Objectives

After participating in this educational activity, attendees should be able to:
1. List qualitative research methods
2. Compare appropriateness of qualitative to quantitative methods for different research questions
3. Evaluate rigor of qualitative studies
4. Examine appropriateness of qualitative methods to their own research design
5. Describe the salient features of the major types of study designs of clinical research
6. Distinguish study designs based on characteristics of exposure (or treatment) status and outcome
7. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the major types of study designs
8. Apply the characteristics of study design to example vignettes and determine the study design best suited for the approach

Faculty

Kerry Spitzer, Ph.D.
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
Institute for Healthcare Delivery and Population Science
UMMS-Baystate

Christine DeJong, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator II
Institute for Healthcare Delivery and Population Science
UMMS-Baystate

Visintainer, Paul, Ph.D.
Director of Scientific Integrity and Analysis
Office of Research
UMMS-Baystate
Professor of Medicine
UMMS-Baystate

Faculty Disclosure

The design and content of Baystate Continuing Interprofessional Education ( CE ) activities support quality improvement in healthcare and provide fair and balanced views of therapeutic options.  Faculty or planner conflicts of interest are resolved before the educational activity.

Dr. Spitzer and Christine DeJong receive grant/research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Dr. Visintainer receives grant/research support from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission Asthma Study.

None of the other members of the faculty and planning committee for this educational event have commercial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling or distributing health care goods and services consumed by or used on patients.