Course Description

consecutively from the first semester of the clinical residency year, providing the opportunity for development of a prospectively planned and approved translational/outcomes research project which is advisor-guided, student-directed, and designed to support and enhance students’ abilities to apply their graduate learning experiences and achieve tangible outcomes. The Project course series includes all aspects of the translational/outcomes research project, including the planning, implementation, conduct, data entry, analysis, intereptation of results, preparation, and presentation of the research project, both oral and written. The project focuses on direct, tangible outcomes applicable to CLS professional competencies and any aspects of clinical laboratory science where quality gaps exist. The project is conducted during the clinical practice year at the assigned DCLS clinical practice affiliate site.

The goal of CLSC 7289 DCLS Research Project II is advisor-guided, student-directed research including conducting research, collection of all pertinent data needed to address the proposed hypotheses, preliminary analysis of data, development of a written report and oral presentation of preliminary findings.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits:  3

Hours: Participants should anticipate spending approximately 150-300 hours on the research, or an average of 10-20 hours per week for 15 weeks. The Research Chair and the student will develop an individualized timeline for completion of the course requirements.

Prerequisites

Enrollment as a matriculated students in the DCLS program
Completion of CLSC 7189 DCLS Research Project I

Additional Requirements: The student will be required to interact with clinical affiliate site department supervisor(s), laboratory administrators, pathologists, physicians, and/or other healthcare professionals to explore aspects of project relevancy, development, and implementation. To make substantial progress, it is essential that student set and meet aggressive goals and communicate/meet regularly with their major advisors to ensure the research project is progressing in a focused and high quality manner.

Technical Requirements: Students are required to have reliable access to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider. In addition, specific computer hardware, software and browser requirements for the University online course management system are required. Power Point viewer, Adobe Reader and statistical analysis software (i.e. SPSS or similar) are required.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

The primary goal is to apply cumulative understanding and skills to a specific translational research situation. The course goal is to assess the student’s theoretical knowledge and research proficiency to a practical test by carrying out an independent, faculty guided project, producing an original piece of research, and making a significant contribution to solving a problem and expanding the knowledge base in the specific discipline.

The student is expected to complete an independent research activity that will make a significant contribution to the field of clinical laboratory science. Since students enter the course having different levels of knowledge and experience related to the research project, each student must develop the specifications and outcomes for this major assignment and obtain approval from his/her Research Committee Chair and major site advisor.

The primary goal of this course in the three course series is to apply theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills to conducting the research and gathering/analyzing data. The expected outcome is a data set and preliminary analysis of findings.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Monitor laboratory data, test utilization, and diagnostic testing processes for individual patients and populations using informatics and analytics to reduce diagnostic errors, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.(IOM Core Competencies1: quality improvement, informatics)
Apply theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills to identify and develop a research project, a specific research question, and hypotheses.
Conduct research and apply evidence to demonstrate clinical utility of laboratory tests and algorithms and to improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of the overall diagnostic testing process. (IOM Core Competencies1: evidence-based practice, quality improvement, patient-centered care, informatics)
Conduct the research as proposed in research design/methods,
Collect data for analysis,
Prepare data for analysis utilizing an appropriate statistical software,
Select appropriate statistical methods for data analysis,
Prepare a preliminary draft of data analysis,
Formulate preliminary research findings based on data analysis,
Educate health care providers, patients, their families, and the general public on the indications, best evidence, patient preparation, and interpretation of clinical laboratory testing, including home self-testing. (IOM Core Competencies1: patient-centered care, interprofessional teams)
Communicate research findings and their appropriate theoretical and methodological issues effectively and efficiently,
Develop a draft written report of research findings,
Present research experience and preliminary finding via oral presentation,
Participate in public and private health policy decision making at all organization and government levels using best evidence.(IOM Core Competencies1: quality improvement, interprofessional teams)
Identify unanticipated limitations/problems encountered and how they were addressed.