Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research

Everything we do in healthcare has to be discovered and thoroughly tested before it can be put into practice. In this course, you will explore clinical research – its challenges and its huge benefits to modern healthcare. You will work through case studies and examine how research contributes to the treatment of major diseases, such as cancer and dementia, examining the process of conducting research and the ethical questions raised. You will learn how members of a research team, academics and participants in clinical research all contribute to this process of discovery.

This course is designed for anyone who wants to know more about modern healthcare, and the role of clinical research and discovery within it.

It will be of special interest to: students at school or college; undergraduates or postgraduates who are contemplating a career in healthcare or the life sciences; and health and social care professionals and practitioners who want to find out more about the role of clinical research in improving healthcare.

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. By completing the course you will have achieved 16 hours of CPD time.

No previous knowledge is needed to take this course.

• Why do we do research?
• Welcome to the course
• What is clinical research?
• Who benefits from clinical research?
• What makes good research?
• An example of a current research trial
• Summary
• How do we do research?
• Welcome to week two
• How has research developed?
• Designing modern clinical trials
• Where are we going?
• An example of current research
• Summary
• Ethics and respect
• Welcome to Week 3
• What does respect mean?
• Rules, regulations and the law
• What is informed consent?
• An example of theory in practice
• Summary
• Research in practice
• Welcome to Week 4
• How do we put research into practice?
• What happens to the results of research?
• How is this all funded?
• An example of theory in practice
• Summary