How can you develop research skills in public health?

To develop research skills in public health, the first step is to define your research question. This involves identifying a specific area or topic of interest within public health that you want to explore through research. Your research question should be clear, focused, and based on a gap in knowledge or a problem that needs to be addressed within the field. It should also be feasible and align with your resources and expertise. Defining a research question helps provide direction and purpose to your research efforts, guiding the entire research process from data collection to analysis and interpretation.

There are different ways to develop research skills. For me, what has worked well over the years are: - Working under a mentor - Reading papers every single day - Working in a team - Being open to learning and receiving feedback. Remember - you cannot develop a skillset overnight. It takes significant time. So, be patient.

Evidence of reading is required in all scientific enquiries. Remember that you need to be analytical and critical and not just describe the works that you have read. In line with is the background of your work should be kept short and must include the following points: A brief statement of the problem that justifies doing the work, or the hypothesis on which it is based. The findings of others that will be further developed or challenged. An explanation of the general approach and objectives. This part may indicate the means by which your research questions will be examined, especially if the method is new. The latest reviews should be included in your work in the support of your project.

In my experience to enhance and develop research skills in the field of public health, there are many important steps that should be followed, such as identifying the most important research areas and research topics. Cooperating with experienced researchers and attending conferences, training, field work and workshops that contribute to acquiring knowledge and developing skills in this field. Defining the problem and starting to set some questions is important way that helps the researcher in knowing the mechanism that should be followed through the sources of information and published research. In the end, collecting and analyzing information and data contributes to develop research skills by reaching convincing results.

In defining the research problem be comprehensive and understand all the aspects that may be contributing to the problem. One of the steps could be to enlist all the stakeholders related to the problem so that when you develop your data collection tool it could be very inclusive and if possible provide solutions for the priority gaps that you selected to investigate.

Once you've crafted a public health research design, it's crucial to assess whether the project warrants Institutional Review Board (IRB) review for the safeguarding of human subjects. ?? Prioritizing ethics in research is the right thing to do and is key to its success

A clear and focused research question guides in selecting a research path. A researcher should be clear about the aim of his/her research. Based on the desired outcome of the research, a research path is decided. Some research topics might require data that is considered confidential by institutions, organizations, companies, etc. In such cases, running a survey or conducting small interviews can lead to collecting the required data. In the preliminary stages of research, systematic reviews, and qualitative, and observational research designs play a vital role in understanding the subject and collecting appropriate data. It is very essential to be ethical and considerate while collecting data.

It is becoming increasingly common but also essential to include the voices of the population we are researching into the research project as early as possible as they should have an opportunity to review the methods and study materials at the outset. In my experience this brings different perspectives which hugely enrich the research. The process should only be undertaken by those with experience in PPI research or under the guidance of those who have this expertise otherwise ethical issues can arise (inadvertently).

Choosing research design in public health must be focused at meeting community challenges. It should not be desktop or top-down designed but be co-created since researchers are not working in vacuum, and it must meet available scientific rigour. Consider the utilization of the whole-of-society approach (One Health) and co-create from problem definition, methodologies, implementation and even co-financing. Such design is likely to have impact and sustainability added as value.

After defining research question, you need to find answers for these questions: WHY are we doing this? WHAT are we going to do to answer the research question, and HOW we are going to perform it. What is your hypothesis? Define your research tasks and subtasks. Use standardized protocols to design the tests. Consider inclusion of appropriate control groups and statistical analysis. You need to know the metrics: what is good results? What are the exclusion criteria? Consider ethics.

I strongly suggest to consider ethics before any other aspect. In my experience in mental health and suicide prevention research, its the protection of the participants what tends to be left till the end, when it should be the first step, as they are offering us their time and help.

In my experience, clear research objectives guide data collection efforts. In addition, select appropriate data sources, such as surveys or literature reviews. Develop a detailed data collection plan with tools, methods, and timelines. Prioritize ethical considerations, obtain informed consent, and ensure participant privacy. Choose suitable data collection methods based on the research question. Conduct pilot testing before full-scale data collection to address any issues.

