Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Introduction to Biomedical Research. Speciality in Mental Health
Other languages of instruction: English,
Teaching staff
Specific module:
Oriol Miralles ( )
GENERAL and specific Module and course coordination:
Dr. Jordi Rello (jrello@uic.es)
Introduction
A basic aspect of scientific research is the method. If anything deserves to be called "scientific method", it is the simple but fundamental process by which any new idea must be tested. In this course we will try to explain what the scientific method is and how it applies to biomedical research, how to establish a research question and what are the particularities of biomedical research in specific fields.
This course consists of two modules:
a) A GENERAL module consisting of an introduction to the researcher's method in health sciences, in which the conditioning factors of these in the field of medicine are explained, commenting on the applications and areas that will involve changes in the coming years.
b) A SPECIFIC module dedicated to the application of the scientific method in the field of neuroscience. From a selection of current issues in mental health research, carried out an approach to the scientific methodology used in the fields of psychology, neurology and neuropsychiatry.
This subject extends concepts and competences acquired in Biostatistics and Introduction to Epidemiology (2nd). The subject is integrated in the undergraduate research curriculum, which is continued in the subjects Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health (5th) and the Final Degree Project TFG (6th)
Pre-course requirements
None
Objectives
The specific objectives for the GENERAL module are:
a.1) To know the purpose of research in the field of medicine, especially in clinical contexts.
a.2) To know the methodological and ethical criteria to be met by the observation of phenomena in health sciences.
a.3) Distinguish the needs, conditioning factors and resources of the research system in biomedicine.
a.4) To be able to propose an adequate strategy to answer a research question in the fields of the subject.
a.5) To know how to recognize the clues that give away poorly rigorous explanations.
The objectives for the SPECIFIC module are:
b.1) Define the characteristics of mental health research.
b.2) Define and describe the information sources and search strategies of information in the field of mental health.
b.3) Describe some of the issues that can be addressed currently in mental health research, such as the study of the brain, cognition or personality.
b.4) Define and describe how you can research in mental health, with current means that are available in the field of neuroscience.
b.5) Define some major tests used in mental health in the field of cognition and personality, and according to the research carried out.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 28 - Obtaining and using epidemiological data and assess trends and risks in health related decision-making.
- 31 - Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
- 34 - Ability for critical thinking, creativity and constructive skeptisim with a focus on research within professional practice.
- 35 - Understand the importance and limitations of scientific thinking in the study, prevention and treatment of disease.
- 36 - Be able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving using the scientific method.
- 37 - Acquire basic training for research.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completion of this course students should have a better understanding of how scientific thinking operates (or should operate), having acquired the basic skills to recognize and evaluate experimental results as well as the criteria to reject baseless scientific claims.
Sudents should have also have had the opportunity to learn the practical application of scientific procedures in the field of choice, with the help of leading experts whose ultimate goal is to convey the passion for research.
Syllabus
a) CONTENTS OF THE GENERAL MODULE:
- Introduction to Biomedical Research. Types of Research. Structure. Fake research.
- Ethical aspects in Biomedical Research. Informed Consent. CEI
- Research in Epidemiology and Public Health. SRMA. Reading a Scientific Article.
- Clinical Research. Research Protocols. Clinical Trials.
- Translational Research. Organitzation of Biomedical Research. Research Institutes. Thematic Networks. CIBER. Innovation and Patents.
- Publication of Scientific Results. Guides to Publication. Quality and Activity Indicators. Peer review.
b) Contents of the specific module:
1. Research on needs: epidemiology, population studies, incidence and prevalence, screening techniques.
2. Clinical research on symptoms, disorders and results.
3. Research on diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and procedures.
4. Research on the organization of services and policies.
5. R + D + I and spin-off processes..
6. Basic tools in mental health: design, planning, analysis, communication of results.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
a) The GENERAL module is taught in 6 theoretical-practical face-to-face sessions for the complete group.
