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Gille F, Frei A, Kaufmann M, Lehmann A, Muñoz Laguna J, Papadopoulos K, Spörri A, Stanikić M, Tušl M, Zavattaro F, Puhan MA. A guide for a student-led doctoral-level qualitative methods short course in epidemiology: faculty and student perspectives. Int J Epidemiol 2024; 53:dyae029. [PMID: 38389285 PMCID: PMC10883707 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Qualitative research and mixed methods are core competencies for epidemiologists. In response to the shortage of guidance on graduate course development, we wrote a course development guide aimed at faculty and students designing similar courses in epidemiology curricula. The guide combines established educational theory with faculty and student experiences from a recent introductory course for epidemiology and biostatistics doctoral students at the University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. We propose a student-centred course with inverse classroom teaching and practice exercises with faculty input. Integration of student input during the course development process helps align the course syllabus with student needs. The proposed course comprises six sessions that cover learning outcomes in comprehension, knowledge, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Following an introductory session, the students engage in face-to-face interviews, focus group interviews, observational methods, analysis and how qualitative and quantitative methods are integrated in mixed methods. Furthermore, the course covers interviewer safety, research ethics, quality in qualitative research and a practice session focused on the use of interview hardware, including video and audio recorders. The student-led teaching characteristic of the course allows for an immersive and reflective teaching-learning environment. After implementation of the course and learning from faculty and student perspectives, we propose these additional foci: a student project to apply learned knowledge to a case study; integration in mixed-methods; and providing faculty a larger space to cover theory and field anecdotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Gille
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care (IfIS), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Digital Society Initiative (DSI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anja Frei
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Kaufmann
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anja Lehmann
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Javier Muñoz Laguna
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- EBPI-UWZH Musculoskeletal Epidemiology Research Group, University of Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- University Spine Centre Zurich (UWZH), Balgrist University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kimon Papadopoulos
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care (IfIS), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Digital Society Initiative (DSI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Angela Spörri
- Central Informatics, Multimedia an E-Learning Services, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mina Stanikić
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care (IfIS), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Tušl
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Federica Zavattaro
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care (IfIS), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Digital Society Initiative (DSI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Milo Alan Puhan
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Gevers-Montoro C, Puente-Tobares M, Monréal A, Conesa-Buendía FM, Piché M, Ortega-De Mues A. Urinary TNF-α as a potential biomarker for chronic primary low back pain. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1207666. [PMID: 37449008 PMCID: PMC10336221 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1207666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Over two thirds of individuals with low back pain (LBP) may experience recurrent or persistent symptoms in the long term. Yet, current data do not allow to predict who will develop chronic low back pain and who will recover from an acute episode. Elevated serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been associated with poor recovery and persistent pain following an acute episode of LBP. Inflammatory cytokines may also mediate mechanisms involved in nociplastic pain, and thus, have significant implications in chronic primary low back pain (CPLBP). Methods This study aimed to investigate the potential of urinary TNF-α levels for predicting outcomes and characterizing clinical features of CPLBP patients. Twenty-four patients with CPLBP and 24 sex- and age-matched asymptomatic controls were recruited. Urinary TNF-α concentrations were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks, during which CPLBP patients underwent spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Results Concentrations of TNF-α were found to be elevated in baseline urine samples of CPLBP patients compared to asymptomatic controls. Moreover, these values differed among patients depending on their pain trajectory. Patients with persistent pain showed higher levels of TNF-α, when compared to those with episodic CPLBP. Furthermore, baseline TNF-α concentrations and their changes after 4 weeks predicted alterations in pain intensity and disability following SMT in patients with CPLBP. Discussion These findings warrant further research on the potential use of urinary TNF-α concentrations as a prognostic biomarker for CPLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gevers-Montoro
- Madrid College of Chiropractic – RCU María Cristina, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CogNAC Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | | | - Aléxiane Monréal
- Madrid College of Chiropractic – RCU María Cristina, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Mathieu Piché
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CogNAC Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
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