Is Metformin more effective, as compared to exercise, at reducing blood sugar levels for middle-aged (45-64 years) patients with T2DM? Discuss

Subject Learning Outcomes Assessed:

2. Use relevant databases to search and access peer-reviewed scientific literature to identify relevant information.

3. Critically appraise research methods and reports, including statistical results.

4. Clearly articulate and cite the research of others appropriately in written and oral communication.

Demonstrate awareness of ethical research practice and principles

Task description:

You will need to complete the following activities in your group, except when indicated as individually:
Identify a research question using the PICO approach and a rationale for this question.

Note: the research question needs to be answered by intervention rather than observational/epidemiological studies, preferably involving randomised controlled trials (RCTs) rather than uncontrolled pre-posttest designs.

P.I.C.O Question:

Population: Middle-aged (45-64 years) patients with T2DM
Intervention:  Metformin
Comparator: Exercise

Outcome: improvement in blood sugar levels 

Is Metformin more effective, as compared to exercise, at reducing blood sugar levels for middle-aged (45-64 years) patients with T2DM?

Develop a literature review methodology, based on standard systematic review processes that include a description of the databases searched, keywords used (including all relevant synonyms and truncated words), relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria;

Conduct a review of relevant databases to identify TWO relevant intervention papers per student on the research topic. Thus, if your group has four individuals, your groups’ review will need to include a total of eight papers.

For the purposes of this assignment, an intervention article is one in which some participants were given the intervention whereas other participants were given usual care or an alternative intervention.

Develop a summary table (in MS Excel or Word) of the relevant details summarising the most important PICO information that relates to the participants, interventions and primary results relevant to the research question. Note: the group will need to develop an agreed format for this document.

Within this document, each individual will be responsible for entering the data relevant to their two studies; with this being assessed on an individual student rather than group basis.

Develop a summary table (in MS Excel or Word) of the critical appraisal of your included studies with explicit evidence supporting your appraisal of each criteria for each study.

 

Perform a review of your team members’ contribution across the “Team work and communication evaluation” criteria of the Individual component (see second last page marking rubric).

Present an oral summary (using PowerPoint) that includes the following sections:

Introduction and rationale of the research question;

Brief description of your review methodology, based on the systematic review process;
Results that included a summary of the sections described in the Excel/Word files;

Discussion including practical and theoretical applications, potential external and internal validity limitations of the included studies and primary ethical considerations for this type of research.
Answer questions from your peers and teaching staff after completing your presentation.

Last Completed Projects