exploring and analysing data, the relationship between variables or categories and/or corroborating hypotheses in both quantitative and qualitative research.
- CE7 - To know how to identify health problems on which research may be undertaken and to apply specific techniques to analyse and assess such problems,
- CE8 - To know how to assess research projects and protocols
- CE9 - To know how to apply specific theoretical and practical knowledge to health science research.
- CG2 - The ability to critically analyse and discuss research results and transmit the relevant outcomes.
- CG3 - The ability to draw up research questions and put them into operation as research projects and formulate evidence-based research hypotheses.
Syllabus
Lecture 1: Introduction to Research
Introduction to Research
Health Sciences Research
Data quality (internal validity and external validity)
Protocol of a research study
Lecture 2: Research project and management
Research Project
Project management competitive
Finding information
Lecture 3: Calculation of sample size
Representative sample
Sampling rates
Random Sampling
Random and systematic error
Lecture 4: Epidemiologic Measures
Measurements of frequency
Types of measures
Types of Fees
Prevalence and incidence
Measures of Association:
- Relative Risk
- Odds ratio
- Prevalence ratio
- Measures of impact
- Attributable risk
- Etiologic fraction
- Population attributable risk
- Percentage of population attributable risk
Lecture 5: Types of epidemiological studies
Introduction to epidemiology
Types of studies:
Experimental studies:
Clinical trials and quasi-experimental
Observational studies
Cross-sectional study
Cohorts/longitudinal study
Case-Control study
Ecological study
Teaching and learning activities
In blended
The methodology used in this course will consist of theoretical lecturer (30%) and case methods and practices (70%).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In blended
It will be carried a mixed evaluation which will have three components:
1. Continuous evaluation of students (30%) base on the following criteria:
- Assistance to the theorical sessions, case methods and laboratory practices.
- Participation in the methods of the case and laboratory practice.
- Oral and written communication of the results.
2. Evaluation of different works of the subject (30%):
- Works of different methods of case
- Works in differences exercises
3. Evaluation by means of a written test (40%)
To pass the course the student must obtain a minimum score of 4 in each of the four components of the evaluation of the subject.
Bibliography and resources
Bibliography
Argimon Pallás JM, Jiménez Villa J. Métodos de investigación clínica y epidemiológica. 3 ed. Elsevier España S.A.: Madrid; 2004.
Gordis L. Epidemiología. 3a edición. Ediciones Hancourt S.A., 2005.
Szklo M, Nieto J. Epidemiología intermedia: Conceptos y Aplicaciones. Díaz de Santos; 2003.
Bibliography complementaria
Peña D. Fundamentos en Estadística. 1 ed. Alianza Editorial, S.A.: Madrid; 2001.
Rotman K. Epidemiología moderna. 1 ed. Ediciones Díaz de Santos, S.A.: Madrid; 1986.
Piédrola Gil, et al. Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. 10ª Edición. Barcelona: Masson S.A.; 2001.