What are the best ways to develop research skills in healthcare?

Methodology in published paper for recruiting participants, identifying a control group, etc. one can be pretty sure the author has conducted the research themselves. Unfiltered resources are primary sources that describe original research. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-controlled studies, and case series/reports are considered unfiltered information. Filtered resources are secondary sources that summarize and analyze the available evidence. Then analysis of results for drawing conclusion. At present, the gold standard level of proof where treatments and therapies are concerned is the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). However, pragmatic approach should be single patient trial which is the reality in clinical chamber

Identifying a research question is a foundational step in the research process, reflecting not just what you want to know, but also guiding how you approach your research. The PICO framework is especially valuable as it ensures a systematic and thorough exploration of the subject matter. In the diabetes management example, the question not only addresses a critical health issue but also smartly integrates each PICO element, setting a clear path for an impactful study. This approach can lead to meaningful insights and potentially influence healthcare practices.

You need to have a clear understanding of the subject area where your research interest lies. Then you proceed to identify an area for which you have an interest in researching, you do some considerable reading about it and reach out to colleagues and experts in the field who have conducted researches closely linked with your area of interest. Draw up relevant questions that will give you a clear picture of what you’re looking to research. You can then do a knowledge, skills and attitudes assessment to gauge the knowledge of the subject matter amongst people within your study area.

When assisting students, they most often struggle with this first step. I use the PICOT framework which also adds the "T" for timeframe. When do you hope to accomplish this project by? If someone is wanting to implement research or start a quality improvement project in the workplace, you first need to identify what are the existing problems. A good place to start is by reaching out to your quality department and start looking at the data. Once you have identified a problem with supportive data, then you can start formulating your PICOT question.

Once the PICOT question has been formatted, then the literature review starts; especially if you are implementing a quality improvement project versus conducting your own research. There are many credible sources out there, but the key is patience. You need to try different arrangements of key words to generate different results. It is also helpful by narrowing the year of the search; perhaps within the last five years, to ensure you are getting the most current research conducted. Once you have a list of articles within your timeframe that align with your PICOT, you can start going through them to look for levels of research for the most credible.

Many times I hear from students, they are not comfortable with statistics. In those instances, in addition to the many software programs available, there is also the opportunity to hire a statistician. This is a great resource to ensure that your data is getting synthesized accurately so you can share your findings. They will help you with choosing the correct statistical test and determine if your data has shown statistical and/or clinical significance.

Consider joining research workshops or seminars to learn practical skills like data analysis or study design. Try conducting small-scale research projects or assisting ongoing studies to gain real-world experience.

Self-training has never been so important, yet so easy. Udemy, YouTube, LinkedIn, PubMed are the new libraries. Make use of these free online tools and turn them a personal coach!