Orthopaedic Research Education

What is the Scientific Method?

1. Observation/Problem/Question – What is trying to be answered?
2. Hypothesis - A possible answer to a problem. Educated guess based on knowledge of what will likely be the answer to the problem/question. This knowledge is gleaned from medical and scientific literature.
3. Prediction - The prediction is a formal way to put a hypothesis to a test. The prediction usually contains three parts: 1) if a hypothesis is true...2) then _____ should happen, 3) when _____ is manipulated. The first blank represents a dependent variable and the second blank represents the independent variable.
4. Experimentation - Testing a hypothesis. You manipulate the independent variable and measure the dependent variable. Manipulate a variable in one or more groups and use a control or comparison group. The control/comparison group is used to ensure the results of manipulation were not caused by some unknown reason.
5. Analysis - Statistical analysis and compilation are used to answer questions and assess the significance/probability of the results. In most statistical procedures, we allow 5% error to occur. This error, due to chance alone, means that a treatment could fail 1 time in 20 repeats and still be considered effective (1/20 = 0.05 = 5%).
6. Conclusion - Explain what the experimental results show. Discuss all the information collected during the study and talk about the reasons you think the hypothesis was or was not correct.

Formulation of a Research Protocol

A topic is selected by the resident after discussion with a Faculty Mentor and the Research Director. A complete typed bibliography and literature review must be submitted along with the topic by September 1st of the PGY2 year. Residents are encouraged to seek advice from the Research Director and appropriate faculty for the selection and execution of their project.

A research protocol must be constructed, typed, and presented for approval to the Program Chairman and Research Director. The protocol format will be compatible for submission to the Springfield Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects (SCRIHS). That committee is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that any research effort involving humans as subjects is in compliance with the policies defined by Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration. Some projects may require approval from the Laboratory Animal Care and Use Committee (LACUC) which has the responsibility to oversee Southern Illinois University School of Medicine's animal program and animal research activities. Forms for these committees are available by download from the SIU School of Medicine website and must be completed and approved prior to commencement of any part of a research project.
Data will be analyzed and statistical analysis performed in conjunction with the Research Director and/or a biostatistician, as needed.

Proposal Format (see guidelines for SCRIHS or LACUC)

• Title
• Investigators
  a. Principal Investigator
  b. Co-investigators
• Abstract (250 words, Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusion)
• Introduction (with references)
• Objectives of Study
• Material and Methods
• Study Design
• Randomized vs Non-randomized
• Retrospective vs Prospective
• Experimental group vs Controls
• Treatment/Group Assignments
• Subject Inclusion/Exclusions
• Number of subjects
• Data collection and analysis
• Study measures
• Outcome/Patient Assessments
• Primary and secondary endpoints
• Statistical Methods
• References
• Data collection forms/sheets/tools
• Subject informed consent document

Presentation of Study Results

The most academic mechanism to disseminate scientific knowledge to the medical community is through publication in a reputable journal or presentation at a regional or national conference.

Scientific Meetings

Residents are encouraged to present their scientific work at local, regional and national meetings. All abstracts must be approved by the Research Mentor, Program Director, and Research Director prior to submission to any meeting. Papers accepted for presentation at regional and national meetings will be funded by the Division per guidelines outlined elsewhere.
The format for scientific presentation is different than that of a manuscript. The historical review in the presentation should be kept to a minimum. Emphasis is placed on Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion.
All residents are strongly encouraged to present a scientific work at the SIU School of Medicine Combined Symposium and or the Department of Surgery Resident Research Day. A research project must be presented by PGY5.

Guidelines for Manuscript Preparation

A completed, typed manuscript suitable for submission to a journal will be due by January 1st of the senior year (PGY5). Follow the "Instructions for Authors for Submission of Papers" for the specific journal as discussed with the Research Director and the appropriate faculty. If undecided about which journal, the formatting guidelines of JBJS should be followed. The manuscript will include:

1. Title page
2. Abstract
3. Introduction (including an historical review of the topic/problem and purpose of the study).
4. Materials and Methods
5. Results (including statistics and Tables & Figures of publishable quality).
6. Discussion (including interpretation of the results in the context of existing literature)
7. Bibliography with references annotated in the text
8. Acknowledgments

Guidelines for Slide Preparation
Slides should compliment and clarify the presentation not detract or complicate. Resident should use the green or white PowerPoint template version available for download from the SIU School of Medicine website. Each slide should follow these guidelines:

• Simple is better
• Do not overwhelm the viewer with data, less is better
• Minimize amount of text per slide
• Fonts and figures should be in a size easily read
• Slides should typically have a darker background with lighter content colors.
• Highlight major points with figures and illustrations
• Highlight minor points and findings with tables

Guidelines for Poster Preparation

• Multiple templates are available from the Research Director.
• Keep material simple and concise.
• Use only pertinent information to convey your message.
• Be selective when showing results.
• Present only those that illustrate the main findings of the project.
• Titles and headings should appear larger than other text, but not too large.
• Consistently use underlined text, bold face, or italics to emphasize words and phrases.
• Section headings should appear in the same position and size.