The
organization and delivery of health care
in developing nations like India poses considerable
challenges. As a consequence the busy medical
professional is left with little time for
research, and has little by way of opportunity
to train in research methods. Not surprisingly,
both the quantum and quality of research
output from developing nations has traditionally
been poor, few centers of excellence being
exceptions.
This
course attempts to bring to the medical
professional in India the essence of clinical
research methodology, helping attendees
develop important practical skills necessary
to carry out research projects.
Neurosciences
India Group in association with the Institute
of Psychiatry, King's College London, organized
an introductory course in Epidemiology,
medical statistics and health services research
methods. The course covered every stage
of the process;
How
to identify a research question
How to define a hypothesis
How
to select an appropriate and feasible study
design
How
to manage the study
How
to analyze and present the data
And
(above all) How to make appropriate inferences
from these observations
The
course comprised lectures, computer practicals,
classroom practicals, and workshops over
a four-day period, with each day lasting
for between 10 and 12 hours. All the main
study designs were covered during the course:
cross-sectional, case-control, cohort studies
& randomized controlled trials. Additional
sessions covered critical appraisal of published
research and grant writing. A pre-course
workshop on qualitative research methods
was organized by Neurosciences India Group
and enthusiastically received by the enlightened
audience. A hands on computer workshop held
in association with Cynaptix Technologies,
authorized distributors of the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was the
highlight of the program.
The
course was organized by the MV Arunachalam
Centre for Information and Education in
the Neurosciences (MVA-CIEN), Voluntary
Health Services. Supported by the Vellayan
Chettiar Trust and the family of Shri. MV
Arunachalam, an eminent industrialist and
humanist, scion of the Murugappa Group of
companies, the course began with the 2nd
MV Arunachalam Endowment Lecture entitled
"Why Clinicians MUST do Research: A 21st
Century Perspective" delivered by Professor
Martin Prince of the Institute of Psychiatry,
King's College, London. The lecture traced
the history of epidemiology and the relevance
of research to clinical practice and medical
progress, and was well received by an enthusiastic
audience. Prof. Nadir Bharucha (Mumbai)
and Prof. R Thara (Chennai) gave mentoring
lectures on Neurological and Psychiatric
Epidemiology, and Prof. ES Krishnamoorthy
on "How to write a project/ grant proposal".
Dr. Cleusa Ferri, Insititute of Psychiatry,
King's College, London, Mr. Ravi Samuel
and Ms. V Shanthini, Research Fellows at
The Institute of Neurological Sciences,
Voluntary Health Services, also delivered
talks and supported the course
With
75 select delegates, many professors and
senior consultants, bridging neurosciences
and psychiatry, this course, the first of
its kind in India, was a grand success,
and may well become an annual event
