Goals: The faculty will strive to:

1. Assist the student with identifying an appropriate clinical research project that can realistically be completed within the available time.
2. Provide direction in organizing the essential elements of clinical research to assure successful completion of the project.
3. Introduce the student to principles of study design, data collection, data management and analysis.
4. Provide insight into specific issues in clinical research, including potential sources of bias and ethical considerations important to human research.
5. Provide an opportunity to learn the ropes of professional manuscript preparation, review, and submission for publication.

Objectives: Upon completion of the rotation, the student should be able to:

1. Identify interesting questions for future clinical research.
2. Know the designs available for clinical research and understand the major advantages and disadvantages of each.
3. Be able to organize an orderly plan for answering a clinical research question.
4. Be comfortable with computer management and simple basic analysis of research data.
5. Be able to prepare professional-quality scientific manuscript.

Learning activities:

1. Literature review.
2. Study design.
3. Data collection.
4. Data Management using computer software (e.g., SAS), analysis of results.
5. Manuscript preparation.
6. Students will plan and complete a clinically-oriented research project under faculty supervision.

Learning Resources:

1. Department Library and literature file.

Student Evaluation:

1. Clinical Evaluation Form - 50%.
2. Satisfactory completion of written report of research project - 50%.

Course Evaluation:

1. Elective Evaluation Form

Elective Administrator: Hasan Rajab, Ph.D. Scott and White Clinic 2401 S. 31st St. Temple, Texas 76508 (254) 724-1077