For more information about Research at ICOM, please visit the ICOM Research Department's website.
So, you have a research idea or a topic that you're interested in studying. Great! Maybe it's something you worked on while getting another degree or you want to learn more about a topic presented here at ICOM.
Before you get started, it's good to make sure that your cool idea can be translated into a research project. This involves
More information about these steps is included below
Finding a topic that isn't too broad and isn't too narrow takes a bit of practice. In our experience, medical students tend to think of big, amazing ideas, but they are just too broad in scope to realistically study! Here is an example of trying to find that 'Goldilocks' topic that is just right!
Once you've determined your topic's scope, it's a good idea to spend 1-2 hours searching the literature and skimming articles before you move on to the next step. This isn't a super in-depth search such as you will do if you need to write a literature review. This initial search is more about identifying the main issues related to your topic as well as some of the research methodologies others have used.
Here are a few videos created for the OMS-III Scholarly Activity rotation which will help get you started with your search:
Reach out to the ICOM Library if you need help!
Your research interest may be somewhat general, but it's best to have a fairly specific research topic. Using the PICO(T) format can help you identify the various components of your topic to help you move from the general to the specific! Let's say your initial topic of interest was the use of telehealth visits for those with Type 2 diabetes. This is interesting, but it might be helpful to get a bit more specific. Let's use the PICO(T) format to think through what we *really* want to know.
You'll be asked to write your research topic out as a question at some point. This can be when writing research proposals, applying for grants, trying to get a paper published, or even just communicating your idea to others. It's good to know how to write a really nice research question. Thankfully, once you have used the PICO(T) format to identify the main concepts of your topic, it can be easy to use that to create a research question.
A great source is this template which is organized by question type and where you can insert the various PICO(T) components from your topic directly into the question.
I used the 'Intervention' question from the template for the telehealth topic above and came up with the following research question: "In adults with Type-2 diabetes who live in rural Idaho, how does telehealth compared to standard in-person visits affect appointment adherence and glycemic control over the course of six months?"
This can seem straightforward until you try to write a research question with your topic! Reach out to the ICOM librarians if you need any guidance.