what type of study can be produced for : Management of pain in post-surgical patients
I am not certain of what you mean by "type". I would study the effectiveness vs treatment method vs cause of pain.
Possibly this information might help:
An independent variable is the potential stimulus or cause, usually directly manipulated by the experimenter, so it could also be called a manipulative variable.
A dependent variable is the response or measure of results.
Extraneous variables — other than the independent variable — potentially can affect the dependent variable, so they must be controlled. If possible, you try to keep them constant between the experimental and control group.
The experimental group receives the independent variable.
The control group is similar to experimental, except it does not receive the independent variable. Extraneous variables are balanced between experimental and control groups.
Types of experiments
1. Single blind gives the control group a placebo — a substance that is inert, it has no physical effect. Subjects don't know if they are in experimental or control group to reduce placebo effect, a change in behavior solely due to believing that you are getting the independent variable.
2. Double blind keeps both subjects and experimenter ignorant of group setup. Distribution of the independent variable and placebo are controlled by third party. This controls for experimenter bias and self-fulfilling prophecy, which means that experimenters with particular expectations are likely to consciously or unconsciously to bias the experiment and influence it to conform to their expectations.
As an example, suppose you want to find out if fluorides reduce dental cavities. You would find two groups, trying to control the extraneous variables. Extraneous variables are found by surveying previous research in the area. In this case, you would match the groups in terms of previous history of cavities, diet and dental hygiene habits including how and how often they brush their teeth.
The experimental group would get toothpaste with the independent variable, the fluoride, while the control group would not have the fluoride in their toothpaste. The toothpaste without the fluoride would be the placebo.
The dependent variable would be the number of cavities after participating in the experiment for a time. The dependent variable indicates the results, but it is not the results. At the end of the experiment, both groups could have no change in cavities or one of the groups could have a greater reduction in cavities. (Of course, if the fluoride increased cavities, you wouldn't want to use it.) All of these varied results would be indicated in terms of the dependent variable.
If only the subjects do not know who is getting the fluoride, it is a single blind experiment. If both the subjects and experimenter do not know, it is a double blind.
To conduct a study on the management of pain in post-surgical patients, you would need to design a research study following specific steps. Let's break it down:
1. Determine the Study Design: There are different types of study designs you can choose from, depending on the research question and available resources. Some common study designs for pain management in post-surgical patients include:
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT): This is considered the gold standard for studying interventions. Patients are randomly assigned to different treatment groups (e.g., different pain management techniques or medications).
- Cohort Study: This involves following a group of patients over time and investigating the relationship between specific factors (e.g., pain management techniques) and outcomes (e.g., pain levels).
- Case-Control Study: This compares a group of patients with a particular outcome (e.g., successful pain management) to a control group without that outcome, investigating potential associations.
2. Identify the Research Question: Clearly define the objective of your study. For example, you could examine the effectiveness of different pain management techniques in reducing post-surgical pain or compare the efficacy of different medications in pain control.
3. Determine the Study Population: Define the characteristics of the population you want to study, such as age, type of surgery, and any specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. This will help ensure your results are relevant to the specific patient group.
4. Select a Sample: Identify how many participants you need for your study, considering factors such as statistical power and the feasibility of recruiting patients within the desired timeframe. Random sampling or systematic sampling methods can be used.
5. Design Data Collection Methods: Decide on the data collection tools and procedures. This may include questionnaires, pain scales, medical records review, or even direct observations. Ensure that the chosen methods are reliable, valid, and appropriate for your research question.
6. Obtain Ethical Approval: If necessary, seek ethical approval from an institutional review board or ethics committee to ensure your study complies with ethical guidelines and protects the rights and well-being of the participants.
7. Collect Data: Implement your data collection methods, adhering to the study protocol and maintaining data integrity. Ensure proper documentation and data management procedures are in place.
8. Analyze Data: Once data collection is complete, choose appropriate statistical analysis methods to interpret and evaluate your findings. For example, you may use descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, or regression analysis.
9. Draw Conclusions: Based on the analysis, draw conclusions related to your research question. Discuss the implications of the findings and any limitations of the study.
10. Publish and Disseminate: Communicate your study's results through scientific publications or presentations at conferences, allowing other researchers to benefit from your work and contribute to the field.
Remember, conducting a study involves careful planning, collaboration with experts, and adherence to ethical guidelines.