Teaching Clinical Research Methodology by Example

Teaching Clinical Research Methodology by Example has two principal objectives: (1) to tell the story of the research process in action and to provide a glimpse into the minds of the researchers responsible for some of the major advances (and setbacks) in modern medicine; (2) to explain the principles of evidence-based medicine by reviewing the research methods required to prove or disprove a theory.

This text is written in a style accessible to health professionals who do not have a background in clinical epidemiology.

The first section of the book, Causation, begins with an explanation of “casual” and “coincidental” associations and follows with examples:

• Smoking and lung cancer
• Dietary fats and coronary heart disease
• Cause and cure of peptic ulcers,
• Viral infection and cancer of the cervix
• Vaccination and autism
• Venous obstruction as the cause of multiple sclerosis.

The second section of the book explores prevention, treatment, and the ethical principles of clinical trials.

• Treatments presented include surgery for breast cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, use of Viagra, stem cells in breast cancer, and the use of aspirin to treat heart attacks.
• Preventive measures discussed include vaccines, peri-menopausal hormone therapy, aspirin in the treatment of heart attacks, prevention of sudden death after heart attacks, stroke prevention, preventing fatal pulmonary embolism in surgical patients.
• Includes a chapter on assessing net clinical benefits of a treatment.
• Closes with a glossary of methodological terms.