[Sharon]

Part 1. Write a 300-word discussion post answering the following questions:
• What data does your organization currently collect that you could use to help answer your research questions?
• What methods do they use to collect this data?
• Explain how you would collect the data required to answer your research question?

HINT: You may have to ask your manager or other leaders

Part 2. Comment on one other participant’s post:

[Paula]

Hi Jen, within my organization, we don’t gather data relevant to my research questions, which leaves me uncertain about how to compose a 300-word post. Do you have any suggestions or advice? Thanks 🙂

[Jennifer]

Hi Paula,

Thank you for your question. In your organization, do you work with clients who use opioids or other controlled drugs?

If so, your organization likely collects data about opioid misuse and use. It may be helpful to speak with a senior manager or leader within your organization about your research interest and ask about what information they collect related to opioids and how they collect it. The information may not directly answer your research question, but may provide you insight into the methods that may be appropriate for your study design.

Another option is to speak with a senior manager to learn more about what information the collect, how they collect it, and what they do with the information once they have it.

Let me know if you have further questions – Jen (facilitator)

[Paula]

Thank you, Jen. Following consultation with my medical director, I have formulated the following steps for extrapolating data from intake forms concerning the research question of the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and subsequent opioid misuse:

1. Identify Relevant Intake Forms: Review the intake forms to determine which sections or questions relate to adverse childhood experiences and opioid use or misuse. These might include questions about family environment, trauma history, substance use history, mental health history, etc.
2. Data Extraction: Extract relevant data from the intake forms. This might involve manually transcribing data or using data entry software to input information into a digital format for analysis.
3. Categorization of ACEs: Categorize adverse childhood experiences that might includes categories like physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, household substance abuse, household mental illness, etc.
4. Quantifying ACEs: Assign numerical values or scores to ACEs based on their severity or frequency.
5. Identify Opioid Misuse: Review intake form for self-reported opioid use, history of opioid dependence or addiction, opioid-related hospitalizations, etc.
6. Data Analysis:
• Descriptive Analysis: Calculate summary statistics such as mean, median, and standard deviation for ACE scores and opioid misuse rates.
• Bivariate Analysis: Explore the relationship between ACE scores and opioid misuse using statistical tests such as correlation analysis.
7. Interpretation: Interpret the findings in the context of existing literature and theoretical frameworks. Discuss implications for prevention, intervention, and policy development.
8. Ethical Considerations: Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines, including those set forth by the Research Ethics Board (REB). This involves maintaining participant confidentiality and obtaining informed consent.

While I’m unsure if I’ve covered all the steps comprehensively, this has been a valuable learning experience. Additionally, there might be other statistical tests that could be relevant. Nonetheless, I appreciate the opportunity to engage in this process and enhance my understanding of research development.

Warmest regards, Paula

[Jennifer]

Hi Paula,

Your outlined steps for gathering data from intake forms related to your research question are thorough and well-structured. Your acknowledgment of other statistical tests that may also be relevant is indeed important for ensuring comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the data. Overall, your structured approach sets a strong foundation for conducting meaningful research on this important topic.

Best Regards,
Jennifer

[Jennifer]

Our primary care office will often collect various types of data through questionnaires and surveys to better understand the health needs and preferences of our patients. The primary focus of these surveys is to assess areas where our organization excels, and pinpoint areas that require improvement. These surveys cover various aspects such as patient satisfaction, provider performance, access to care, preventative care and screening. While the data collected through these surveys may not directly address my specific research question, I could utilize the same methodology to develop a targeted survey for parents within our practice. This tailored survey will gather insights specifically relevant to the attitudes and behaviours of parents regarding vaccination of their children.

The platform we use to develop and distribute our surveys is Survey Monkey. These surveys are generated online and distributed via email to our full patient roster or to specific groups identified by demographics or medical history through our electronic medical records. The surveys can be customized to address specific needs, incorporating a mix of closed-ended questions for quantitative analysis and open-ended questions to gather qualitative data and that can help identify themes.

For my research question, I would utilize the same tool to design a questionnaire comprising approximately 15-20 questions tailored to parents within our practice who have children aged between 2 months and 6 years. The survey would consist of both closed-ended and open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions could include demographic information (age, education level), vaccination status of their children, and scale questions assessing attitudes towards vaccines. Open-ended questions would allow parents to elaborate on their reasons for vaccine hesitancy. These questions will focus on gauging their current attitudes toward vaccinating their children, identifying the sources they trust most for information, and determining where they seek advice when faced with vaccination-related queries—be it healthcare providers, the internet, friends, or famil. Survey Monkey’s anonymity feature would ensure confidentiality, allowing respondents to feel comfortable providing honest feedback.

The data collected can then be analyzed quantitatively from the close-ended questions and a thematic analysis can be employed for the qualitative data. This comprehensive approach will provide valuable data that can then be interpreted in relation to my research question, allowing for a better understanding of parental attitudes and behaviours regarding childhood vaccination.

Thank you,
Jennifer

[Victoria]

Hi Jennifer,

I appreciate your initiative to adapt the methodology of utilizing surveys and questionnaires within your primacy care office. By using Survey Monkey and incorporating both closed – ended and open-ended questions, and ensuring respondent anonymity, you are in a position to gather comprehensive data that can inform strategies to improve vaccination uptake rates and address vaccine hesitancy. Your approach demonstrates a commitment to obtaining nuanced insights into the factors influencing parental vaccination decisions. Overall, I believe your proposed methodology holds promise for advancing understanding in this critical area of public health.

Thank you for sharing!

– Victoria

[Paula]

Hi Jennifer, your decision to use a mixed-methods approach with both closed-ended and open-ended questions is commendable because it allows for a comprehensive understanding of parents’ perspectives. I like utilizing Survey Monkey because its anonymity feature mitigates social biases and fosters transparency among the respondents. From my novice perspective, your research approach has the potential to yield valuable insights into parental attitudes and behaviours surrounding childhood vaccination, thereby enriching evidence-based healthcare practices.
Warmest regards,
Paula

[Victoria]

I touched base with both my manager about this and also had some familiarity with what data my organization currently collects that I could use to answer my research question.

The data that my organization currently collects that I could use includes:

1) Surgical procedure details, including the type of surgery, duration, and any specific requirements or protocols associated with each procedure.
2) Medical Records (MARS), which would have information on whether the surgical patient has received preoperative antibiotics or not, the timing and the dosing.
3) Preoperative checklist completion records: including documentation on whether our current preoperative/surgical checklist was completed in the operating room and if there were any deviations from the checklist protocol.

The methods used to collect this data include electronic health records (EHR), some paper-based documentation, and patient charts.

To collect the data required to answer my research question, I believe a structured approach is necessary. Firstly, I would review records within the organization’s EHR system (pending this is ethically approved) to gather relevant patient information and surgical procedure data. This would involve extracting information such as demographics, surgical details, and checklist completion records. Next, i would analyze the antibiotic administration records (which are typically found in patient MARS) to determine the timing of preoperative antibiotic administration in where a surgical checklist was completed versus where it was not. This analysis would involve comparing the timing of antibiotic administration relative to the start of surgery between the two groups. Additionally, I would consider conducting surveys or interviews with surgical staff, importantly nurses, who would be involved in the checklist’s effectiveness and any potential barriers to timely antibiotic administration. This mix-method approach would offer a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the checklist on antibiotic administration timeliness.

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