Understanding the environment and respecting the people involved in the research can go a long way in data collection. It ensures participation, cooperation and might influence participants to be more truthful in giving out the data required. It ties together every other component in data collection.

In my opinion, the data collection process within the healthcare domain needs significant upgrades. This is mainly due to the fact that the data most of the time is limitedly available to the researcher or team requesting it, which hinders the cross-review of the same dataset by different research teams or different research methodologies.

To ensure a comprehensive study, it is crucial to determine the approach you will take towards the available data: qualitative, quantitative, or a mixed approach. Next, identify the most popular and valid tools associated with each approach and incorporate them into your study. It is also important to exercise innovation while maintaining a clear understanding of your data's characteristics. By combining a thoughtful approach with appropriate tools and a touch of creativity, you can conduct a robust and insightful study.

Firstly, I focus on understanding the nuances of the data, considering statistical significance, clinical relevance, and potential implications. This involves collaborating closely with researchers and statisticians to grasp the intricacies of the study design and statistical methodologies.

When analysing and intrepreting data, it is important that you understand the nature and type of you data. Qualitative data, will require you to use qualitative data analysis approaches that are different from Quantitative data analysis techniques. When analysing and quantitative data, it is imprtant that you use the appropriate analysis method depending on the nature and type of your data as continuous and dichotoumous variables are appropriately analysed using different statistical methods.

From my experience, it’s considered common practice that public health datasets are solely analyzed by healthcare researchers. However, these datasets can be used by other disciplines as well and provide very useful research contributions. So if we can manage to expand the horizon of research teams’ involvement for the same datasets but from different team backgrounds, this can efficiently provide a more solid research foundation and valuable statistical insights that can benefit the body of knowledge and progress its development.

Working with colleagues who belong to other countries enriches the #research #methodology and scope. However, when interpreting data from other countries, it is always advisable to be careful! Yes, please be careful not to mislead the readers by your interpretation. Unfortunately, sometimes I encounter researchers interpreting data related to social sciences based on their #stereotyping, their perceptions, or based on their impressions!! This is very dangerous in #stigmatizing certain population with false impressions. Writing the discussion is always a challenge and a gift for others, so as a researcher, I love to perform a literature review from scientifically sound researches before starting my research to ensure honest interpretation.

Many different type of tools are available to analyze data and interpretate them as well. Depending on the type of research design and collection method a comprehensive data analysis plan outlining the specific statistical methods or qualitative approaches needs to be identified. A data cleaning needs to be performed to identify any errors or gaps. The data may have a visual representation which can make it easy to analyze. Guidelines can be prepared depending on the research question and objective of study. Identification of Patterns and trends from the collected data for better interpretation. Finally, discuss the practical implications of the findings for the public health practice.

In order to avoid predatory journals, it is essential to carefully investigate a journal's standing and reliability prior to submitting your work. Verify if the content is included in reputable academic databases and directories, and examine the composition of their editorial board to ensure the presence of acknowledged authorities in the respective field. Exercise caution when encountering excessively assertive solicitation and guarantees of expedited publishing. Finally, consult mentors or colleagues who are knowledgeable about respected journals in your field for guidance.

Presenting my reports and engaging in discussions has proven to be a valuable practice for enhancing my understanding of the subject matter. It's not just about conveying information to others; rather, it serves as a powerful tool for self-assessment. When I articulate my findings and insights to an audience or a colleague, I am forced to critically assess and explain every aspect of my work. Through this process, I often find myself identifying errors or gaps in my analysis that may have gone unnoticed during the initial stages. The act of explaining concepts to others forces me to confront potential weaknesses in my approach and encourages me to think more deeply about the underlying factors.

Defining a research question is key for an impactful research. Asking the right question and build an appropriate hypothesis to test the question is essential.

