Turning Ideas Into Research Questions

1
Turning Ideas Into Research Questions

• Jon Silcock
• Pharmacy Research Practitioner
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust
• University of Leeds

2
What is the problem?

• Initial research ideas are often very general
• But good research questions need to be quite
  specific, so that- appropriate methods can be
  chosen- required resources can be identified-
  criteria for success are clear- work can be
  planned realistically- useful objectives can be
  met

3
Research ideas

• General ideas may flow from a number of basic
  desires
• Professional - I want to improve nursing
  practice
• Methodological - I want to carry out a
  questionnaire survey
• Clinical - I want to improve the care of
  patients in my practice

4
Turning ideas into questions

• A good research question is clear and specific.
  You should be able to answer it satisfactorily
  with the resources available.
• Clinical clarification who, what why?
• Practical clarification where, when how?
• Once clarified the question should be reviewed to
  see it really requires research
• Alternatives are audit or service development

5
Clinical clarification

• Who (are the patients)?- general stroke
  patients- specific men aged 65-75 who have had
  a non-haemorrhagic stroke within the last 6
  months
• What (is the intervention)?- general aspirin-
  specific aspirin 75mg vs. 300 mg given once
  daily
• Why (are we trying to do this)?- general to
  improve health- specific to reduce the
  incidence of further ischaemic events (MI and
  CVA) during the next 10 years

6
Practical clarification

• Where (is it possible to do this)?- general
  primary care- specific patients in Newtown
  Central PCT
• When (is there time to do this)?- general next
  year- specific plans required to meet funders
  call for proposals on 30 April and complete in X
  months.
• How (can we implement are plans)?- general the
  team will work together- specific I will
  coordinate the research process but external
  funding is required engage appropriate resources

7
Research question

• If the general idea was to help stroke patients,
  then the specific question might beDoes 300mg
  aspirin once daily reduce the incidence of future
  ischaemic events more than 75mg aspirin in men
  aged 65-75 who have had a non-haemorrhagic stroke
  in the past six months
• It should be clear from thinking about the
  practical clarification that it isnt actually
  realistic to answer this question robustly using
  patients from one PCT!
• New researchers may restrict themselves to
  questions that can be answered in their own
  working environment

8
Audit, research service development

• Your final research question should be realistic
  and the methods should be appropriate to meet the
  stated objectives
• There are alternatives to research that tests new
  practice or generates new knowledge
• Audit monitors current practice against agreed
  standards
• Service development implements proven good
  practice in a new environment