EBP week 8 reporting clinical research Flashcards
(25 cards)
Reporting clinical research objectives for this module
Describe options for dissemination and reporting.
* Discuss the components of a research article and their
associated content.
* Discuss the relevant information that should be included in
each section of a research report.
* Describe the elements of good design for a research poster.
* Describe the important considerations in developing a
platform (or PPT) presentation
Purpose of reporting the research results
Reporting of research is the culmination and
final stage of the research process.
* Is the most important part of the process
because it
✓amplifies and expands the professional body of
knowledge
✓provides evidence for clinical practice
✓inspires future research
* What kind of formats do research reports take?
Format of research reports
Journal Papers
* Written articles published in
peer-reviewed journals
✓JAMA (J of AMA); JAAPA (J
American Academy of PAs);PTJ (physical therapy
journal); Journal of AlliedHealth, etc.
✓Provide a permanent record of research available to a
larger audience
Scientific Presentations
* Poster and Platform (PPT) presentations at
professional meetings
✓Disseminate research information in a timely
fashion though
✓research findings only in abstract forms
✓the audience is limited
Journal/written articles: general & typical steps
- Selecting a journal to submit your manuscript
✓Choices are numerous; the key is to choose an
appropriate one!
✓Check the aims/themes of the journal to make sure
they publish the pertinent topics of and the type of
your research (e.g., syst rev, case report, qualitative
study etc.) - Preparing the article (manuscript)
✓Every journal publishes Instruction to Authors that
must be followed during the preparation and
submission of a manuscript
Written Reports
* Pay attention to Standards for Reporting
✓ Checklists to assure inclusion of all relevant information
Standards for Reporting Various Types of
Studies (Table 38.1 of Portney 2020)
- Randomized trials CONSORT
- Observational studies STROBE
- Systematic reviews PRISMA
- Diagnostic accuracy STARD
- Prediction models/prognosis TRIPOD
- Qualitative research COREQ
- Case reports CARE
- Clinical practice guidelines AGREE
Journal articles: general & typical steps
Structure and content of journal articles (i.e.,
anatomy of a research article)
✓Title and Abstract
✓Introduction
✓Methods
✓Results
✓Discussion and Conclusion*
(* No conclusion in clinical case report)
✓References
✓Illustrations (Tables and/or Figures)
✓Discussion and Conclusion*
(* No _________ in clinical case report)
conclusion
there is no conclusion in CASE REPORT
Title of a research project
- Title is a project’s introduction, and creates the first
impression to all potential readers. - It should be concise AND informative. Which one is
the best?
1. Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
2. Cardiovascular Problems in Bronchopulmonary
Dysplasia
3. Cardiovascular Effects of Stem-cell Therapy in
infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Option #3 is the best as it conveys information on patients, independent and dependent variables (i.e., PICO).
- In general, a title for experimental studies would
more likely be:
✓Effects (or Effectiveness) of treatment in patients e.g.,
o Effect of early low-dose hydrocortisone on survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants (PREMILOC): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, randomized trial - The title for correlational studies would be
something like:
✓Association or Relationship between … and …
o The relationship between lower extremity measures and items on Berg Balance Scale in stroke
Journal articles: Abstracts
- Follow the requirement for an abstract in “Instruction to
Authors” of the journal you select - In general, an abstract includes:
✓Background and Purpose of the study
✓General description of Methods
✓Highlights of Results
✓Statement of Significance of results
✓General Conclusions - An abstract has a word limit of 200/250 etc. and must
be concise.
Typically, write abstract after a manuscript is written!
Journal articles: Introduction
- Introduction should consist of
✓Descriptions of the problem being studied
✓Clinical relevance (why it is important)
✓Review of the literature – relevant
background that is essential in order to
support:
➢Rationale for theoretical framework or
hypothesis
✓Specific purpose/objective (and hypothesis)
Journal articles: Methods
- The Methods section generally includes
✓Study design
✓Inclusion/exclusion criteria for and methods of
subject selection
# of subjects and mean ± SD of age; How were they
selected? IRB approval and consent form etc.
