One of the CanMEDS competencies relate to being a Health Advocate. A critical analysis of health policy addresses this competency, in addition to the Scholar competencies. Residents could choose a “hot topic” or a traditionally controversial topic and prepare to search and critically appraise the literature to come to a conclusion or recommendation, supported by the evidence. Frequently such topics involve considerations of cost, including opportunity cost, and other risks and benefits of supporting or not supporting the topic at hand. For example, residents may choose to analyze the risks and benefits of the legalization versus decriminalization of marijuana versus maintaining the status quo. Other possible topics may include the various ways of funding health care (private versus public), how physicians are compensated (including using chronic disease incentives), physician-assisted suicide, or other health policy issues. Some recommendations for an analysis of health policy are listed below.
Recommendations for a scholar project analyzing health policy
- Description of the problem
- Research question
- Description of the literature search strategy
- Critical appraisal of the evidence looking at all sides of the issue
-Ideally a body of evidence would be considered as opposed to a single study.
- Application of the evidence to the problem at hand
-Include considerations on cost, opportunity cost, legal ramifications, ethical considerations, and other considerations as appropriate.
- If research evidence has already tried to evaluate the hypothesis you are exploring, this should be presented and once again critically appraised
- Conclusion/Summary
-Directly relate to the answers found to the research question.
Analytical Essay
Method and Written Report Guidelines
An essay is a way of presenting your research and knowledge about a topic in a succinct and coherent way so that others may learn from your work. An essay usually presents your idea (or thesis) in an objective way with a critique of available evidence.
Therefore, an essay must include a review and critical analysis of the existing situation and relevant literature. It should have a traditional structure with introduction, body, conclusion, and annotated references. The introduction should include a brief orientation to the topic, your thesis, and a brief summary of the main points.
Some essay topic examples:
clinical controversy or ethics (Eg. “the right to die”)
connecting basic science to clinical practice (Eg. hypothesis that genome research will achieve a cure for type 1 diabetes)
advocacy initiative (Eg. refugee health services)
new program (Eg. safe injection sites)
health policy (Eg. aboriginal children in foster care)
Method and Written Report Guidelines
(based on instructions for authors, Canadian Family Physician journal, July 12, 2011)
Analytical Essay on Health Policy
Manuscripts must be prepared in accordance with the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” available on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) website.
Abstract: Include Introduction (problem being addressed and objective of program), Description, Evaluation and Conclusion and should not exceed 300 words. Up to 4 key words (MeSH headings) should be included.
Analytical Essay should not exceed 2500 words, excluding abstract, tables and references.
Limitations: Planned improvements should be presented. Conclusion should summarize the main components of the program, relate to the problem addressed, and be justified by the information presented.
References: Must be current and complete. Check references for accuracy, completeness, and proper format (according to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals; http://www.icmje.org/). References should be numbered in the order they appear in the text and should be limited to works cited in the article. List all authors when there are 6 or fewer; when there are 7 or more, list the first 6, followed by et al.
Key Points: Include a short, point-form “key points” section including 1 to 4 points in 50 to 100 words. Key points should not duplicate the abstract or summarize the article; they should highlight what is new, different, unexpected or surprising in the article.
Tables and figures: Attach separately from the main manuscript. Tables and figures should clarify and supplement, but not duplicate, the text. Tables must be self-explanatory and concise. Prepare each table or figure on a separate page. Give titles to tables and captions to figures and other illustrations. Ensure that all tables, figures, and illustrations are cited at appropriate places in the text. Prepare tables in Word; no spreadsheets, please. Use table structure, not spaces and tabs to format tables.
Images and any other visual material should be attached as separate electronic files (do not paste them into the manuscript). These may include photographs, digital illustrations or extra photographs for use if space is available. Images should be sent in a JPG file format.
Authorship Resident(s) should include a description in their written report of what each contributed to their Resident Scholar Project. In addition, if several residents are involved in one Resident Scholar Project, residents should include a statement to describe the processes they underwent to decide the order of the authors on the Resident Scholar Project written report.
Acknowledgements All people (e.g. faculty, professionals, research assistants) who contributed to the work of the Resident Project who are not authors should be named in the Acknowledgements, and what they did should be described. All financial support of the Resident Project should also be described in the acknowledgements.
Guidelines for Authorship and Acknowledgements
Please follow the latest authorship definition provided by the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals listed below from the website: www.icmje.org as follows:
“All persons designated as authors should qualify for authorship, and all those who qualify should be listed. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content. One or more authors should take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, from inception to published article. Authorship credit should be based only on 1) substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; 2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and 3) final approval of the version to be published. Conditions 1, 2, and 3 must all be met. Acquisition of funding, the collection of data, or general supervision of the research group, by themselves, do not justify authorship.”
In addition, all residents and faculty should refer to the Department of Family Practice Authorship and Collaboration policy that was approved by the Post-Graduate Education Committee in 2003. This policy guides the order of authors for faculty and residents who work together on a Resident Scholar Project.