- Docente: Gianandrea Pasquinelli
- Credits: 3
- Language: Italian
- Moduli: Gianandrea Pasquinelli (Modulo 1) Gastone Castellani (Modulo 2)
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Biomedical Laboratory techniques (cod. 8484)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the learning activity, students will have acquired the competencies related to the analytical processes covered by the seminar’s educational content.
Course contents
The seminar is organized into two modules, for a total of 36 hours. The overall objective is to provide students with integrated theoretical and practical training in clinical research methodology and in the application of artificial intelligence technologies to Laboratory Medicine.
Module 1, corresponding to 2 ECTS credits (24 hours), covers the fundamentals of scientific research methodology, with particular emphasis on clinical research. Students will acquire the skills needed to critically understand the rationale underlying research, the principles involved in designing a study, the different types of study design, and the conduct of clinical studies in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles. A structured approach to the analysis of scientific literature will also be introduced, together with practical exercises based on selected scientific articles.
Module 2, corresponding to 1 ECTS credit (12 hour), covers the application of artificial intelligence technologies to Laboratory Medicine.
The topics covered in Module 1 are summarized below:
Module 1 – Research Methodology (24 hours)
Introduction to research methodology: science, the scientific method, and Evidence-Based Medicine.
Formulation of the research question (PICO) and stages of the scientific research process.
Literature searching databases, search strategies, and evaluation of scientific sources.
Study designs in clinical research: observational and experimental studies.
Research planning: objectives, hypotheses, inclusion and exclusion criteria, study population, sample size determination, outcomes, and database development.
Ethical and regulatory aspects: Ethics Committees, Good Clinical Practice, study protocols, and the main regulatory authorities.
Structure of a scientific article, reporting guidelines, and critical appraisal of the scientific literature.
Readings/Bibliography
A selection of the teaching materials presented during the course will subsequently be made available to students on the course’s Virtuale platform. In addition, students will be encouraged to consult open-access resources.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching with practical examples. Team work.
Assessment methods
Multiple-choice test covering the topics included in the course syllabus. The assessment consists of 31 multiple-choice questions, of which 20 cover the topics addressed in Module 1 and 11 cover those addressed in Module 2. Each correct answer is awarded 1 point, while no points are awarded for incorrect or unanswered questions. The overall score, calculated as the total number of correct answers, determines the final grade. A minimum of 18 correct answers (18/31) is required to pass the assessment. Thirty correct answers correspond to a final grade of 30/30, while 31 correct answers are awarded 30/30 with honours (30 e Lode).
Teaching tools
Video projector, PC, mobile app for interactive teaching.
Office hours
See the website of Gianandrea Pasquinelli
See the website of Gastone Castellani
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.