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)
5
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