The content of this module will facilitate the preparation of the final practical project. At the end of each session, a brief written test (5min) will be completed individually, regarding the contests of the corresponding lesson.
b) The SPECIFIC module is taught in 6 theoretical-practical face-to-face sessions for the separate groups.
In this module, theoretical contents are combined with practical activities which consist on the usage of applied examples that ilustrate the methodology of research in oncology clinical practise. At the end of each session, a brief written test (5min) will be completed individually, regarding the contests of the corresponding lesson.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The grade for the course is calculated from the following parts:
1. Short tests. At the end of each class (both general and specific module) a short written test will be taken individually, related to the content taught in the session. The average of the scores obtained in the 12 tests will be used to calculate the grade for the short tests.
2. Final practical project. It consists of a study protocol that each student, individually, must devise and write using the knowledge acquired in the general and specific modules. The subject matter and methodology must be adapted to the specifications of the corresponding module. The work must follow the model included in the moodle of the course, which defines its structure and contents. The delivery of the work is mandatory to pass the course. Plagiarizing/copying from other papers/articles or submitting papers by more than one student will result in failure of the course.
Class attendance is neither compulsory nor evaluable, but in the case of not attending any of the short tests of each session, the student will lose the right to have a grade in that test (obtaining a grade of 0), and will not be able to obtain the total of the final grade.
The final grade for the course is calculated as follows:
FINAL GRADE = Short Tests Grade (40%) + Final Practical Work Grade (60%).
The minimum requirement to pass the course is to obtain a grade of 5 in the final grade.
Bibliography and resources
a) For the GENERAL module:
¿Qué es esa cosa llamada ciencia?. Chalmers, A(, 4rth Ed Stephen S. Carey. Madrid: SXXI (2013).
Research Methodology in the Medical and Biological Sciences, 1st Ed Laake, P, Benestad, HB, Olsen, BR (Eds). Elsevier (2007).
b) For the SPECIFIC module:
1. Research on needs: epidemiology, population studies, incidence and prevalence, screening techniques
Alzate, M. (2003). Epidemiología psiquiátrica. Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria, XXXII(1), 85–92.
Augsburger, A. C. (2002). De la epidemiología psiquiátrica a la epidemiología en salud mental: el sufrimiento psíquico como categoría clave. Cuadernos Médico Sociales, 81, 61–75.
Beddington, J., Cooper, C. L., Field, J., Goswami, U., Huppert, F. a, Jenkins, R., … Thomas, S. M. (2008). The mental wealth of nations. Nature, 455(7216), 1057–1060. http://doi.org/10.1038/4551057a
2. Clinical research on symptoms, disorders and results
Heckers, S. (2014). Future in Psychopathology Research. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 40(Suppl 2), S147–S151. http://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbt159
3. Research on diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and procedures
Rössler, W. (2013). What is Normal? The Impact of Psychiatric Classification on Mental Health Practice and Research. Frontiers in Public Health. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2013.00068
Tortella-Feliu, M., Baños, R. M., Barrantes, N., Botella, C., Fernández-Aranda, F., García-Campayo, J., … Vázquez, C. (2016). Retos de la investigación psicológica en salud mental. Clínica y Salud, 27(1), 37–43. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.clysa.2016.02.001
4. Research on the organization of services and policies
Norquist, G., & Hyman, S. E. (1999). Advances In Understanding And Treating Mental Illness: Implications For Policy. Health Affairs, 18(5), 32–47. http://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.18.5.32
5. R+D+I and spin-off processes
Eiroa-Orosa, F. J., & Rowe, M. (2017). Taking the Concept of Citizenship in Mental Health across Countries. Reflections on Transferring Principles and Practice to Different Sociocultural Contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01020
6. Basic tools in mental health: design, planning, analysis, communication of results
American Psychological Association. Journal Manuscript Preparation Guidelines.
Geher, G. (2018). How to Write a Psychology Research Proposal. Psychology Today, May.