Research Methodology Workshop...3 1. Summary of the workshop A three-day course was conducted from 4 to 6 April 2017 to prepare candidates on basic concepts of research methodology.

Training Workshop Report

“Research Methodology Workshop"

4-6 April 2017

Directorate of Planning and Studies

Al Buraimi Governorate

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Table of the Content

Page Content

3 Summary of the workshop

Summary of Sessions:

4-5

Day one

5-6 Day Two

6-7 Day Three

7 Figure (1): Participants' evaluation on

the outcome of the activity

8-9

Appendix (1): Workshop's program

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1. Summary of the workshop

A three-day course was conducted from 4 to 6 April 2017 to prepare candidates on

basic concepts of research methodology. The workshop organized by studies and

research department in collaboration with Centre of Studies and Research at

Directorate General of Planning and Studies. The program of workshop developed by

department of studies and research and reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Al Qasmi and Dr.

Adhra Al Mawali, constructive feedback received to finalize the program (Appendix

1).The core objective of the workshop was to equip the researchers with set of skills

and potentiality to undertake the research very effectively in clinical studies. This

workshop is designed to direct health researches in the governorate towards health

research priorities that have been set by Ministry of Health (MOH) and direct

researchers through all the stages of research from identifying a research problem to

submission of research proposal. The course intends to deal with variety of

quantitative research methods used in clinical researches. It gives more exposure to

clinical trials and its regulation and guidelines of conduction in Oman. It also gives

exposure to writing statistical analysis plan that match with research question and

study objectives and how to count the optimal sample size. The workshop consists of

both theory and practice. By the end of program the participants are expected to

develop conceptual clarity and practical knowledge to undertake quality research and

writing good research proposal. The workshop commenced, after the registration of

participants, introduction and certificates distribution to the speakers of the workshop.

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The workshop was inaugurated by a lecture

given by Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Qasmi,

General Director of Planning and Studies. The

lecture sheds the light to the six building blocks

of health system and the role of research in

improving health systems and health care

delivery. Dr. Ahmed brought out the MOH

objectives of research and strategies followed to develop health research capacity and

steps to equip human resources for health with research capabilities.

The second session was taken by Dr. John

Idikula,Senior Specialist and Advisor – Research at

Centre of Studies and Research who gave an

overview about the components and format of a

research proposal and how to develop a pursuing

research proposal. It ends up with explaning the

steps of submission a research proposal, all participants were given a user name and

password to practice submission proposal through Centre of Studies and Research

Website ( www.mohcsr.gov.om).

The third session of the workshop was given by Ms.

Aisha Al Saadi, Head of Studies and Research at Al

Buraimi Directorate of Planning and Studies. It

explained how healthcare workers can come to a

research idea and how to phrase this idea to answerable

research questions, which is the critical part of research

process. It explained also the characteristics of a good

research topic. In continuation of this session next lecture was also given by Prof.

Dr.John Idikula on Research Objectives, Research Questions and Hypothesis

Summary of Sessions

Day One (4 April 2017)

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Formulation. It provides researchers how research questions formulate may precede

conceptualization and will direct them what answers they are trying to seek and

objectives of the study.Then this was followed by a practical session on how to

formulate research questions, objectives and hypothesis.

The first session of day two was handled by Ms. Aisha Al

Saadi, it focuses on quantitative study designs. The

lecture explained what a research design is, further

discussed its subdivisions in the form of observational and

interventional research designs and the differences

between these designs. The session end by scenarios for

different study designs; it enabled clarifying some of the

misunderstandings of various study designs.

The following session was taken by Prof Dr. John Idikula, it

focuses on the concept of clinical trial. The speaker provides

the concept interestingly.The speaker makes the participants

to actively engage in the discussion and clarify the concepts

related to clinical trials. Participants were highly satisfied by

having clarity in the concepts. The third session was given

also by Prof Dr. John Idikula, it provides learners about

regulations and guideline followed while conducting clinical trials in Oman. All

participants received a booklet about the code and conduct of clinical studies and

trials in Oman. This booklet published by Centre of Studies and Research. .

