Introduction to Health Research

Overview of Health Research

• Health research has multiple dimensions:
  • Theoretical purposes leading to applied research.
  • Prevention and therapeutic angles are important.
  • Bench to bedside concept: laboratory findings must be applicable to humans.

Types of Research

• Exploratory Research: Seek clues when little information is available.
• Confirmatory Research: Strengthening clues already found.
• Implementation Research: Evaluating how government programs function and making necessary adjustments.
• Translational Research: Moving from bench research to human applications for better health outcomes.

Importance of Planning

• Critical to involve the right people in planning stages to avoid potential issues.
• Teamwork is essential; solo research rarely succeeds.

Review Stages in Research

• Scientific Review: Assesses novelty, rationality, and justification of the research.
• Ethics Review: Ensures protection of human subjects participating in the research.
• Regulatory Reviews: Focus on foreign funding, sample shipment, and protecting intellectual property.

Components of the Research Process

• Data Collection:
  • Collect data with specific purpose.
  • High quality data is crucial for meaningful conclusions.
• Evidence-Based Action: Translating research findings into actionable health policies.

Scope and Objectives of Health Research

• Objectives may include:
  • Creating new information.
  • Verifying existing information (e.g., incidence of diseases).
  • Finding cause and effect relationships (e.g., links between lifestyle and diseases).
  • Testing new interventions (e.g., drugs, vaccines).

Study Design Considerations

• Choosing the right study design is crucial to avoid futile research.
• Types of studies:
  • Qualitative Studies: Use interviews and observations.
  • Quantitative Studies: Use structured questionnaires.
  • Observational Studies: No intervention; studies naturally occurring outcomes.
  • Experimental Studies: Investigators implement an intervention.

Ensuring Validity and Reducing Errors

• Sample Size and Selection:
  • Sample must be representative for external validity.
  • Adequate sample size ensures meaningful inferences.
• Error Management:
  • Random errors due to individual variations.
  • Bias due to faulty procedures or measurement errors.

Challenges in Research Design

• Importance of literature research to identify confounders and effect modifiers.
• Pilot studies can help identify issues before full-scale research.
• Clear criteria for inclusion and exclusion of participants.

Data Collection and Quality Assurance

• Design appropriate data collection instruments.
• Ensure standardized measurements and quality control in labs.
• Plan for statistical analysis early in the study.

Goals of Health Research

• Improve population health, predict diseases, and explore interventions.
• Address both individual and community health solutions.
• Promote healthy behaviors and community practices.

Conclusion

• Healthy individuals contribute to building healthy nations.