Mar 13 - Mar 17, 2023

St. John’s Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore, IndiaIn Collaboration with faculty fromMcMaster University, Canada

Background and Inauguration :

The 14th Annual One-week Course on ‘Health Research Methodology and Evidence Based Medicine (HRM-EBM) was conducted by Division of Clinical research and training (DCRT), St. John’s Research Institute, in collaboration with faculty from McMaster University, Canada, from March 13th to 15th 2024.

The inaugural function was held on 13th March. It was attended by Rev. Dr. Paul Parathazham, Director of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Rev. Fr Dr. Charles Davis, Associate Director, St. John’s Medical College, and Dr. Tony DS Raj, Dean of Research Institute, special guests, faculty, staff & students.

Objectives of the course :

• To familiarize a wide range of health professionals in fundamentals of health research methods, and in evidence based medicine.
• To provide an opportunity to interact with like-minded professionals from varied health fields and to explore collaborations.

Participants :

We had 103 participants from 65 institutes who represented 38 cities from India and Sri Lanka.

Faculty :

The faculty were from St. John’s Medical College, St. John’s Research Institute, Bangalore, AIIMS, Bhopal, AIIMS Nagpur, Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi and McMaster University, Canada.

Course methods :

We had 20 interactive lectures, 4 small group protocol discussions, 4 journal clubs and 4 project presentations. There were 14 lectures on health research methods, 4 on statistics and 2 on project management. The topics were on study design and methods, ethics, grants and publications, project & data management, evidence based medicine, real world evidence and statistics with interactive practical session in SPSS.

The lectures on evidence based medicine (EBM) were given by Dr. Gordon Guyatt and Dr. P J Devereaux from McMaster University, Canada.

Awards to participants :

There were 2 categories of awards for the participants

1. Dr. David Sackett Memorial Award

2. Best Research Presentation Group award

Dr. David Sackett Memorial Award was presented to the top 3 participants.

Best Research Presentation Group award was presented to Group B.

Valedictory :

The course ended on 17th Mar with valedictory function. A valedictory report was presented by the Course Director. Two participants from each group provided feedback on the course. Valedictory function was attended by Rev. Dr. Charles Davis, Associate Director, St. John’s Medical College & Dr. Tony D S Raj, Dean of Research Institute, special guests, faculty, staff & students.

Awards were announced by the Course Director Dr. Denis Xavier. Plaques and Certificates were handed over to the participants by Associate Director, SJMC & Dean, SJRI.