Med-Ed research in Nephrology 101
Speaker: Kenar Jhaveri

Challenges in med-ed research

a. Participants are actively learning over time
b. Comparison groups are difficult to identify
c. Small sample sizes and short studies
d. Open-label
e. Time between learning and behavior can be long
f. Frequent changes in regulatory expectations
g. Learners increasingly have survey fatigue
h. Conflicting demands
i. Isolation
j. Lack of programmatic support
k. Constrained budget
l. Activities not valued

The concept of T1, T2 and T3 in Med-ed research (try to achieve a T3 level research)

• T1: Knowledge, Skills, attitudes, and professionalism as showing improvement, setting usually a simulation or classroom
• T2: Patient care improvement, and setting as clinic or bedside
• T3: Patient outcomes as improvement, and clinic or community as settings

Cardinal rules of survey design

1. Identify what is to be measured
2. Define the elements
3. Develop measures of the elements
4. Review and pilot test the survey
5. Select an appropriate population
6. Distribute the survey & conduct follow-up
7. Process and check data for accuracy
8. Analyze the data

Survey design and Tools

1. Survey Design (what is the question)
2. Question development (mail, web, phone, multi mode? )
3. Open ended items
4. Close ended items
5. Keep it short and simple
6. One at a time question
7. Avoid the double negative

Post written by Dr. Kenar Jhaveri, eAJKD Editor.

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