✓Experimental protocol (procedures of Tx and/or
measures)
✓Data collection techniques
✓Data analyses procedures including statistical tests
for quantitative study or coding/theme for
qualitative study
Journal articles: Results
- Results section contains, ONLY a report of results, with NO interpretation of the results (reserved for Discussion section).
- A Results section includes:
✓Narrative description of statistical outcomes in order of importance relative to the specific aims
➢ should emphasize the variables of interests rather then statistics alone;
“the differences in step length were significant, t = -3.14 (p < 0.01)”
vs.
“the elderly group demonstrated a statistically shorter step length than the younger group (t = -3.14, p < 0.01)” [GOOD Example]
✓Tables and/or figures that summarize the findings
➢ to complement and facilitate the narrative description and explanation of results
➢ to provide visual explanation
Journal articles: Discussion and conclusions
- The Discussion section, the heart of a research
report, reflects the researcher’s interpretation of
the results in terms of the study purpose and the
outside world. - This section generally covers:
➢Interpretation of study results (e.g., statistical
outcomes) in the context of
✓In comparison of results with previous work
✓Discussion of clinical significance of outcomes
✓Critique of the study limitations and strengths
✓Suggestions for future study and clinical implications
Manuscript writing
- It is important to note
✓Each paragraph should make one main point
✓Intentional sequence of ideas (logical sequence)
✓Consistent use of terms (stay consistent avoid confusion)
✓Person or “people first” language
o patients with diabetes, instead of diabetic patients
✓Avoid excess verbiage (e.g., “use” instead of “utilize”)
✓Active voice (“we applied the intervention ..”; rather than “the intervention was …”
exception: “The subject was asked to fill ….”; instead of “I asked the subject to fill ….”
Journal articles: References (or Bibliographies)
- Must follow “Instruction to Authors” of the journal about
the style of citing references throughout the text and in
the listing of references at the end of a manuscript. - Examples of citation styles are
- AMA (American Medical Asso)
- APA (American psychological Asso)
- Vancouver and
- Others
Who makes final decisions on manuscript revision,
acceptance, or rejection? journal editors or manuscript reviewers?
- Journal Editors
Scientific Presentations
- Provide an opportunity for researchers to
receive valuable feedback from colleagues on
work in progress, especially useful as one
prepares to submit for publication. - Stimulate consideration of new directions in
research. - May be offered as a poster or a platform (PPT)
presentation. - Typically a Call for Abstract seven months to
one year in advance of the conference.
The Poster presentation
- Displayed so that it can be read and viewed in a
more casual atmosphere - Opportunity to exchange ideas between the
researcher and viewer - Follow formatting guidelines of conference
organizers (dimension/orientation of poster)
The Poster presentation: Content and layout
- The poster should contain the MAJOR ELEMENTS
of the study in a clear, brief series of statements - Tables, graphs or photos should summarize and
illustrate IMPORTANT FINDINGS or unique aspects
of the methods. - Effective posters are characterized by
✓being self-explanatory (use of tables, graphs, and
photographs to illustrate)
✓without containing many written materials to avoid
losing observers; yet
✓being complete enough to allow the observer to
understand the full intent of the study
The Poster presentation
* A ________ PowerPoint slide is used to create a poster.
single
PLATFORM presentation: Visual presentation
- PLATFORM presentation at professional meetings is
usually assigned with 15 or 20 minutes including a
Q&A session. - General format
✓Brief Introduction and outline of Methods
✓Present key points from Results
✓Include take home message and limitations in the
Discussion
✓Clear conclusions and clinical implications
intro, methods, results, discussion, conclusion
Platform presentation: Visual presentation
* Types of slides
✓Words or phrases (texts)
✓Photographs (e.g., to illustrate protocol in Methods)
✓Graphs (for Results) and
✓Tables (for Results)
Platform presentation: visual present
limiting words
✓Must be legible; containing <= 6 lines, <= 45 characters each line
Platform present: visual presentation
contents of slides
✓Synchronize the content of each slide and verbal commentary
✓Use bulleted lists, easier to follow than the long sentences
✓Outline the presentation, allowing audiences to connect
