|
Core Courses
|
Fundamentals of Epidemiology |
|
Instructor: |
Viktor Bovbjerg, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets for 1.25 hours twice per week for one semester; offered during the Fall semester |
| Content: |
An introduction to the field of epidemiology and the methods of epidemiologic research; interpretation, critique, and methods of conducting epidemiologic research. Each step will be considered individually, but also within the overall setting of the complete, coordinated effort through which the project is completed. The latter includes formulating a research question, choosing a study design, collecting and analyzing data, controlling bias and confounding factors, and interpreting study results. These topics are discussed also within the context of designing a CAM research project. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
The trainees learn how a research study is performed, beginning with formulation of the question of interest within the context of a testable hypothesis, and concluding with interpretation and description of the results following proper analysis. Trainees learn potential pitfalls that may be encountered as the project unfolds, together with methods of avoiding or minimizing such. |
|
Epidemiology of Disease |
|
Instructor: |
Viktor Bovbjerg, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 1.25 hours twice per week for one semester; offered each Spring semester |
| Content: |
A survey of the epidemiology of different diseases, both infectious and chronic. Trainees learn about the natural history, clinical course, and risk factors for the specific diseases. In addition, course participants apply their knowledge of epidemiology to a disease of interest and write a research proposal to address their topic. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
CAM trainees participating in the CAMTP consider actual epidemiologic data within the context of developing a CAM-related research protocol. In addition, trainees' knowledge related to their research interests improve markedly. |
|
Introduction to Biostatistics |
|
Instructor: |
Robert D. Abbott, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 1.25 hours three times per week for one semester; offered each Fall semester |
| Content: |
Covers the fundamentals in health statistics including descriptive statistics, estimation, hypothesis testing, precision, and sample size. Issues and concerns related to CAM research will also be addressed. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees become trained in the design and conduct of clinical experiments including the determination of sample size and statistical power, as well as the basic analysis of completed experiments. This course is of particular significance to the CAM researcher who needs to have the language and know-how to address questions raised by conventional researchers/peer reviewers. |
|
Statistical Computing & Graphics |
|
Instructor: |
Frank E. Harrell, Jr., PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 3 hours once per week for one semester; offered each Fall semester |
| Content: |
Provides an introduction to statistical computing using primarily the S-PLUS language. Topics covered include entering, checking, re-coding, and graphically exploring data; graphical perception; and creating easy-to-interpret graphics that display interesting patterns in data as well as the results of analyses. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees will be able to input, inspect, and do computations on data, compute descriptive and inferential statistics, and calculate power and sample size for simple experiments. They learn the elements of good graphical presentation of information and how to use an interactive statistical computing and graphics language to produce high-quality statistical graphics. These tools help the CAM researcher uncover interesting patterns in data and be able to communicate those patterns to others. |
|
Biostatistical Modeling |
|
Instructor: |
Frank E. Harrell, Jr., PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 1.25 hours three times per week for one semester; offered each Spring semester |
| Content: |
Covers many aspects of multivariable regression modeling as it is commonly used in prognostic, diagnostic, and epidemiologic modeling and in clinical trials. Data reduction methods for analyzing studies with too many predictor variables and too few subjects will be introduced. Methods for verifying assumptions of most types of regression models will be given. Techniques for estimating how predictor variables should be transformed so as to meet linearity assumptions are emphasized. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees apply modern biostatistical modeling techniques to uncover the shape and strength of the relationship between variables and outcome, adjusting for other variables, without assuming linearity. They should be able to interpret statistical models graphically and to validate clinical outcome models to ensure that prognostic and diagnostic models will accurately predict outcomes of future patients. Interpreting regression relationships (including interactions) is given emphasis. Methods for validating a model's predictive accuracy are introduced. |
|
Clinical Trials Methodology |
|
Instructor: |
Lori J. Elder, Gina R. Petroni, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 1.25 hours twice per week for one semester; offered each Spring semester |
| Content: |
Covers the design and analysis of Phase I-III clinical trials. Topics include choice of study population and endpoints, choice of study design and sample size estimation, randomization and masking, patient recruitment, data collection and quality control, data monitoring committees, data analysis, and the interpretation and reporting of results. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
This course introduces trainees to the drug/biological/device product development process, from discovery to the submission of a new drug or device application. Trainees become knowledgeable of the steps in clinical trial development, and why it is important to design and analyze trials correctly. Most importantly, trainees should be able to critique study results reported in the literature and be able to determine which results come from sound studies. |
|
Health Care Economics |
|
Instructor: |
Douglas P. Wagner, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets for 1.25 hours twice per week for one semester; offered each Fall semester |
| Content: |
Reviews the basic principles of economics most relevant to analyzing changes in the provision of health care and applies these principles to the analysis of current health care institutions and their performance, trends in health care delivery, and methods of forecasting future trends including CAM therapy use. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees gain a perspective on the need for excellence in clinical investigation through an in-depth discussion of the concepts and mechanics of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis. This course has particular relevance for the CAM researcher interested in cost analysis of selected CAM modalities when compared to conventional therapies. |
|
Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Therapies |
|
Instructor: |
Ann Gill Taylor, MS, EdD, RN. |
| Frequency: |
Meets 2.5 hours per week for l4 weeks; offered Spring Semesters |
| Content: |
History of the emerging field of complementary therapy research including establishment of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Therapies; Patterns of use of commonly used therapies; Research-based evidence for each of the major seven categories of complementary and alternative therapies, educational preparation and/or credentialing needed to practice responsibly in a CAM area; Responsible dialogue and advisement of patients about CAM modalities that they may be using. Classroom and experiential exercises are included. Invited guest presenters are CAM-credentialed practitioners. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Gain evidenced-based knowledge of CAM modalities that the various publics are using today; potential abuses as well as potential effects of selected modalities; gain knowledge of resources to use in informed conversation about CAM and for use in patient referrals; and the potential role for placebo/non-specific effects. |
