Clinical research methods for treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, etiology, screening, and prevention: A narrative review

Xiaomei Yao; Ivan D Florez; Ping Zhang; Chongfan Zhang; Yi Zhang; Chunxue Wang; Xiaofang Liu; Xiuhong Nie; Bing Wei; Michelle A Ghert

doi:10.1111/jebm.12384

Clinical research methods for treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, etiology, screening, and prevention: A narrative review

J Evid Based Med. 2020 May;13(2):130-136. doi: 10.1111/jebm.12384. Epub 2020 May 22.

Authors

Xiaomei Yao^{1

2

3}, Ivan D Florez^{3

4}, Ping Zhang⁵, Chongfan Zhang², Yi Zhang⁶, Chunxue Wang⁷, Xiaofang Liu⁸, Xiuhong Nie⁹, Bing Wei⁹, Michelle A Ghert^{1

10}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
² Center for Clinical Practice Guideline Conduction and Evaluation, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
³ Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of Antioquia, Colombia.
⁵ Editorial Office, Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
⁶ Division of Thoracic Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.
⁷ Division of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology and Clinical Psychology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.
⁸ Division of Respirology, Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.
⁹ Division of Respirology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.
¹⁰ Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Juravinski Cancer Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 32445266
DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12384

Abstract

This narrative review is an introduction for health professionals on how to conduct and report clinical research on six categories: treatment, diagnosis/differential diagnosis, prognosis, etiology, screening, and prevention. The importance of beginning with an appropriate clinical question and the exploration of how appropriate it is through a literature search are explained. There are three methodological directives that can assist clinicians in conducting their studies from a methodological perspective: (1) how to conduct an original study or a systematic review, (2) how to report an original study or a systematic review, and (3) how to assess the quality or risk of bias for a previous relevant original study or systematic review. This methodological overview article would provide readers with the key points and resources regarding how to perform high-quality research on the six main clinical categories.

Keywords: clinical research methods; diagnosis; literature search; prognosis; treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomedical Research / methods*
Biomedical Research / standards
Causality
Diagnosis*
Humans
Mass Screening
Preventive Medicine / methods*
Prognosis
Systematic Reviews as Topic
Therapeutics / methods*