Planning and conducting a properly designed study to answer a study question is the hallmark of Epidemiology. As part of this unit, each resident shall design and execute a comprehensive study on priority public health concerns of the Kingdom.
Objectives:
- To develop the ability to identify a priority public health problem
- To develop the skills to design, conduct and analyze an epidemiological study to solve this problem
- To present the study findings for peer review
Activities:
The trainee will perform the following activities under the close supervision of his/her supervisor
- identify a priority public health problem for epidemiological investigation
- carry out a thorough literature review to study the current knowledge on the issue, refine the study question and select an appropriate methodology to study the problem
- prepare a study proposal for approval by the University or FETP research committee
- make a presentation to the study review committee for their comments and approval
- submit ‘Project title approval form’ along with the proposal to the FETP course coordinator
- Plan and manage logistic arrangements for the study
- Collect and analyze the data in line with the study objectives
- Present the findings of study while drawing sound scientific conclusions
- Suggest suitable recommendation based on the findings of study.
- Present the study in the pattern of dissertation of 3,000-4,000 words, conforming to the guidelines given in relevant section.
- Present the finding of the study at scientific presentation seminars
Supervision and follow-up:
- A consultant or a team of a specialist and a consultant of FETP or DCFM-KSU, will supervise closely the planning, conduction, data analysis, report writing and presentation of study.
- Before embarking upon the data collection resident has to submit ‘Project title approval form’ along with the proposal to the FETP course coordinator and make a presentation to the study review committee for their comments and approval.
Time schedule and submission of reports:
- For long project, during the summer term of 1st year and first term 2nd year the resident will identify the problem, carry out literature review and develop the study protocol under guidance of his/her supervisor. Final report will be submitted by 15th of September of 2nd academic year.
- The submission of the reports comprises of Final report for the university, Arabic report for the Ministry of Health, Report for Epidemiological Bulletin, Power-point presentation and a disk with all data and reports.
- In case any of the above components is missing, the report will not be treated as submitted.
Assessment:
Long project will be assessed against a total of 400 marks, with a pass percentage of 70%.
- 40% of the total marks (i.e. 160 marks) will be evaluated by the supervisor of study for ongoing evaluation of the resident’s study related activities (planning, field work, data analysis, report writing).
- The resident should score at least 50% of these marks before his written report can be submitted to university.
- 60% of the total marks (i.e. 240 marks) will be evaluated by the examiner, assigned by the University, on the basis of final report submitted.
- Written report will be evaluated on the following criteria, which will carry 60% of the total score:
- Abstract 5%;
- Introduction 5%;
- Literature Review 15%;
- Methods 15%;
- Results 25%;
- Discussion 25%;
- References and appendices 5%; and
- General layout 5%.