ABSTRACT
Health-care professionals' responsibility is to use scientific research and clinical trials in their decision making to provide the best care for their patients and improve outcomes. Scientific research begins with developing a protocol for the research study. The study protocol typically specifies the research question and its significance, the study design, the subject selection, data collection, planned statistical analysis, and a primary hypothesis. Study protocols then may be submitted for institutional review board (IRB) approval and grant fund applications. The objective of scientific research is to answer a question on a treatment, risk factor, causation, natural history, prognosis, clinical assessment, or diagnostic test. The type of clinical question being asked will largely determine the most appropriate study design. Health-care reform will have an impact on trends in scientific research, clinical trials, and funding. Research on cost-benefit analysis and quality improvement metrics will become increasingly relevant in our modern health-care environment.
