HEALTH RESEARCH METHODOLOGYA Guide for Training in Research Methods

Abstract

This is a revised version of an earlier manual on HealthResearch Methodology and deals with the basic concepts and principlesof scientific research methods with particular attention to research inthe health field.The research process is the cornerstone for informed andeffective decision-making, and is integral to countries’ efforts toimprove the health of their populations and the effectiveness of theirhealth systems, particularly during times of dramatic epidemiological,demographic, and economic changes that profoundly affect healthsystems. Research on (1) health policy and health systems, (2)epidemiology dealing with noncommunicable diseases and existing,new and emerging communicable diseases, (3) reproduction, childhealth and nutrition, including domestic or sexual violence, and (4)social-behaviour, including analysis of peoples’ health seekingprocesses and their beliefs, knowledge and practices about healthand illness, conducted by multi-disciplinary teams will enhancedeveloping countries’ efforts to fight diseases and maintain health forthe public.The manual describes methods for planning and conductingscientific research: from formulation of problems to setting researchobjectives, to designing the study, including methods of data collection,statistical analysis as well as interpretation and dissemination of theresults. The earlier manual, used as resource and guide for the conductof workshops on health research methodology in various countries ofthe Western Pacific Region has been expanded to include more detailson some of the commonly used statistical methods and to clarify thepoints raised during workshops. The discussion on biases has beenexpanded considerably. This manual is expected to be used by the WHO Western PacificRegional Office as a reference guide in training young scientists toconduct health sciences research. It will be used as a starting pointand not as a comprehensive textbook on research methods. Manyexcellent textbooks are available for this purpose and are referencedin the manual. We have tried to use real life examples from theRegion for illustrating the principles and methods used in the manualto make it more relevant to the regional context.The manual will be useful in planning a research project,especially in preparing a research grant application for a donor agency.In particular, the attached copy of the application form of WHO servesas a guide. The issues discussed in the manual will help the researcherto focus on issues of importance before the study is proposed andundertaken. In addition, the manual would also be useful when writinga thesis to meet academic requirements of a degree in the healthfield.We hope that this manual will not only provide basic informationon research methods in the health field, but also stimulate the readerto inquire further into the complex area of research methodology aswell as increase the productivity of the young researcher in the Region.We hope it will attract researchers to conduct further studies in thehealth field, be it a clinical trial or field epidemiology or study of healthservices.