Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Quantitative Clinical Research Designs

• code 12181
• course 1
• term Semester 2
• type OB
• credits 4

Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish

Head instructor

Dr. Jose María MARTÍNEZ - jmmartinez@uic.es

Office hours

Responsible: Jose M Martínez-Sánchez, PhD, MPH, BSc (jmmartinez@uic.es)

 Professor: Cristina Martínez, PhD, RN (cmartinezm@uic.es)

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%).

There are no prerequisites to take the course.

1. To know the basics of quantitative research methods and types of epidemiological studies. 
2. To train the students to design a research study and conduct a research protocol. 
3. To train the students for critical reading of scientific articles with quantitative methodology.

• 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.

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

The methodology used in this course will consist of theoretical lecturer (30%) and case methods and practices (70%).

Addendum

Following the declaration of a state of alarm, March 13 was the last day of face-to-face classes. As of that day, classes are started in person. Two types of methodologies are proposed for non-contact classes:

1. In real time through the Moodle Collaborator resource and Google Calendar Handout. This tool allows you to connect with all students in real time, and at the same time, leave the class recorded for students who for work reasons (respond to the health system) cannot attend the class in real time. Collaborator blackboard and screen sharing are used to display a presentation, article, etc.

2. Leave prepared classes recorded by the teachers who explain the syllabus and accompany the students as if they were in class. This dynamic allows students to view the videos prepared with a little more quality, according to their schedules and availability.

In addition, to facilitate student learning and class monitoring, a forum has been opened at MOODLE to facilitate student interaction with teachers, for questions, doubts, etc. A distribution list has also been created with all the emails of the students for the resolution of doubts. In addition, additional and complementary exercises and readings have been provided for the best acquisition of all skills. For the classes that will be recorded and were not held in real time, a face-to-face forum will be opened with the teachers, agreed with the students, to answer questions directly with the teachers.

It will be carried a mixed evaluation which will have three components:

1. Continuous evaluation of students (20%) 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 (80%):

• Works of different methods of case (60%)
• Works in differences exercises (20%)

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 

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.