Summary of Sessions

Day Two (5 April 2017)

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The fourth and fifth sessions were handled by Mr.

Magdi Morsi, Head of clinical studies at Centre of

Studies and Research. The first lecture focuses on the

sampling process of research and the steps to be

undertaken while pursuing research. The session

applied more focus on sampling design which is a

critical part in the research process. Conceptual facts

related to sampling techniques and its classification into probability and non-

probability sampling were clarified. In the second lecture participants learnt how to

count the optimal sample size by using Epical software and how to write statistical

analysis plan.

The morning session of the third day workshop was taken

by Dr.Mohammed Muqeet Ullah, Regional

Epidemiologist at Al Buraimi DGHS. It focuses on data

collection tools and technique. This session provides

participants over all view about the different tools used in

research to collect data. The second session was also

given by Dr.MohammedMuqeetUllah, it was a practice on how to develop and

validate a questionnaire.

The third session was given by Dr. Ahmed Al Kalbani,

Director of Primary Health Care Services at Al Buraimi

DGHS. This session provides insight to participants about

internal and external validity of research.Participants

eagerly took active participation and made the session

lively. Participants expressed that this topic provide a new sight of research to them.

Summary of Sessions

Day Three (6 April 2017)

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The Fourth session took by Dr. Shareef Mohammed,

Head of primary health care section. This session handled

hypothesis testing of research. The speaker started the

session by giving a comprehensive view about research

hypothesis and then explained how to test the hypothesis

by using t test and z test. By the end of session, the

participants were able to differentiate between the two

tests.

This was followed by a brief feedback evaluation from the participants of the

workshop. The workshop was attended by thirty two participants.All participants

expressed their satisfaction about the workshop and overall organization of the

workshop as well as the whole program (Figure 1).

Figure (1): Participants' evaluation on the content of the activity

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Appendix 1: Workshop’s Program

Timetable

Day One – 4th

April 2017 ( Tuesday )

Day Two – 5th

April 2017 (Wednesday )

Time Topic Speaker

07:30-08:00 Registration

08:00-08:05 Opening Remarks

08:00-08:30 Health Research in MOH and Roadmap to

Future Dr. Ahmed Al Qasmi

Director General of

Planning and Studies,

MOH-HQ

08:30-09:30 How to write superior research proposal (Prof.) Dr. John Idicula

Sr Specialist and Advisor -

Research

09:30-10:00 Generating good research idea Ms.Aisha Al Saadi

Head of Studies and

Research Department

10:00-10:30 Tea Break

10:30 -12:00 Development of research problem

statement, research purpose, research

objectives, research questions and

hypotheses

(Prof.) Dr. John Idicula

Sr Specialist and Advisor -

Research 12:00-12:30 Small groups practice on writing research

problem, purpose, questions, and

hypothesis

Time Topic Speaker

07:30-08:00 am Registration

08:00-09:00 Different study design and choosing your

appropriate approach Ms.Aisha Al Saadi

Head of Studies and Research

Department

09:00-10:00 Clinical Trial

(Prof.) Dr. John Idicula

Sr Specialist and Advisor -

Research

10:00-10:30 Tea Break

10:30 -11:30 Regulation and guidelines of clinical trials

in Oman (Prof.) Dr. John Idicula

Sr Specialist and Advisor -

Research

11:30-12:30 Sample size calculation and sampling

technique Mr. MagdiMorsi

Head of clinical research

section

12:30-13:00 How to write statistical analysis plan Mr. MagdiMorsi

Head of clinical research

section

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Day Three – 6th

April 2017 (Thursday)

Time Topic Speaker

07:30-08:00 Registration

08:00-09:00 Data collection tools and technique Dr. Muhammad

Muqeetullah Regional Epidemiologist

09:00-09:30 Practice on:

Questionnaire design and validation Dr. Muhammad

Muqeetullah Regional Epidemiologist

09:30-10:00 Break

10:00 -11:00 Internal and external validity of research Dr. Ahmed Al Kalbani

Director of Primary Health

Care Services

11:00-12:00 Hypothesis testing of research Dr. Shareef Mohammed

Head of primary health care

section