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    Health Research Explainers: Foundations: Health Research Explainers
    Health Research Explainers: Foundations: Health Research Explainers
    Health Research Explainers: Foundations: Health Research Explainers
    Ebook157 pages1 hour

    Health Research Explainers: Foundations: Health Research Explainers

    By Paul Ian Cross

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    About this ebook

    Health Research Explainers: Foundations explains the principles of health research, making the topic accessible to students, early career researchers, patients and the public.

    Dr Paul Ian Cross, a scientist with over twenty years of experience in clinical research and a PhD in the benefit-risk assessment of medicines, introduces readers to the research process, from initial planning and study design to data collection, analysis and publication of results.

    Readers will gain a deeper understanding of essential concepts, terminology and the various study designs used in health research, such as observational studies and randomised controlled trials.

    With its accessible writing style and real-world examples, the book makes complex topics easy to understand. Whether you're new to health research or looking to deepen your understanding of how scientific studies are designed and carried out, Health Research Explainers: Foundations provides the essential knowledge you need.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFarrow Books
    Release dateNov 28, 2024
    ISBN9781912199310
    Health Research Explainers: Foundations: Health Research Explainers
    Author

    Paul Ian Cross

    Dr PAUL IAN CROSS is a best-selling, award-winning, scientist sci-fi author from London, UK. Paul works in clinical research (developing new medicines) and he’s also involved in science communication (presenting science to non-scientists). Paul writes STEM-inspired fiction, and has a passion for introducing children to STEM subjects, particularly reluctant readers. By introducing science creatively, he aims to spark their interest, allowing them to gain confidence with their reading. As a previous reluctant reader himself, he understands how hard it can be. But it’s all about making reading fun and interesting! In his spare time, Paul loves visiting new and exciting places where he’s always looking for his next story. One of his favourite places is Scotland, especially the Isle of Skye. His latest adventures include a trip to Japan as well as two months travelling around the South Pacific, including Los Angeles, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands. a and the Cook Islands.

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      Book preview

      Health Research Explainers - Paul Ian Cross

      image-placeholder

      Text © Paul Ian Cross, 2024

      First edition published in Great Britain in 2024.

      Farrow Books

      London

      United Kingdom

      Paul Ian Cross has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

      Cover designed by James at GoOnWrite.com

      British Library Cataloguing in Publication data available.

      ISBN: 978-1-912199-39-6

      e-ISBN: 978-1-912199-31-0

      Contents

      Dedication

      Introduction

      1.What is Health Research?

      2.Ethical Principles in Health Research

      3.Research Question and Hypothesis

      4.Study Design

      5.Types of Health Research

      6.Population and Sampling

      7.Data Collection & Management

      8.Understanding Data in Research

      9.Communicating Research Results

      10.Future Directions and Challenges in Health Research

      Health Research Explainers

      About the Author

      Connect with Paul Ian Cross

      References

      The Health Research Explainers series is dedicated to the participants who take part in health research.

      On behalf of the health research community, we extend our deepest gratitude for your involvement. Together, we can build a healthier future for all.

      Introduction

      As a scientist and researcher with over two decades of experience in health research, I am grateful to have been involved in setting up and delivering hundreds of clinical studies covering multiple disease areas.

      My first role was working for an early-phase clinical research unit where I worked on first-in-human clinical trials with healthy volunteers. Next, I moved to the NHS where I coordinated multiple studies in pain and stroke research.

      Later, I worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children managing clinical trials in rare diseases, oncology and epilepsy. At Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust I worked on studies in asthma and allergy, oncology, gastroenterology and gene and cell therapy.

      Throughout my career, I am proud to have been involved in several novel studies. These advancements were made possible through science and the dedicated efforts of researchers, healthcare professionals and study participants.

      However, over the years, I have also noticed a significant gap in understanding between the scientific community and the public regarding research principles and practices. This issue became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when the spread of misinformation contributed to a lack of trust in science and scientists.

      This inspired me to create the Health Research Explainers series. Throughout the series, aimed at early-stage researchers, patients and the public, I explain complex science in easy-to-understand language.

      As someone who is passionate about education and making science accessible to all, I hope that these books will promote informed decision-making and encourage participation in clinical studies. And of course, ultimately, drive progress in healthcare.

      I hope that this series will not only inform but also inspire you to become an active participant in the pursuit of better health for all. I am excited to share my passion for science and research with you.

      Here’s to the future,

      Paul

      Paul Ian Cross, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD

      Chapter one

      What is Health Research?

      Health research, also known as medical research, is dedicated to investigating and improving various aspects of health, including patient care, disease prevention and treatment. The goals of health research are to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance patient well-being and shape health and care policies ¹ .

      In simple terms, health outcomes are the results or effects of healthcare on a person’s health. They measure how well a treatment, medical intervention or care improves things like recovery from illness, quality of life or overall well-being. Examples include feeling better after surgery, managing a chronic condition or living longer due to medical treatment. Health outcomes help doctors and researchers understand what works best to keep people healthy².

      Health research often begins with unanswered questions. These questions drive the formulation of hypotheses and the design of studies to test these hypotheses. Ever wondered how drugs like aspirin are studied? Researchers run studies to explore various aspects of health and disease. For example, with aspirin, researchers might study how it works to reduce pain. This could include looking at how aspirin affects the body's pain sensors, how it helps reduce swelling and how it works for different kinds of pain.

      Health research may involve testing new medicines, vaccines, surgical techniques or medical devices, often involving both known and unknown risks. Researchers generate research questions. To make sure they can answer these questions, they follow detailed plans known as protocols.

      A research protocol outlines the objectives, methodology and procedures of a study. Protocols are designed to protect the safety of participants, make sure the data is accurate and ensure the reproducibility of the results — this means that the results can be repeated. They include detailed information on the study design, participant recruitment, safety monitoring, data collection methods and statistical analysis plans.

      Dr Paul Science Says

      ‘Health research involves asking questions about our health and well-being. But the difficult part is asking the right questions.’

      Several landmark studies have significantly advanced our understanding of health and disease. Here are some examples:

      The Framingham Heart Study (Ongoing since 1948)

      The Framingham Heart Study is a long-term, ongoing research project focused on cardiovascular health, involving residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. It started in 1948 with 5,209 adult participants and is now in its third generation of subjects. Before this study, very little was known about the causes and patterns of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

      Many of the widely accepted insights into heart health, such as the impact of diet, exercise and medications like aspirin, come from this study. It is conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in partnership with Boston University since 1971, with healthcare professionals from the Greater Boston area supporting the research³.

      The Human Genome Project (1990-2003)

      An organism's genetic information is called its genome⁴. The

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