Making structured clinical questions for research purposes: a practical approach

Authors

  • Cláudio Rodrigues Leles Professor Doutor da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Goiás.
  • Lorena Batista de Oliveira Cirurgiã-Dentista
  • William José Morandini Aluno de Pós-Graduação (Mestrado) da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Goiás.
  • Erica Tatiane da Silva Aluna de Graduação da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal de Goiás.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30979/rev.abeno.v7i1.1411

Keywords:

Education, dental. Teaching. Dental research.

Abstract

The first stage of a clinical research protocol is the formulation of a clear and specific research question. The research that emanates from clinical practice is related to a topic of interest about which a doubt or lack of knowledge is identified and translated into a non-structured clinical question. This initial question must be properly structured in order to be answerable after systematic literature review, critical appraisal, interpretation of the available evidence, and evaluation of the possible clinical outcomes when the evidence is transferred into practice. The aim of this study was to develop a practical exercise of formulation of clinical questions in prosthodontics. Data was collected in specific forms from 31 clinical scenarios during 40 appointments with patients at the School of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás (UFG). Clinical scenarios were presented and discussed by groups that included 3 to 4 dental students and a tutor, where clinical questions were formulated during a total of 16 meetings and aproximately 26 hours. A total of 53 structured clinical questions were formulated and the specific components of the questions were identified (patient, intervention, comparison, outcome). It was concluded that exercising the formulation of clinical questions is an important step in clinical learning, for the improvement of critical skills and for identification of topics and questions for research purposes.

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Published

29-01-2007

How to Cite

Leles, C. R., de Oliveira, L. B., Morandini, W. J., & da Silva, E. T. (2007). Making structured clinical questions for research purposes: a practical approach. Revista Da ABENO, 7(1), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.30979/rev.abeno.v7i1.1411

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Article