Foundations of Clinical Research

Become a successful evidence-based practitioner!

How do you evaluate the evidence? Is the information accurate, relevant and meaningful for clinical decision making? Did the design fit the research questions and was the analysis and interpretation of data appropriate?

Here are all the materials you need to take your first steps as evidence-based practitioners…how to use the design, data and analysis of research as the foundation for effective clinical decision making. You’ll find support every step of the way as you progress from the foundations of clinical research and concepts of measurement through the processes of designing studies and analyzing data to writing their own research proposal.

Features

    Conceptual descriptions of analytic procedures used in EBP as well as tables that demonstrate simple calculations
    Algorithm for choosing a statistical procedure based on a study’s design
    Diagrams that help students understand experimental and observational design variations
    Guidelines for critical appraisal of various types of studies
    Focus on sensitivity/specificity and likelihood ratios, number needed to treat, and measuring clinically meaningful change
    Special features that illustrate how research applies to practice, including, “Case-in Point,” “Fun Facts,” “Historical Notes,” and end-of-chapter ‘take-away’ commentaries from the author

New To This Edition

    Updated, revised, and expanded! Encompassing changes in the field of clinical research and the growing emphasis on EBP and patient-centered care
    New Chapters! Translational Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Principles of Clinical Trials, and Qualitative Research
    Updated! Examples that provide a relevant context for understanding designs and analyses

Table of Contents

Part I: FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH
1. Frameworks for Generating and Applying Evidence
2. On the Road to Translational Research
3. Defining the Research Question
4. The Role of Theory in Research and Practice
5. Understanding Evidence-Based Practice
6. Searching the Literature
7. Ethical Issues in Clinical Research

Part II: CONCEPTS OF MEASUREMENT
8. Principles of Measurement
9. Concepts of Measurement Reliability
10. Concepts of Measurement Validity
11. Designing Surveys and Questionnaires
12. Understanding Health Measurement Scales

Part III: DESIGNS FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH
13. Choosing a Sample
14. Principles of Clinical Trials
15. Design Validity
16. Experimental Designs
17. Quasi-Experimental Designs
18. Single - Subject Designs
19. Exploratory Research: Observational Designs
20. Descriptive Research
21. Qualitative Research

Part IV: ANALYZING DATA
22. Descriptive Statistics
23. Foundations of Statistical Inference
24. Comparing Two Means: The t-test
25. Comparing More Than Two Means: Analysis of Variance
26. Multiple Comparison Tests
27. Nonparametric Tests for Group Comparisons
28. Measuring Association for Categorical Variables: Chi-Square
29. Correlation
30. Regression
31. Multivariate Analysis
32. Measurement Revisited: Reliability and Validity Statistics
33. Diagnostic and Screening Procedures
34. Epidemiology: Measuring Risk

Part V: Putting It All Together
35. Writing a Research Proposal
36. Critical Appraisal: Evaluating Research Reports
37. Synthesizing Evidence: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
38. Disseminating Research

Appendices
Statistical Tables
Relating the Research Question to the Choice of Statistical Test
Data Management
Glossary
Index