| CODE | TCM5103 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods and Appraisal of Scientific Literature | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The theoretical teaching programme during the first year of part-time studies is covered by a series of online pre-recorded lectures supported by interactive tutorials and case-based discussions related to critical thinking. The scope of the study-unit is to train the student in apply rigid scientific criteria to research and publication. Study-unit Aims: The Study-unit aims to: • Train students in the collection and processing of meaningful data in Health systems; • Treat the ethical basis of medical research; • Discuss qualitative and quantitative analysis of clinical studies; • Develop the techniques used in the critical appraisal of medical papers; • Develop the skills necessary to present research in the various scientific fora. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Describe the discipline and principles guiding medical research; • Explain the different formats making up medical research; • Analyze the different types and uses of the different survey methods; • Analyze the development of research ethics and the guiding codes; • Explain the basic principles of research ethics including consent and respect for autonomy; • Describe the basics about the researcher’s responsibilities; • Describe the ethical concerns in recruitment and writing proposals; • Analyze the essentials about professional responsibility and good clinical practices in research including EU guidelines; • Discuss the fundamental principles of quantitative and qualitative research; • Understand the principles of statistical analysis in medical research. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Design a research proposal; • Carry out a critical appraisal of the scientific literature; • Apply for the ethical approval of a research proposal; • Carry out a randomized controlled study; • Analyze data using the correct statistical tools; • Relate study observations to the corpus of medical topic in a subject; • Prepare a paper for publication; • Communicate scientific research findings to the scientific community. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: • B Kirkwood and J Sterne. Essential Medical Statistics. Wiley Blackwell, U.K., 2020, 3rd edition, +544p. ISBN13: 9781405158961 • M Bland. Introduction to Medical Statistics. Oxford UP, U.K., 2015, 4th edition, +446p. ISBN-13: 978-0199589920 • GD Garson. Statnotes: Topics in Multivariate Analysis. North Carolina State University, 2009 • Cloud Software Group, Inc. Data Science Textbook. Cloud Software Group, Inc., 2020 https://docs.tibco.com/data-science/textbook • DJP Barker, C. Cooper and G. Rose. Epidemiology in Medical Practice. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1998, 5th Edition, +178p. ISBN: 978-0-443-05620-8 • Department of Health Information and Research: Registries. DHIR, Malta, http://sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=41 • W. Rosenberg and A Donald. Evidence-based medicine: an approach to clinical problem-solving. BMJ, 1995, 310:1122-1126 • DL Sackett, WMC Rosenberg, JA Muir Gray, R Brian Haynes, and W Scott Richardson. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ, 1996, 312:71-72 • T Greenhalgh. How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine. Wiley Blackwell, U.K., 2006, 3rd edition, +248p. ISBN: 978-1405139762 [see also: vww.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/315/7109/672; www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/315/7110/740; www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/315/7101/180; www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/315/7102/243; www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/315/7103/305] |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Project and Tutorial | ||||||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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