PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES DEPARTMENT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PAN AMERICAN PHAS 5114 Research & Statistical Methods in Health Care Spring Semester Faculty: Jack Runyan, PA-C, PhD Clinical Clinical Associate Professor Room 2.158, HHSE (956) 665-2298 E-mail: runyanjd@utpa.edu Elias Villarreal, PA-C Clinical Assistant Professor Room 2.138, HHSE (956) 665-2298 E-mail: evillarreal@utpa.edu Frank Ambriz, PA-C, MPAS Program Director Room 2.142 (956) 665-2298 E-mail: frankambriz@utpa.edu Class Time & Location: Monday 3:00 3:50 PM HHSE 2.104 Textbooks (required): Medical Statistics Made Easy, 2 nd Edition M.Harris & G. Taylor Scion Publishing, Oxfordshire, OX www.scionpublishing.com ISBN 9 781904 84255 2 Introduction to Research & Medical Literature for Health Professionals, 3 rd Edition J. Dennis Blessing & J. Glenn Forister Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA www.jblearning.com ISBN 9 781449 650353
Course Description and Outcomes: This course will deliver the physician assistant student an introduction to scientific research methods. It will familiarize the learner with different types of research design as well as the sequence and cycle of applied clinical research and review. Ethical issues and concepts on evidence-based medicine (EBM), as they relate to clinical medicine and research, are emphasized. The course acquaints the student with the importance of statistical analysis in research, and the application of statistical findings to research outcomes. Successful completion of the course will enable the learner to make rational decisions considering the application of published research findings to clinical challenges. It is intended to cultivate enthusiasm for exploring medical research to resolve clinical questions. Evaluation: Examination #1..33% Examination #2..33% Class Participation 33% 2
COURSE OUTLINE Week #1 Introduction; What is Research? Week of: Jan 13 th 1. Define research 2. Define, describe, and discuss the scientific research method 3. Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative research Week #2 Martin Luther King Holiday Week of: Jan 20 th Martin Luther King Holiday Week #3 Quantitative Research Methods Week of: Jan 27 th 1. Define quantitative research 2. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of quantitative research 3. Define experimental research 4. Describe an application of quantitative research in the health care field 5. Define statistics and discuss their role in quantitative research Week #4 - Basics of Measurement and Statistics Week of: Feb 3 rd 1. Compare and contrast inferential and descriptive statistics 2. Discuss common statistical treatments of data in the health care field 3. List and discuss 3 common sampling methods in health care 4. Define sampling 3
Week #5 Qualitative Research Methods Week of: Feb 10 th 1. Define qualitative research 2. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research 3. Describe an application of qualitative research in the health care field 4. Define validity 5. Define grounded theory 6. Describe case study research, action research, and historical research Week #6 Examination #1 Week of: Feb 17 th Examination #1 Week #7 Ethics in Research Week of Feb 24 th Instructor: Frank Ambriz, PA-C Ethical Principles Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects Institutional Review Board 1. Describe the evolution of ethical principles in clinical research. 2. Discuss the following topics in relation to guidelines for human research: risks and benefits of research, selection of subjects, informed consent, and privacy and confidentiality. 3. Describe the role of Institutional Review Board Week #8 Getting Started: The Anatomy & Physiology of Research Week of: Mar 3rd 1. Review the 5 steps of Scientific Method. 2. Discuss the components of a research protocol. 3. Describe the origins of a research question. 4. Identify the characteristics of a good research question. 4
Week #9 Spring Break Week of: Mar 10th Spring Break Week #10 Types of Medical Research Design I Week of Mar 17th Cohort Studies Cross-sectional & Case-control Studies 1. Discuss the fundamental difference between Observational Research and Experimental Research. 2. Explain the structure, strengths and weaknesses of Cohort Studies and Cross-sectional & Case-control Studies. 3. Define the following terms: Prevalence and Incidence. Week #11 Types of Medical Research Design II Week of: Mar 24th Diagnostic Tests Experiments 1. Describe the structure of Diagnostic Tests and Experimental Studies. 2. Define the following terms: Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive predictive value, Negative predictive value. 3. Compare and contrast Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials (RCCT s) and Randomized Controlled Field Trials (RCFT s) 4. Describe the seven tests that would help you assess the validity of a hypothesis (according to the article: Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Dr. Samuel Baron). Week #12 Examination #2 Week of: Mar 31st Examination #2 5
Week #13 Accessing EBM Databases in the UTPA Library Week of: Apr 7th Instructor: Reference Librarian, UTPA 1. Identify the major EBM databases in the UTPA library. 2. Be familiar with the process of accessing library resources off campus. Week #14 Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) in Clinical Medicine/Practice I Week of: Apr 14th 1. Define Evidence-based Medicine (EBM). 2. Understand the rationale for evidence-based approach to clinical practice. 3. Understand the steps used in the EBM process Week #15 Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) In Clinical Medicine/Practice II Week of: Apr 21st Instructor: Jack Runyan,PA-C, PhD 1. Understand the importance of a well-built clinical question. 2. Identify the components of a well-built question. 3. Describe the rules for levels of evidence used in the EBM process. Week #16 - Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) In Clinical Medicine/Practice III Week of: Apr 28th Instructor: Jack Runyan,PA-C, PhD 1. Understand the steps used in critical appraisal of a clinical study. 2. Identify the key issues that determine the validity and relevance of a clinical study. 3. Understand the structure of an EBM report. 6
Week #17 Examination #3 Week of May 5th Examination #3 AMERICAN WITH DISABILITY ACT (ADA): Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Services office for a confidential discussion of their individual needs for academic accommodation. It is the policy of the University of Texas-Pan American to provide flexible and individualized accommodation to students with documented disabilities that may affect their ability to fully participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. To receive accommodation services, students must be registered with the Disability Services office (DS), University Center #108, 665-7005 or disabilityservices@utpa.edu. 7