COURSE INFORMATION
Building on the research design principles introduced in the previous course, RM 500 – Research Methods for Health Care Professionals I, this advanced CE course focuses on the practical implementation, management, analysis, interpretation, and communication of health research. Designed for nurses, physicians, advanced care providers, clinical research coordinators, clinical research associates, research assistants, research technicians, research trainees, quality improvement professionals and other healthcare professionals working in clinical and research settings, this course provides a deeper exploration of the processes required to conduct scientifically rigorous studies while maintaining research integrity, data quality, and regulatory compliance throughout every stage of the research process.
A central theme in the course is translating research findings into practices that improve patient care, inform clinical decision making, support quality improvement initiatives, guides healthcare policy, and advance scientific discovery. Students learn how careful study implementation, rigorous data analysis, and accurate interpretation produce reliable evidence that can be confidently applied in clinical practice.
Course content addresses participant recruitment, sampling strategies, sample size determination, statistical power, data collection procedures, quantitative and qualitative measurement, and the appropriate use of primary and secondary data sources. Students learn practical approaches to data management, quality assurance, and reproducibility that promote transparency, research integrity, and confidence in scientific findings.
Foundational concepts in biostatistics are presented in a practical, clinically relevant context. Students learn how to summarize, analyze, interpret, and critically evaluate health research data while selecting statistical methods appropriate for the specific research questions and study designs. Emphasis is placed on interpreting findings within the context of bias, precision, statistical significance, clinical relevance, and study limitations so that students can confidently assess published scientific evidence and avoid common errors in interpretation.
The course concludes by examining the effective strategies for communicating research findings through scientific manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and professional presentations. Students also explore the publication process, including journal selection, manuscript preparation, peer review, publication ethics, and best practices for communicating scientific discoveries to diverse audiences.
Throughout the course, students strengthen their ability to evaluate published research, translate scientific findings into evidence-based clinical decision-making, and communicate research clearly and effectively. These skills are increasingly valuable for healthcare professionals seeking leadership roles, participation in health research, graduate education, quality improvement initiatives, specialty certification, or expanded responsibilities within their organizations.
Together, RM 500 – Research Methods for Health Care Professionals I and RM 510 – Research Methods for Health Care Professionals II provide a comprehensive roadmap to the entire research process––from recognizing important clinical questions and designing scientifically rigorous studies, to analyzing data, interpreting results, and communicating discoveries that advance healthcare decision-making.
Course Code: RM 500. Contract hours of education: 50 hours.
Instructor/Course Author: Johanna DiStefano, Ph.D.
Link to Resume: access here
TIME FRAME: You are allotted two years from the date of enrollment, to complete all of the courses in the Holistic & Integrative health care practice program. There are no set time-frames, other than the two year allotted time. If you do not complete the courses within the two-year time-frame, you will be removed from the course and an “incomplete” will be recorded for you in our records. Also, if you would like to complete the courses after this two-year expiration time, you would need to register and pay the course tuition fee again.
TEXTBOOKS: There is one (1) required textbook for this course.
Introduction to Health Research Methods by Kathryn H. Jacobsen, Third Edition, 2021 (Jones and Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA)
Link to Purchase on Amazon.com: click here
Reading/Study Assignment: this course covers Chapters Nineteen (19) through Forty-two (42) in the required textbook.
GRADING: You must achieve a passing score of at least 70% to complete this course and receive the 50 hours of awarded continuing education credit. There are no letter grades assigned. You will receive notice of your total % score. Those who score below the minimum of 70% will be contacted by the and options for completing additional course work to achieve a passing score, will be presented.
BOARD APPROVALS: The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is an Approved Provider for Continuing Education by the South Carolina Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board, Provider # 4637.
AIHCP is an approved provider of continuing education by the Florida Board of Nursing and the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975. Access information
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals (The Provider) is approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses, Provider number # CEP 15595 for 50 Contact Hours.
This course, which is approved by the Florida State Board Of Nursing (CE Provider # 50-11975) also has the following Board of Nursing Approvals, for 50 contact hours of CE
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Arkansas Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Georgia Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Professional Registered Nurses. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
Course Refund & AIHCP Policies: access here
ONLINE CLASSROOM RESOURCES AND TOOLS
* Examination Access: there is link to take you right to the online examination program where you can print out your examination and work with it. All examinations are formatted as “open book” tests. When you are ready, you can access the exam program at anytime and click in your responses to the questions. Full information is provided in the online classrooms.
* Student Resource Center: there is a link for access to a web page “Student Resource Center.” The Resource Center provides for easy access to all of our policies/procedures and additional information regarding applying for certification. We also have many links to many outside reference sites, such as online libraries that you may freely access.
* Online Evaluation: there is a link in the classroom where you may access the course evaluation. All students completing a course, must, without exception, complete the course evaluation.
* Faculty Access Information: you will have access to your instructor’s online resume/biography, as well as your instructor’s specific contact information.
* Additional Learning Materials: some faculty have prepared additional “readings” and /or brief lecture notes to enhance your experience. All of these are available in the online classrooms.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Assess strategies for identifying study populations and selecting representative samples
- Analyze the relationships among sampling, statistical power, and sample size in clinical research
- Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative data and select appropriate methods for collecting each
- Compare the strengths and limitations of primary and secondary data sources
- Apply principles of data management to promote research integrity and reproducibility
- Select, apply, and interpret appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods for common clinical research questions
- Interpret statistical findings within the context of study design, bias, precision, and clinical relevance
- Draw evidence-based conclusions that appropriately reflect study findings and limitations
- Interpret research findings to support evidence-based decision making in healthcare practice
- Communicate research findings effectively through scientific manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and oral presentations
- Evaluate publication strategies, including journal selection, manuscript submission, and the peer review process
- Appraise published research reports for methodological quality, statistical interpretation, and validity of the authors’ conclusions