Advice From A Past Global Impact Fellow Who Pursued Global Health Research
By Tony Su, Yale University Student, Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai
Preparation
- First and foremost, start your preparations early. School gets busier and more stressful; many things may take longer than you expect.
- Do not rush through your proposal process. A well thought out proposal promises a good project and attracts funding. A poor proposal precludes a successful study.
- It is extremely important to decide which type of study to use based on your research question: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods. Consult with your research mentor.
- Be practical in your proposal with regards to the logistics. Eye care outreach camps and clinics are almost always crowded. Design simple, concise, easy-to-understand, and unambiguous questions.
- Once the proposal is definite, apply for funding.
- Take advantage of Unite for Sight’s support and stay in frequent contact. You will be amazed by their thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and dedication to your research studies.
- Allow time to receive IRB approval. Again, start early! Without IRB approval, you will not be allowed to conduct your research. The waiting time for review approval varies with institutions. Check with your institution early.
- Read relevant literature extensively to immerse yourself in the methods and language in which global eye health research is conducted. The best place to start is http://www.uniteforsight.org/global-impact-lab/community-eye-health-research
- Read for common patterns in research methodologies, statistical measures collected, overlapping areas that multiple research projects address, and most importantly, unanswered research questions that previous literature suggest to explore or fail to address.
- The more and the broader the scope of global health research literature you read, the better prepared you will be after arriving in the international setting and running into unexpected situations.
- Before setting off, it is important that you consult with your research mentor and Unite for Sight global impact alumni to anticipate how your project may go wrong in the field.
- Consult a statistician on the sampling method and study design. It is recommended to have taken some statistics class. As the great statistician R. A Fischer once warned: “To consult the statistician after an experiment is finished is often merely to ask him to conduct a post mortem examination. He can perhaps say what the experiment died of.”
In The Field
- After arriving to the partner eye clinic, start coordinating your project. Do not wait for others to coordinate and initiate your project. As helpful as the local doctors and staff are, they are very busy. Take initiative to quickly get started on your project.
- Be proactive yet flexible. Respect the proceedings of the outreaches and the schedules of the doctors and staff.
- Use the first few days to conduct a pilot study. Many unexpected things happen, and you may need to make new and interesting revisions to the original research plan. In the pilot study, try to follow the planned procedure as closely as possible, but in the meantime be attentive. You should observe any interesting or unexpected responses from the patients. Be ready to revise your project within a few days so you can progress to the final research plan.
- It can be challenging to have your interpreters translate the interview questions with consistency, accuracy, and without any subjective bias. Consider using a visual aid and sound recording in lieu of, or to supplement, verbal interviews.
- Set a definite goal regarding the minimum amount of data that you need or want to collect per day.
- Save hard copies of the original data. You never know whether your laptop will malfunction the next day.
- Be respectful, grateful, and kind to clinic staff that assists you with your study, and you will receive incredible help and kindness in return.
- Good organization protects you from all hazards: undated, missing data; mismatched observations, etc.
- Do not be frustrated if you run into initial challenges or cultural shock. It is a natural part of the experience.
- Communicate with the local doctors and staff frequently and clearly. Inform them about your progress, and seek help.