Methods For Medical Research
Medical research is the study of how diseases and illnesses affect/infect human health. The study is aimed at unraveling the source of a disease, why it occurs, how it occurs and how it can be treated or prevented.
Research can either be scientific or historical.
a) Historical Research: In this research method, guidelines and techniques are set for the research to be conducted. Identification of the subject to be studied is done. The subject has to be understood well to avoid mixing issues in the course of research. This is followed by evidence of existence of the subject. If for example the subject is a disease, after it has been identified, what evidence is there that it exists? Have any patients come forth with complaints? Data collection will be carried out in a health facility by a research team, before moving out into the field to establish the source and other related data including how it is spread and what are the causes. Analysis of data collected will follow, and this will yield very vital information that can be used by the public to avoid infections, by other agencies in providing any necessary help that may be required and medical personnel to organize for treatments. The final part is the writing of the research report. The report will include every detail of the research, i.e. why the research was necessary, start date, data collected, research costs and conclusion. All members of the research team are generally required to endorse the report. This makes it authentic and can be referred to or used in other studies.
b) Scientific Research: This follows a well-designed process. As with historical research, the subject of study will be identified and a topic of the subject laid down. A provisional explanation or theory is then formed. This is discussed in detail by the research team. Assumptions will be made, and it is such assumptions that will either be proved or disapproved by the experiment to be carried out in an effective manner. This is followed by data collection and eventually analysis of the data. If the experiment confirms the assumptions, it is said to be successful, but if it disapproves, then it is unsuccessful and another round of study may be undertaken. Scientific research involves the use of varied tools to achieve an accurate result. Medical scientific research may also involve other team members drawn outside the medical field. Such members are needed to give their professional input into the study. This makes the study results accurate and provable.
Research Publication
There is no need to carry out research if results cannot be disseminated for end users to apply. This can only be possible if such findings are published for the wider society. There are specific journals that are used by different professions, including medical, where research findings are published. Medical research findings go through peer review, where other scholars go through the findings and do reviews before the publication goes out to the public for consumption.