Identifying a study topic is often the most challengingpart of a research project.Each of the possible study topics has its own set of virtues and shortcomings.

1. PHC215
By Dr. Khaled Ouanes Ph.D.
E-mail: k.ouanes@seu.edu.sa
Twitter: @khaled_ouanes
INTRODUCTION TO
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH
METHODS

2. The Process of Health
Research and literature
reviews

3. The 1st step: Identifying a Study Question

4. Identifying a study topic is often the
most challenging part of a research
project.
Each of the possible study topics
has its own set of virtues and
shortcomings.

5. Brainstorming & Topic Mapping
Begin by creating a long list of possible study
topics:
 Briefly write down few areas of personal interest
 Ask associates / friends / colleagues for ideas
 Skim abstracts, journals, and books for inspiration
What topics emerge as a repeating theme?
What might be enjoyable to explore?

6. BrainstormingQuestions

7. Keywords:
Initial brainstorming about
Child health in Africa
Malaria Bednets Measles
Sudan Uganda Rwanda
Vaccination Preschool children
Malnutrition Vitamin A deficiency Kwashiorkor

8. MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)
is the NLM controlled vocabulary
thesaurus used for indexing
articles for PubMed.

9. MeSH(MedicalSubjectHeadings)

10. • You can use the MeSH index to narrow or
to expand the scope of interest.
• You can use advanced search criteria
• You can use the PubMed search Builder
• Etc.

11. Exposure, Disease, Population

12. Most topics in population health research
can be expressed in terms of:
[exposure] and [disease/outcome] in
[population]

13. The exposure can be defined as the
proximity, the interaction or contact with a
source of a disease agent or risk factor in
such a manner that effective transmission of
the agent or harmful effects of the agent
may occur

14. Examples of Types of Exposures

15. Examples of Types of Diseases

16. Examples of Types of Populations

17. Examples of “EDP” Study Questions
- Are exercise habits [exposure] related to the risk of bone
fractures [disease] in adults with diabetes [population]?
- Is reproductive history [exposure] related to the risk of
stroke [disease] among women living in rural Ontario
[population]?
- Is household wealth [exposure] related to the risk of
hospitalization for asthma [disease] in Australian children
younger than 5 years old [population]?

18. Examples of “EDP” Study Questions
- Is smoking [exposure] related to the risk of contracting
lungs cancer [disease] in males [population]?
- Is work stress [exposure] related to the risk of depression
[disease] among women with children [population]?
- Etc.

19. Reviewing the Literature

20. “Reviewing the literature” = background
reading
Start with informal sources that provide
basic information about the disease of
interest, then move on to more formal
publications and reports.

21. Informal Sources
Begin with an Internet search for information
designed for a nontechnical audience, such as
fact sheets, brochures, and websites from:
World Health Organization (WHO)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Also consider searches of newspapers, magazines,
and other news media and social Media websites
Wikipedia, Linkedin, Science Alert…

22. Statistical Reports
For global, regional, and country-level population
estimates of information about exposures, diseases,
and/or populations consult sources such as:
World Bank: world development indicators database
WHO: World Health Report
UNDP: Human Development Report
UNICEF: State of the World’s Children
American Cancer Society annual report
WFP: World Food Programme

23. Abstract Databases
Abstract: paragraph-length summary of an article,
chapter, or book
Abstract databases: searchable collections of
thousands of abstracts
Some are subscription services available through university libraries
Some are open access and available for free to everyone

24. Full-Text articles
The only way to fully understand a study is to read
the full text of the article.
So how to acquire full text articles?
 Library websites (e-journals) and physical collections
 Journal websites / Internet searches
 Request an “interlibrary loan” from a university library
 Email the author and request an electronic copy

25. PHC215
By Dr. Khaled Ouanes Ph.D.
E-mail: k.ouanes@seu.edu.sa
Twitter: @khaled_ouanes
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH METHODS
Based on the textbook of introduction to health research methods – K.H. Jacobsen