1. Research & scholarship

2. Curriculum overview
Learning outcome
Key capabilities
Level 1
Adopts an evidence-based approach to paediatric health practice and critically appraises existing published research.
Carries out a simple literature review, evaluating evidence and demonstrating the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses in all evidence sources.
Interprets research results and explains the findings to parents, CYP and the MDT.
Level 2
Implements an evidence-based approach to practice to inform decision making and enhance patient care and patient outcomes.
Participates in research activity (e.g. national projects, journal clubs, publications and presentations).
Applies knowledge of different research principles when critiquing a research article.
Level 3
Demonstrates the independent development and revision of guidelines and procedures centred around current clinical research and evidence based healthcare to improve service delivery.
Practises evidence-based medicine and critically analysing its limits.
Leads in the development and revision of local guidelines and procedures to improve service delivery.

3. Underpinning knowledge
Research & scholarship
The role of both quantitative and qualitative research
Evidence based practice and application to helping patients make informed decisions
Ethics of research, e.g. recruiting to studies and research governance.
Basic research principles e.g. literature review, critical appraisal.

4. Useful training and resources
Good clinical practice training course through teaching hospitals and universities
Good practice in research (2010) GMC
Archives of Disease in Childhood
How to read a paper – web based resources providing basics of research and statistics
Pubmed
Cochrane library

5. Useful training and resources… cont’d
Basic research skills training for neonatologists:
Academic toolkit provides a useful resource for trainees interested in navigating research pathways:
Research funding database provides current funding opportunities for research projects and posts -
RCPCH Academic webpage-

6. Research for everyone
It is tempting to think of research as separate from clinical practice
Research guides our practice every day through guidelines, new treatments, and evidence based practice
It is essential to be able to assess the quality of research and understand strengths of recommendations

7. Every day research opportunities
Use local teaching and journal clubs as an opportunity to appraise papers
Identify clinical questions in day to day work and plan a case based discussion to review your findings
Develop an evidence-based guideline for use in your centre
Assess the effects of your guideline and present at a local or national meeting
Become involved in recruitment to trials running locally
Consider the role in larger national and international trials to support understanding of collaborative working

8. Additional research opportunities
Attend a meeting of the local ethics committee to understand principles of research ethics
Contact clinicians involved in research locally to identify additional opportunities
Complete a systematic review and submit to a relevant journal for possible publication
Consider time out of programme for research if this is an area of particular interest

9. Additional research opportunities
Don’t forget wider data aspects that can be researched and used to drive improvements, for example:
Measuring numbers and themes of complaints
Using patient voice as part of your research activity
Patient flow and turnover
You may view these as audit but be careful to consider all aspects of research activity, e.g.
Audit, evaluation, action research and learning sets, social research to name but a few.

10. GMC good medical practice says:
You must be competent in all aspects of your work, including management, research and teaching
You must act with honesty and integrity when designing, organising or carrying out research, and follow national research governance guidelines and our guidance