RESEARCH METHODS AND EBN
cod. AZ1005098

Academic year 2024/25
3° year of course - First semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
Giuseppe PEDRAZZI
integrated course unit
3 credits
hub: Parma Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria
course unit
in ITALIAN

Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

- Research methodology laboratory
1) Acquire basic knowledge to move in bibliographic research.
Know what it means for HBCP, EBM and EBN and what they are for
2) Understand how to identify evidence based on clinical needs
Get basic knowledge on using databases
Organize evidence to answer clinical questions

- Information processing systems
The course aims to enable the student to know and understand the essential elements of epidemiology and of statistics useful for nursing research, and thereafter to conduct a professional activity based on "Evidence-based nursing".

Prerequisites

none

Course unit content

- Research methodology laboratory
1) The search for efficacy tests and recommendations of good clinical practice derived from primary studies, systematic reviews and guidelines.
2) Transfer of knowledge in clinical practice through the dissemination and implementation of scientific evidence.

- Information processing systems
The lessons deal with elements of epidemiology and statistics useful for the planning of scientific research.The degree thesis is also used as a model for planning a research.

Full programme

- Research methodology laboratory

1) Sources of Information in Medicine
Scientific communication
Scientific periodicals
Referee System
Impact Factor
Structure of a scientific article
The bibliographical citation

2) Secondary sources of information
Tools for access to primary documents: catalogs and bibliographic databases
What are they, what they are for

3) Catalogs
Research into OPAC
Structure of an OPAC
Query mode

4) Electronic periodicals
What are they, how they are consulted
The SFX catalog of electronic periodicals

EXERCISES
1) Bibliographic databases
2) Philosophy and structure of a bibliographic database
3) Structure of the record
4) Indexing Mode
5) Research into bibliographic databases
6) Free term search
7) Thesaurus research
8) Boolean operators
9) Research Methods and Strategies
10) PubMed Query Software
11) Comparison between PubMed and Cinahl


- Information processing systems

Population and sample
Introduction: medical statistics and related disciplines. Logic and statistical planning. Overview of combinatorial analysis: permutations, arrangements, combinations. Applications. Overview of probability calculations: simple and compound probability, Bayes theorem.
Odds. Odds ratios. Likelihood ratios. applications.
Probability distributions : binomial distribution, Poisson distribution, normal and standard normal distribution. Tables and their use.

Elements of descriptive statistics
Summarising data. Units of measure. Measurements of position, order and variation. Indices of central tendency, mean median, mode.
Indices of variability, variance, standard deviation, CV. Percentiles and their use.

Elements of statistical inference (hypothesis testing)
General principles of statistical inference. Sampling distribution. Hypothesis and hypothesis testing. Type 1 and type 2 error. Power of a test and operating curve.
Parametric test : Student t-test, ANOVA.
Non-parametric test: Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Friedman test, median test, Chi-square test, Fisher exact test.
Overview of linear regression and correlation.

Power of the study and choice of the statistical test

Introduction to Epidemiology

Bibliography

- Research methodology laboratory
Fondamenti di Ricerca infermieristica
Denise F. Polit e Cheryl Tatano Beck
ISBN:9788838646003
Pagine: 432

La ricerca bibliografica - Strumenti e metodi per trovare e utilizzare la letteratura sanitaria 2/ed
Ercole Vellone, Michela Piredda
ISBN:9788838636547
Pagine: 290

- Information processing systems
lecture notes
M.M Triola, M.F. Triola : Fondamenti di Statistica, Ed. Pearson
C. Signorelli «Elementi di metodologia epidemiologica» Ed. Soc.Editrice Universo
E. Bottarelli «Quaderno di epidemiologia veterinaria» http://www.quadernodiepidemiologia.it/epi/HomePage.html

Teaching methods

Lectures will be held on-site in compliance with safety standards. Supporting material will be available on the specific, student-reserved platform (Elly) and will include slide presentations, audio-video aids, or video-recording of the lectures.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written Exam: Multiple Response Test

The access to the educational material will be permitted.

Students with disabilities, SLD, BSE must first contact Centro Accoglienza ed Inclusione (CAI) (https://cai.unipr.it/) for support.

Other information

- - -

2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

This course contributes to the realization of the UN objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Contacts

Toll-free number

800 904 084

Student registry office

E. segreteria.medicina@unipr.it 
T. +39 0521 033700

Quality assurance office

Manager della didattica:
Sandra Cavalca

T. +39 0521 034908
E.  didattica.dimec@unipr.it 
E. sandra.cavalca@unipr.it
 

President of the degree course

Prof.ssa Elena Giovanna Bignami
E. elenagiovanna.bignami@unipr.it

Director of Professionalising Teaching Activities (DADP)

Teaching site Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Parma
Dott.ssa Rachele La Sala 
E. rlasala@ao.pr.it

Teaching site Azienda USL di Parma
Dott.ssa Lucia Gotri 
E. lugotri@ausl.pr.it

Teaching site Azienda USL di Piacenza
Dott.ssa Cinzia Merlini 
E. cmerlini@ausl.pc.it

 

Faculty advisor

Prof. Luca Ampollini
E. luca.ampollini@unipr.it 

Dott.ssa Cristina Casubolo
E. ccasubolo@ao.pr.it 

Dott.ssa Francesca Costa
E. f.costa@ausl.pc.it 

Career guidance delegate

Prof. Enzo Poli
E. enzo.poli@unipr.it

Dott.ssa Cristina Casubolo
E. ccasubolo@ao.pr.it 

Erasmus delegate

Prof. Roberto Sala
E. roberto.sala@unipr.it

Quality assurance manager

Prof.ssa Nicoletta Ronda
E. nicoletta.ronda@unipr.it

Internationalization delegate

Dott. Sandrino Marra
E. smarra@ao.pr.it