1. ACE Curriculum 2015 The research question
Iman Sharif, MD, MPH

2. Objectives
To know the criteria for developing a “good” research question
FINER criteria
PICO question
To apply the criteria to the ACE proposals

3. Format for this session (90 minutes)
“Didactic” (30 minutes)
Please interrupt/ask questions!!
Practice in pairs (30 minutes)
Report out and discussion (30 minutes)

4. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap

5. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap
2- Formulate the question

6. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap
2- Formulate the question
3- Search for existing information

7. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap
2- Formulate the question
3- Search for existing information
4- Focus the research question

8. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap
2- Formulate the question
3- Search for existing information
4- Focus the research question
5- Design the study

9. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap
2- Formulate the question
3- Search for existing information
4- Focus the research question
5- Design the study
6- Refine the specific aims and objectives of the study

10. Steps for designing a research project
1- Identify a knowledge gap
2- Formulate the question
3- Search for existing information
4- Focus the research question
5- Design the study
6- Refine the specific aims and objectives of the study

11. Quick- write down your questions

12. Quick- write down your questions
Read them out loud
(1 at a time please)
How did you come up with that question?

13. Developing a research questionF I N E R

14. Developing a research question
F - Feasible
I - Interesting
N - Novel
E - Ethical
R - Relevant

15. FINER Criteria F - Feasible
You can get enough subjects to answer the question
Power analysis!!
You have the technical expertise
You have the time and money
Manageable in scope

16. FINER Criteria F - Feasible
You can get enough subjects to answer the question
Power analysis!!
You have the technical expertise
You have the time and money
Manageable in scope

17. Focusing the Question
Creating an answerable research question P I C O

18. PICO Question P Population/Patient I Intervention C Comparator
O Outcome

19. PICO Question P Population/Patient Be specific.
Age, race, sex, where, socioeconomic status, etc.

20. PICO Question P Population/Patient Be specific.
Age, race, sex, where, socioeconomic status, etc.
Quick – tell me the population your ACE proposal addresses

21. PICO Question I Intervention What exactly do you plan to do?
Need to know this, so you know how to compare it to what’s been done
Be Specific
Who will deliver the intervention
What does it involve
When will it happen
Where will it happen
Why (in what situations) will it happen (who qualifies/what triggers?)

22. PICO Question C Comparator
Is there a comparison arm? Pre-post? Subgroups? Known population data?
“Usual care” – define specifically just like the intervention
For comparative effectiveness research, you may need to defend “usual care” – is it ethical to do nothing?
What’s your hypothesis?

23. PICO Question O Outcome Be Specific How will you measure “better”?
S Specific
M Measurable
A Achievable
R Relevant
T Time-bound

24. PICO Question O Outcome Be Specific How will you measure “better”?
S Specific point increase in Receptive Vocab
M Measurable Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, III
A Achievable literature supports that the
R Relevant points means 50% greater high school grad
T Time-bound months post intervention

25. FINER Criteria F - Feasible
You can get enough subjects to answer the question
Power analysis!!
You have the technical expertise
You have the time and money
Manageable in scope

26. Developing a research question
F - Feasible
I - Interesting
N - Novel
E - Ethical
R - Relevant

27. FINER Criteria I - Interesting To the investigator To stakeholders
Why do you care? passion? Problem that you see in your role?
Building a career? Builds on mentors work?
To stakeholders
Community that would be beneficiaries of the research (“patients”/people/youth, etc.)
Payers/funders/health care institutions/etc.
Industry/Employers
Government/Social Service Providers/etc.

28. FINER Criteria N – Novel Confirms or refutes previous findings
Perhaps in a new population…
Perhaps in a new environment…
Perhaps with a stronger design….
Extends previous findings
Provides new findings

29. FINER Criteria E - Ethical
Equipoise (comparing 2 treatments where there is really uncertainty about which is “better”)
Does not exclude populations without good reason
For example, excluding Spanish-speakers because your research assistant doesn’t speak Spanish
Acceptable Risks
privacy, harm, debriefing
Benefits
To research participants/future individuals who are like them

30. FINER Criteria R - Relevant --- it matters To scientific knowledge
To clinical and health policy
To future research directions

31. Relevance/Value of Information in Research
1) probability that the research will produce a useful answer/product;
2) size of the impact on an affected/eligible individual;
3) number of individuals affected;
4) probability/extent to which the research results will actually be disseminated and implemented;
5) duration/lifespan of the benefit

32. Next 30 minutes Work in pairs
Write the research question(s) for your ACE proposal
Test the question with the FINER and PICO criteria
Time’s up when the bell rings!

33. Report Out/Discussion
F Feasible
I Interesting
N Novel
E Ethical
R Relevant
P Population/Patient
I Intervention
C Comparator
O Outcome