Research Training in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology

描述：(申请者摘要)该培训计划的目标是培养一支在老年临床流行病学方面具有专业知识的内科科学家干部，能够解决老年人复杂和多方面的健康问题。我们将通过为已经在老年病学和/或与年龄相关的次级专科方面训练有素的医生提供2-3年的研究培训来实现这一目标。老年临床流行病学实习生将在以下七个基本领域培养技能：1)提出重要和重点的研究问题；2)设计观察性和实验性研究；3)成功执行特定研究设计的技术；4)科学文献的批判性分析；5)研究结果的解释；6)科学方法和研究结果的口头和书面交流；以及7)研究支持战略的制定和实施。这些技能将通过包括授课和体验两部分的培训经验来发展。核心教学课程是一个为期一年的课程，定量临床流行病学，其中包括流行病学和研究方法，生物统计学，数据处理和卫生政策。通过新的研究医学计划和公共卫生学院提供的高级课程包括临床调查、纵向数据分析和研究中的伦理。学员将可以选择获得公共卫生硕士或博士学位。研究培训计划的核心部分是在老年学教师导师的指导下进行监督的研究体验。有广泛的跨学科和正在进行的研究项目，受训者可以利用这些项目来获取其研究培训的经验部分。拟议的培训计划的独特优势包括：老年病临床流行病学研究的杰出历史；现有导师和研究专业知识的广度和深度；出色的教学研究课程；可获得广泛的研究经验机会和优秀的研究基础设施；优秀的受训候选人库；以及因培养成功的老年病临床研究人员而被广泛认可的计划主任。

DESCRIPTION: (Applicants abstract) The objective of this training program is to develop a cadre of physician-scientists with expertise in geriatric clinical epidemiology, capable of addressing the complex and multidimensional health problems of older persons. We will accomplish this objective by providing physicians already well trained in geriatrics and/or subspecialties with age-related relevance with 2 - 3 years of research training. The geriatric clinical epidemiology trainees will develop skills in each of seven essential areas: 1) formulation of significant and focused research questions; 2) design of observational and experimental studies; 3) techniques for successful execution of specific study designs; 4) critical analysis of the scientific literature; 5) interpretation of findings; 6) verbal and written communication of scientific methods and findings; and 7) development and implementation of strategies for research support. These skills will be developed through a training experience that includes both didactic and experiential components. The core didactic curriculum is a 1-year long course, Quantitative Clinical Epidemiology, which includes epidemiologic and research methods, biostatistics, data processing, and health policy. Advanced courses, provided through the new Investigative Medicine Program and the School of Public Health, include clinical investigation, longitudinal data analysis, and ethics in research. Trainees will have the option of obtaining an MPH or a PhD. The central component of the research training program is a supervised research experience under the guidance of a geriatric faculty mentor. There is a broad array of interdisciplinary and ongoing research projects upon which trainees can draw for the experiential component of their research training. The unique strengths of the proposed training program include a distinguished history of geriatric clinical epidemiology research; the breadth and depth of available mentors and research expertise; an outstanding didactic research curriculum; availability of a broad spectrum of research experience opportunities and an excellent research infrastructure; an outstanding pool of trainee candidates; and a program director widely recognized for developing successful geriatric clinical investigators.