Session 1 · Ask: from clinical problem to research question
Week 1 · Saturday · online, 19:30–22:30 (3 hours, 15-minute break)
Date: 31/10/2026
Agenda
- 1.1 Why research? Evidence, the two course papers, types of research, the road to publication
- Break
- 1.2 From problem to question: PICO(T) and PECO, FINER, a whole-class task
- 1.3 Aims, objectives and hypotheses (quick exercise)
- Proposal builder 1: start your own question, aim and objectives
- Wrap-up: key words, recap, exit question, homework for next Saturday
Timetable
| Start | Clock* | Min | Segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | 19:30 | 20 | Welcome, course map, the two individual products, how each session runs, introductions in the chat, how we work online (chat, polls, raise hand), ground rules |
| 0:20 | 19:50 | 15 | Pre-course quiz (online form) |
| 0:35 | 20:05 | 35 | 1.1 Why research? Anecdote vs evidence, why small numbers mislead, the two course papers (Paper 1 Boulet 2024, Paper 2 Hyun 2023), evidence pyramid, research cycle, types of research, the journey from idea to publication (research vs audit vs QI is in the extra slides) |
| 1:10 | 20:40 | 15 | BREAK |
| 1:25 | 20:55 | 40 | 1.2 From problem to question: where questions come from, PICO(T) with several worked examples, descriptive vs analytical questions, vague vs answerable, FINER, whole-class task: rescue the running example |
| 2:05 | 21:35 | 20 | 1.3 Aims, objectives, hypotheses (null vs alternative) + quick individual exercise |
| 2:25 | 21:55 | 30 | Proposal builder 1: the instructor models Part 1 live on the running example (topic, PICO, research question, FINER check, aim and objectives); each participant drafts their own Part 1 (finished as homework); two volunteers share |
| 2:55 | 22:25 | 5 | Wrap-up, homework |
*Times are relative to the start of the session; the clock column shows Vietnam time for the online 19:30–22:30 session. All exercises are done by the whole class together (no groups). [DS] = course-dataset content (FLUID-ICU analysis and manuscript writing).
Slides
Press F for full screen, S for speaker notes, E to print, Esc for an overview.
Downloads
| Slides (PowerPoint) | English · Tiếng Việt |
| Exercise sheet | Read online · Word · PDF |
| Solutions | Read online · PDF |
Before this session
- Read the participant handbook.
- Think of one uncertainty in your unit: something colleagues do differently and nobody knows which way is best.
- The session is online: use a computer with camera and microphone, join 10 minutes early with the meeting link, and have a pen and a notebook ready. No software is needed.
After this session (homework)
- Your proposal: draft your own topic, PICO, research question, FINER check, aim and objectives, as shown live on the running example.
- Everyone: do Exercise 4 on the Session 1 exercise sheet (a synonym list for your PICO terms) and find one local number that shows the problem.
- Required: install Zotero desktop, the Zotero Connector and the Word plug-in (free, zotero.org). Session 2 uses it live.
- Have ready for Session 2: your PICO question and your synonym list.