The Scientific Methods And Research Techniques (SMART) course is a research methodology course designed for anaesthetists in training, organised by the Cambridge University Division of Anaesthesia at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Aimed at post-fellowship/membership trainees, the course provides an introduction to the research process, from setting up a project and gaining ethical approval through gathering and analyzing the data to presenting the results and peer review.

The SMART course objectives are mapped to the RCOA 2021 curriculum modules for “research and managing data” and “safety and quality improvement” for stages 1, 2 and 3.

The course has a strong interactive focus presented by experienced researchers with hands-on computer sessions, so places are strictly limited. The course is subsidised by the East of England Deanery, therefore applications from the region will be considered first and at a preferential rate.

CPD credits were awarded by the RCOA for this course in 2022 and will be applied for again in 2023.

 

UPDATE: The 2023 SMART Course will be held on 13 AND 14 November 2023.

VENUE: The Pitt building, central Cambridge (face to face) with some external and online/zoom attendance.

Cost of the course: 

East of England Deanery (Anaesthetic trainees) will fund some places (available through the School of Anaesthesia/ICM)

Other School Trainees (Eastern Deanery) £200.00

External and international delegates: £300.00

Online/Zoom only attendance (limited places for this option): £100.00

Please contact Stephen Webb Schumperli (sw941@medschl.cam.ac.uk) for more details and to book a place.

Applications from outside the region and other specialities [Emergency medicine, surgery and acute medical] trainees are welcome.   

The programme will be announced shortly through the Addenbrooke’s Hospital Post-Graduate Medical Education Centre (PGMC) and a SMART flyer will be posted here.

 

COURSE OVERVIEW

• Principles of statistics: Hypothesis testing, significance testing, distributions and power
• Hands-on statistical analysis
• Presenting your ideas – Getting the most from Excel and PowerPoint
• Peer review and getting published
• Research and industry
• The role of research
• Career pathways in research
• Literature review
• Critical appraisal
• Meta-analysis
• Study design and methodology
• Gaining ethical approval
• Funding
• Recruiting patients
• Running a study and dealing with problems

 

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