branum mla 2012
TRANSCRIPT
"Alternative" Research Education in a Post-R25 World:
Candise Branum, MLSCollege Librarian, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Assessing AOM Student Attitudes Towards Research
& the Scientific Method
Research Education Grants (R25)
R25 Grants to CAM Schools
· Develop research literacy · Enhance research appreciation· View research as a bridge between CAM and
conventional medicine· Award a limited number of grants to create
Research Education programs for dissemination to other CAM colleges
Goals of
Research Literacy
Research Participation
Research Culture
2006 Survey
· 2006 joint study from OCOM / NESA of attitudes and interests of AOM students towards research and the scientific method
· Students’ interest in research was found to decline with time in school
In the six years since introducing a culture of research into the campus and into the curricula, has this trend changed?
2012 SURVEY
2012 Survey
· 10 nationally accredited AOM schools in the United States
· Mix of schools with and without dedicated research programs· Schools WITH research departments were much more
likely to respond to our survey request· Ended with 6…
2012 Survey Goals
· Broad look at how acupuncture students view research and its associated methods
· Is there a difference between 1st and 3rd year students’ attitudes?
· Any correlation between high levels of interest and the presence of a research department?
Recognition of the Culture
· “Acupuncture has been practiced successfully for several thousand years. Why do we need research?”
· Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) is an alternative medicine. Practitioners may feel antagonistic or wary of western medicine.
· RCTs (the "gold standard" of research) do not always adequately measure AOM results
Demographics
· Over half the respondents were 18-45 years old;
· Almost 75% female;· Well distributed over
the class years.
Question: Do students recognize the benefits of AOM research?Answer: Yes
SURVEY RESULTS
Overall Results
Feelings about research
AOM research affects public opinion
Wants to participate in research
Wants to learn more about AOM research
Wants to stay informed of latest research
Believes clinical studies affect insurance coverage
0% 10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Neutral / No OpinionDisagrees / Negative ViewAgrees / Positive View
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Overall trends 2006Overall trends 2012
OCOM Survey Results
1Wayne, Hammerschlag et al. Explore 2010;6:22-28.
% o
f res
pond
ents
who
agr
ee
Overall Response to “Incompatibility of the Scientific Method with AOM Principles”
Agree
Disagree
Not Sure / No Opinion
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Question: Does it make a difference?Answer: “Not Sure”
PRESENCE OF RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Scientific Method
Unsure
Disagree
Agree
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
No Research ProgramResearch Program
Feelings About Research
Research Program No Research Program0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
PositiveNegativeNeutral / Not Sure
Question: Do rates of interest decrease over time in the program?Answer: Unfortunately… yep
TRACKING ATTITUDES OVER TIME
Feelings About Research
1st year 2nd year 3rd year or more0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
OCOM All Schools Combined
Pos
itive
Fee
lings
OCOM Survey Results
1st year
2nd year
3rd year or
more
1st y
ear
2nd y
ear
3rd ye
ar or
more
1st year
2nd year
3rd year or more
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1st y
ear
2nd y
ear
3rd ye
ar or
more
1st y
ear
2nd y
ear
3rd ye
ar or
more
1st y
ear
2nd y
ear
3rd ye
ar or
more
20062012
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6
Q1: Interest in learning about researchQ2: Interest in research participationQ3: Importance of research for public perception of AOMQ4: Importance of research for insurance reimbursementQ5: Importance in following clinical researchQ6: Scientific method is inconsistent with AOM principles
1Wayne, Hammerschlag et al. Explore 2010;6:22-28.
% o
f res
pond
ents
who
agr
ee
Conclusions
· Positive feelings about research decline drastically as students progress in the program· This aligns with the results from the 2006 study
· Students see the benefits of research and believe it is important to their profession, but that doesn’t mean they like it
Conclusions
· Comments indicate a distrust of the western biomedical system and a distrust of big business and pharmaceutical companies
· Alternative ways of measuring results?· Critical thinking about research bias, sometimes
too critical
