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Objectives/Requirements

Third-Year Research Project

MED 8101-8104:Clinical Epidemiology is a required third-year course that consists of students developing and conducting a clinical research project. The goal of this course is to develop an understanding of clinical research. The course is designed to give students an opportunity, which they previously may not have had, to investigate a topic of interest. All medical students are required to formulate a research question; design a study; utilize a secondary dataset or chart review; test and/or verify their research question; present their findings; and complete a written report. This course is different than the traditional mentored research in that, students generate the idea and are the principal investigators, while under guidance and support of faculty from the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical Education and campuses.

It is hoped this early exposure to research will encourage students to undertake research projects during residency and while in practice.

Educational Goal: Develop an Understanding of Clinical Research

Course Learning Objectives:
On completion of this course and its assignments, the student should be able to:

  • Formulate a research question
  • Identify and evaluate basic study designs (e.g., descriptive, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort) used in observational epidemiology
  • Design an observational epidemiology study
  • Obtain IRB approval
  • Understand and utilize existing data and/or secondary datasets
  • Recognize appropriate analysis and interpret results to answer a research question
  • Present research findings in a useful and readable manner, including clear and concise tables
  • Write a research manuscript

Course Activities:
Students will:

  • Formulate a research question on a topic of personal interest and curiosity
  • Conceptualize and design a chart review-based clinical research project to answer the research question
  • Complete the CITI on-line IRB education/research ethics course
  • Apply for approval by the Human Subjects Committee (IRB) at the University of North Dakota
  • •Utilize a secondary dataset or chart review to gather data
  • Use appropriate statistical analysis output of data to determine the findings of the study
  • Develop a 15-minute presentation of the study to be given to the class
  • Write a manuscript of the study in IMRAD format

Monitor:
Department of Family and Community Medicine faculty; Clinical Faculty

General Requirements

1. Student(s) must be a primary investigator.

2. Pick a classmate to jointly conduct the project. No 3 member teams without approval.

3. Discussion and approval of your project with Dr. Beal.

4. Clinical Faculty mentored projects, if applicable:

*Review Clinical Faculty mentored project requirement
*Complete Research Proposal Form

5. Define a need for new or continued research in an area of interest.

*Develop questions that a study may answer.

6. Complete the CITI Online Basic Course and forward a copy of the Completion Report to Dr. Beal. Citi Course instructions for UND.

7. Obtain UND IRB Approval

8. Obtain Hospital/agency IRB Approval

9. Utilize the secondary datasets or chart review to obtain data.

*You cannot review or collect data until you have UND and/or Hospital IRB approval

10. Presentation

  • 15 minutes total
  • 10-12 minutes presentation of information
  • 2-5 for questions/comments

11. Complete a concise, well-written report:

  • medical journal format
  • 250 word structured abstract summarizing project and findings
  • IRMAD- Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion
  • approximately 8-12 pages or about 2,000-2,500 words of text not including Abstract & Reference
  • double-spaced using a 12-point font
  • adequate citations to thoroughly explore topic

12. Deadlines

  • Monday, September 4, 2017: Research Project Topic Form
  • Monday, October 23, 2017: IRB Forms
  • Monday January 8, 2018: Introduction and Methods Sections
  • Monday, March 12, 2018: Data Due
  • Monday, April 16, 2018: Results & Discussion Sections
  • Presentations of projects:
    Bismarck/Minot- Thursday, May 17, 2018
    Fargo/Grand Forks- Friday, May 18, 2018
  • Monday, May 28, 2018: Final paper

13. E-mails copies of the paper and presentation to Dr. Beal.

Paper- preferably in Microsoft Word, of the manuscript. Figures, tables and/or graphs should be separate pages/files.

14. All Abstracts will be published on the DFM Research & Grants website, with manuscripts available upon request, unless written notification is given stating that you do not wish your manuscript to be shared.

Education Resources
1301 N Columbia Rd Stop 9037
Suite E438
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
P 701.777.3800
F 701.777.6290
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    School of Medicine & Health Sciences

    1301 N Columbia Rd Stop 9037
    Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037

    701.777.2514

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