Specialised Introductory Projects
Project Name: Diagnostic test accuracy studies in surgery
School/Institute: Westmead Clinical School
The research project will be undertaken with the Centre for Kidney Research at the Children’s hospital at Westmead
Supervisor/s: Angela C Webster
Senior Lecturer (Clinical Epidemiology)
Room 304a, Edward Ford Building A27
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
tel +61 2 9036 9125, fax +61 2 9351 5049
angela.webster@sydney.edu.au
Description of Project:
Diagnostic test accuracy studies (DTAs) - for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of surgical conditions are often difficult to find and poorly conducted. This results in clinicians using out of date and poor quality evidence. This project aims to determine, the number, coverage and quality of DTA studies in ‘Surgery’ with a focus on the area of pediatric surgery.
. While this is an original study, which has not been conducted before, it will follow on from similar previous studies. To successfully complete this project you will be required to search online databases (Medline) using appropriate search criteria, make use of bibliographic management software (Reference Manager), evaluate retrieved studies to determine their eligibility for inclusion in the review, determine their risk of bias using predefined Cochrane criteria, enter the results into the Review Manager software published by the Cochrane group and prepare a journal article suitable for publication.
In addition to co-authorship on the resulting journal paper, the student will gain core practical and transferable research skills including a methodical approach to study design, managing references, understanding review methodology, critical appraisal of medical literature, database creation and management, presentation of results and writing a medical paper.
Desirable attributes for persons applying to this project include: Excellent communication and computer skills. It is preferable to also have experience in using online medical databases, the use of bibliographic management software, be familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel and the critical appraisal of medical articles.
Being a research student at the Centre for Kidney Research, students can expect excellent supervision by experienced researchers and clinicians, the company of fellow research students, their own research space with computing facilities, access to all the necessary equipment to conduct their research, computer training, library access and the opportunity to present at weekly research meetings.
Applicants are encouraged to email to discuss, if they think they might be interested in this project.