Presenting report must consider the following: The key essentials of the report - clarity, conciseness, accuracy and good organization with possible logical sections and headings. Select a reporting platform that fit the research outcome(s) carefully (journal, conference, workshop etc.). Also consider provision of feedback and regular reports to the community, relevant stakeholders and the public health authorities/policy makers as well as funders. Produce relevant IEC (information, communication and communication) materials - graphics, video and audio clips, leaflets, etc. for dissemination.

At this point, the researcher is ready to present their work to the rest of the research community. First, ensure the relevance and authenticity of the publication platform (e.g., journal) you have chosen. Then put your findings together. Ask yourself; if someone else had undertaken this research, how would I have wanted them to explain this to me? Write as a teacher would to students; you're the brain behind this work and nobody really knows this stuff more than you and your team. Use clear correct grammar and avoid typographical errors: proof-reading is key. If you have conducted an objective research, you should have no fear of writing objectively at this point. Lastly, adhere to publication standards in your field and of the journal.

Disseminating research results towards the public is always a challenge. I find it very rewarding and necessary to write articles for newspapers in order to inform the public. It should always be clear in what way research results impact society.

This is an entirely different process from what we talked about earlier in the previous section. now we have members of the public, media and policy makers, make your results simpler and easier to digest and understand for a non healthcare person. Use digital media as a tools of spreading your research, and also be very careful of what you share with the public, as researchers we are responsible for the information shared and the impact it can have on people's lives. Be responsible with the data you present. Enlarge your sphere of impact by using various digital media tools such as blogs, podcasts and campaigns over social media to increase outreach.

One of the most challenging aspects of any research is how we communicate the findings of our work to others in our field and, perhaps even more importantly, outside it. Many of us are deeply technical, and this can make it challenging to present our findings to a lay-audience. Care should always be taken to know your audience, and to tailor your messaging to meet that target. Your communications should result in a shared understanding with your audience about what your research shows, the implications, and what the next steps are to continue to advance the practice, policy, or research.

Although publications are the major ways to disseminate our scientific research work, the unwritten rule of "publish or perish" in academia has its own flow.

Research results must be used for your work or project. In addition to publishing it in peer-reviewed journals, sharing the lessons learned from its application is the best way to impact society. To do this, feel free to respond to calls for papers related to the subject at symposia and scientific conferences.

To develop research skills in public health, it's crucial to engage in hands-on research projects, from design to analysis and interpretation. Complementing this with academic coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, and health policy builds a strong foundation. Regular reading and evaluation of current public health research keep you updated on new methods and findings. Attending workshops and seminars for insights into advanced techniques and trends is also beneficial. This mix of practical experience, academic learning, and ongoing professional development is essential for refining public health research skills.

There will be a time when your published papers will become obsolete or incomplete. It won’t explain every observation anymore. Don’t get protective. Be the first to question your old data and to find a better explanation to the expanded data!

Public health research skills is above all about learning to find the right research question. So to find the right research question, you will need to have synthesized good observations. Which suggests prior work to synthesize all the relevant and reliable informations available on a very specific subject. As much as possible, gather data relating to all strata of social determinants of health or I would say disease and structure them. This step makes it possible to identify gaps and finaly identify possible research questions, to discuss & multidisciplinary team. To conclude, the development of research skills first begins with the adoption of a good research strategy to find out the relevant research question.

For public health research that will truly have impact, ascertain what are the evidence gaps and needs. Stakeholder engagement including public engagement and involvement (PPIE) exercises can be invaluable and will help you identify relevant research questions. Then review the existing literature to find out what is already known on the topic.

To develop research skills in public health: 1. Build a strong foundation in research methods and statistics. 2. Stay updated on research and identify knowledge gaps. 3. Collaborate with experienced researchers and work on projects. 4. Attend workshops and conferences for learning and networking. 5. Enhance critical thinking skills by evaluating research and analyzing data. 6. Conduct literature reviews to understand existing knowledge. 7. Gain hands-on experience in designing and implementing studies. 8. Familiarize yourself with data analysis software. 9. Understand ethical considerations in research. 10. Publish and present findings to contribute to the field. Remember, research skills require dedication and lifelong learning.