|
Herbal Medicines & Other Natural Products |
|
Instructor: |
Ann Gill Taylor, MS, EdD, RN. |
| Frequency: |
Meets 2.5 hours once per week; offered during Fall semester. |
| Content: |
Covers the challenges that herbal medicines, other natural products and supplements have created over the past decade for pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals. The trainee acquires information on patient-use of natural products to include in the patient's database for pharmacy and primary physician care; monitoring patients for potential toxicities associated with natural product use; monitoring for drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interactions with natural products; counseling patients on the efficacious use of natural products, and assuring quality of natural products. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees gain an understanding of the social significance of the CAM movement and the anticipated influences on the health care system. Also, they learn the toxicities, side-effects, interactions, and therapeutic benefits of herbal and other natural products. |
|
Technology & Outcomes Evaluation |
|
Instructor: |
Alfred F. Connors, Jr., MD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 1.25 hours twice per week for one semester; offered each Spring semester |
| Content: |
Introduces the trainee to the techniques needed for the evaluation of health outcomes from the perspectives of the patient, the physician, the health care provider, and society. Measurement and evaluation of survival, functional status, quality of life, and health values will be presented. Evaluation of the efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of devices, inventions, and processes of care is addressed. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees are introduced to the possibility that a particular treatment or intervention may be associated with unexpected outcomes, which may actually be more important (e.g., clinically relevant) than the primary outcome originally designed to be evaluated by the study. When placed in this perspective, the need to consider all of the parameters described above (e.g., efficacy, cost-effectiveness, etc.) from the perspective of multiple interested parties (e.g., patient, investigator, government, etc.) serve neophyte clinical investigators quite well as they begin to design studies of their own. This course has particular relevance for the investigator interested in testing the efficacy of CAM modalities. |
|
Foundations of Bioethics |
|
Instructor: |
Franklin Miller, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Meets 2.5 hours per week for one semester; offered each Fall semester |
| Content: |
Combines brief lectures with small discussion group sessions to provide a general introduction to bioethics. Although the principles of bioethics are central to the discussions, the specific topics discussed are of a practical nature. Thus, issues related to informed consent in both children and adults are discussed. Research involving animal models will be considered from various perspectives. The ramifications of misconduct for both the individual investigator and the institution will be discussed. Issues related to criteria for authorship are highlighted. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
This course bridges the gap between theoretical concerns related to research in humans and animal models, and the day-to-day practical issues with which the investigator is confronted. The CAM trainee will acquire knowledge of the fundamental principles that may apply in these situations, and becomes cognizant of some of the resources available to the investigator and/or subject when controversies arise. |
|
Research Ethics |
|
Instructor: |
Jonathan Moreno, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Course consists of 4-ninety minute sessions; offered annually |
| Content: |
This course involves a 45 minute lecture followed by a 45 minute discussion during which the following topics are addressed: the philosophical background of the theory of ethics; causitry and narrative ethics; professional integrity and virtue ethics; the ethics of care and feminism; pragmatism and bioethics; empirical research and clinical ethics; and end-of-life decision making. The course is designed to meet the requirements of the National Institutes of Health for instruction in the ethical conduct of research. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees learn the philosophical underpinnings of modern bioethics through exposure to the primary literature and discussions of specific issues that may arise within the scenarios of clinical investigation. They acquire knowledge of advantages and disadvantages of particular approaches to dealing with such issues. Skills and knowledge gained are useful in day to day research training and in the development of future grant applications. |
|
Introduction to Critical Literature Review & Scientific Writing |
|
Instructor: |
Noted author and editor, Elizabeth Tornquist, PhD |
| Frequency: |
Offered each Fall semester as a day long workshop by the Center for Research, School of Nursing. |
| Content: |
Emphasis is given to manuscript development and grant application narratives. Strategies for searching the literature database and techniques for critically appraising relevant writings are discussed. The need to write in a clear and comprehensive manner for particular target audiences is stressed. Fundamental expository principles are highlighted and issues related to what should be referenced and how are discussed. Special problems associated with the preparation of abstracts, manuscripts, chapters and reviews and grant applications are addressed. Authorship issues are considered and practical approaches to the preparation of articles by multiple authors suggested. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees acquire knowledge of the extraordinary importance of communicating the rationale for and results of clinical studies to the scientific community - and often to the lay press - in an absolutely clear and readily understandable manner. Trainees learn practical solutions to the more mundane aspects of manuscript and grant application preparation, slide presentations, preparation of posters, in addition to techniques for addressing critiques emanating from the scientific review process. |
|
Proposal Development Seminar I |
|
Instructor: |
Barbara Parker, PhD; Ann Gill Taylor, MS, EdD |
| Frequency: |
Offered each Fall semester by the Center for Research, School of Nursing. |
| Content: |
The mechanics of proposal writing and an introduction to the art and science of grant seeking. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
Trainees gain a-hands-on approach to proposal writing including the development of a CAM-related research proposal and participate in a peer review of a proposal. |
|
Proposal Development Seminar II |
|
Instructor: |
Barbara Parker, PhD; Ann Gill Taylor, MS, EdD |
| Frequency: |
Offered each Spring Semester by the Center for Research, School of Nursing with Proposal Development Seminar I or permission of instructor as a prerequisite. |
| Content: |
Builds on Proposal Development Seminar I with the trainee refining his/her proposal initiated in first semester with feedback from peers and a professional editorial consultant. |
| Potential Benefit to Trainees: |
A fully developed CAM research proposal that is ready for submission to a funding agency. | |