Research enables us to better understand a complex phenomenon, predict the probable outcomes of interventions, control the occurrence of undesirable outcomes, and initiate interventions to promote desired results.
The development, application, and proper dissemination of knowledge acquired from research is essential for continued improvement in patient care. As perioperative physicians, anesthesiologists are expected to adopt a research-based practice, and use research findings to assist them in making informed decisions about interventions in the operating room.
Research is the process of investigating an abstract phenomenon through a systematic approach. The development of a research project begins with a problem and an idea. Researchers will often investigate an area that sparks their curiosity. The preliminary steps in designing a research study are: recognizing the problem, considering the design’s substantive, practical, and ethical dimensions, identifying the study population, and predicting a probable relationship.
After the research project is designed, the next step is to formulate a research proposal and conduct a pilot study. A pilot study is a small-scale trial run of the research study, which is necessary to obtain preliminary data before a full-scale research study can be conducted. Researchers usually have to fund their own pilot study.
Approval from the federal government and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) are necessary to ensure that ethical and safety guidelines are followed. After approval, the research team can screen for patients who fit the subject criteria. Patients are then asked to participate in the research study. With their consent, patients are enrolled in the study and the data collection process begins. Afterwards, the data is analyzed, results are interpreted, and a report of the findings is published.
After a pilot study is conducted, researchers can use the data to apply for a government grant to support a full-scale research study. They can apply to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other such funding agencies. Each step of the research project requires a great deal of time and resources, therefore, funding is crucial to the successful completion of a research project. A research study, depending on the protocol, can last anywhere from two to 15 years with an average study lasting about five years. Unfortunately for researchers, support from the government has decreased over the years. So it is imperative for researcher like us to broaden our base of donors who can support our efforts in brain and organ protection research.
Research can sometimes be conducted within the context of previous knowledge. More often than not, the maturity of the concept will spark other questions and give rise to a different research approach. In order to change clinical practice based on research findings, data has to be supported by multiple sources of evidence. The Duke Dream Team takes pride in its substantial accomplishments as a pioneer in brain protection research. Its impact can be seen worldwide as more and more physicians alter their clinical practice as a result of our research findings.
The Duke DREAM Team comprises physicians, nurses, statisticians, and other professionals who understand the challenging problems associated with major surgery. All team players focus their efforts on interventions that can protect the brain, kidney, heart, and other organs from injury during surgery. The medical director oversees the wide spectrum of research focused on mechanisms of brain and organ protection during surgery. Physician researchers provide care for patients in the operating room and in the intensive care units. They understand the problems that can occur during and after surgery. They design studies to evaluate, prevent, and treat significant problems, such as changes in mental function and stroke. Clinical research coordinators are nurses or other medical professionals who help the physician carry out the research. They often supervise the research specialist and technicians who collect data. The statisticians help to ensure the integrity of the study design and evaluate results. Our patients are the most vital team members who help us answer important questions.