Chapter 96 - Good questions in public health research

Abstract

Great research is rooted in great questions. If insufficient attention is paid to question formulation, efforts to find an answer can be fruitless or misguided. Moreover, the process of forming a question can be incredibly valuable in devising an appropriate, achievable, and meaningful research project in surgical public health. Surgeon–scientists are starting to broaden their scope to include public policy and public health investigations. It is critical for researchers focused on surgery, who experience downstream of public health policies and community practices, to be involved in upstream health improvement, disease prevention, health services research, and implementation science. Various frameworks exist to help researchers craft thoughtful research questions. Building on these, this chapter offers a brief guide for how surgeon–scientists can ensure their public health questions will improve population-level care, patient outcomes, and the field of surgery and public health.