Question

Describe the fundamental principles for conducting health research and examine how these principles are applied to evidence-based practice. Examine the meaning of constructs such as facts, hypotheses, theories, and paradigms, and discuss how these are used in constructing knowledge. Give examples.

Answer 1

Fundamental principles for conducting health research

Introduction

Research is a scientific, systematic, controlled, orderly and objective investigation to develop, refine, and expand body of knowledge. The development and utilization of knowledge is essential for continued development in patient care.

Principles

1. Principle of beneficence

It is the most important principle in research.

(i). Here the researcher establish the positive risk benefit ratio where the risk of the research should never exceed expected benefit for people from knowledge generated by the research activity.

(ii) A potential risk of the research study must be carefully assessed and participants are protected from any harmful effect of research activity both physically and psychologically.

(iii) The research must be conducted by a scientifically qualified expert to avoid undue discomfort or distress to study partci[pants.

(iv) Participants must be provided with maximum physical, psychological, social and religious comfort and undue disturbance and time utilization of the subjects should be avoided.

2. Principle of respect of human dignity

this principle emphasizes the freedom of choice where the participants have right to accept or reject to be a part of the research study. Volunteers must be provided full information about the research study and an informed consent must be obtained.

3. Principle of justice

This principle directs the researchers to abide by the participants right of fair treatment and maintenance of privacy.

Evidence based practice

It is a process of locating, appraising, and applying the best evidence from the literature to improve the quality of practices.

Application of principles to Evidence based practice

(i) While formulating a clear question based on the clinical problem in evidence based practice, the researcher establishes the positive risk benefit ratio, potential risk of the study, harmful effects of the participants, respect the human dignity and also abide the participants rights and maintenance of privacy.

(ii) Principle of respect of human dignity and principle of justice is important in literature review to search for the best available evidence.

(iii) principles to Evidence based practice are also used in evaluating and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence.

(iv) While implementing useful findings in clinical practice based on valid evidence the researcher must follow the principles of health research.

(v) It is very important to follow the principle while evaluating efficacy and performance of evidence through a process of self reflection, audit, or peer assessment.

Definitions

Facts

It is defined as an observation that is accepted as true in all practical purposes by repeated confirmation.

Hypothesis

It is an assumed statement suggesting an answer to a question.

Theories

It is a set of concepts and propositions that provides an orderly way to view a phenomenon.

Paradigms

Once the researcher finalizes the research topic the next step is to find the approach or methodology to follow for the research. Paradigms are part of this methodology or approach. Paradigm include the methodology, approach, ontology, and epistemology to conduct the research.

In various phases of research and in knowledge collection and its usage we extensively use facts, theories, hypothesis and paradigms.