METHODS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH ROTATION
General Description/ Educational Purpose:
Each second year nephrology fellow rotates through Methods in Clinical Research for two weeks, sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Welch Center of for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, in July/August of the second year of fellowship. This involves lectures and small group sessions between 9AM and 4 PM.
Currently, second year fellows engage in basic science research or clinical research. This rotation helps prepare the fellow by introducing principles of scientific research. This rotation also focuses areas of research as the fellow designs a research project which is then presented and modified in small group sessions. This may help develop the education and expertise required to become successful in a career as a physician-scientist and/or a clinician educator.
Educational Goals:
a. Provide and overview of clinical research methodology, especially study design, and statistical analysis;
b. Become familiar with resources available at JHMI to carry out high quality clinical research;
c. Develop a research project.
The curriculum is intended to give the fellow in Methods in Clinical Research an introduction of opportunities to achieve the cognitive knowledge, skills, professional attitudes and behaviors, and practical experience required for research in nephrology.
Teaching Methods:
Each fellow begins by designing a research project in an abstract form prior to the start of the course. Through didactic lectures, homework, and small group discussions, the fellow’s abstract is modified throughout the rotation to improve the study design. The fellow’s project may be presented at the end of the rotation.
Classroom instruction includes Statistics, Study Design, Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests and Screening, Skills in Publication of Data, Computer Skills, Ethical issues in Clinical Research, Developing Measures of Quality of Care, Searching Literature, Analyzing Multivariables, Research and Funding and Career Development, and Small Group Sessions.
Patient Characteristics/ Mix of Diseases/ Types of Patient Encounters:
(For the Methods in Clinical Research rotation, there are no specific patients assigned.)
Procedures and Services:
(No procedures are performed in this rotation.)
Reading List:
a. Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady D, Hearst N, Newman TM. Designing Clinical Research, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2001.
b. Dawson G and Trapp RG. Basic and Clinical Biostatistics, 3rd ed; McGraw-Hill, 2000.
c. Riegelman RK. Studying a Study and Testing a Test: How to Read The Medical Evidence, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2000.
d. Stata
Pathologic material:
No pathologic material is involved in this rotation.
Other Educational Resources:
The fellows in Methods in Clinical Research have tuition paid for by the School of Medicine. The fellows have a stipend available for purchase of educational materials.
Methods of Evaluation:
The fellow is evaluated by the supervising faculty. A Certificate of Participation is given upon successful completion of the rotation. A pre-test of the fellow’s knowledge is given at the start of the rotation and then repeated at the end of the rotation to gauge progress through the rotation. A final grade may be obtained if desired.
Responsibility/Supervision:
The nephrology fellow in the Methods in Clinical Research is responsible for choosing and designing a research project in abstract form prior to the start of the rotation. The fellow is responsible for attending lectures and participating in small group discussions. The fellow is expected to modify the research project during the 2 week rotation. Oral presentations may be made in front the supervising faculty and other fellows participating in the rotation.
