Smoking Behaviors

   The epidemiology of smoking curriculum consists of 4 primary modules: 1) pre-site training, 2) research problem, 3) data analysis, and 4) report preparation. Each module is designed to provide specific information and instruction as an integrated component of the overall research training program. It is intended to simulate the actual tasks that researchers ordinarily engage in while conducting epidemiologic investigations of smoking or other public health problems. Students participating in the PSU-MIRT program will obtain a strong overview of the epidemiologic research process as applied to the problem of tobacco consumption in either France, Senegal, or South Africa.

Pre-site Training – This module will introduce trainees to the overall programmatic scope of the specific site research project, site investigators, goals of the summer training program, cultural orientation, ethics and research and provides an opportunity for participants to network with each other. Over the course of 3-5 days, depending on the specific site and nature of the research project, PSU-MIRT trainees will be exposed to the following activities:

• An overview of epidemiology including basic principles such as the history of the science, definition of epidemiology, disease concepts, epidemiologic measures of morbidity and mortality, observational methods, and research design and analysis.
• The social and public health problem of tobacco consumption in each specific site including previous studies, trends and patterns, specific at risk demographic groups, prevention and intervention activities, and public policy issues.
• Cultural orientation will include preparations for language instruction, social customs and culturally appropriate behavior, logistic issues related to each placement sites and contingency plans for emergency situations.
• A session on the ethics and responsibility of research and the researcher. This session will be a part of each training module and intended to promote responsible professional behavior on the part of student researchers and indicate the seriousness of violations of ethical principles. Specific reading materials including NIH guidelines will be presented as well as sessions focusing on problems typically encountered in research. Ethics and research training will be a part of each module and every site.

Research Problem – In this module, the primary emphasis will be on introducing trainees to the nature of the research project. Each site will have a different epidemiologic focus on smoking and therefore the hypotheses or research questions and data sets will vary. The primary aims of this module, regardless of the research location or research problem will be to:

• inform trainees of the relationship between hypotheses and research questions and questionnaire construction and specific items.
• understand questionnaire construction and technology and how smoking prevalence and other epidemiologic concepts are generated.
• become familiar with the SPSS and SAS datasets.
• understand the nature of ethical issues related to this stage of the research process.

Data Analysis – The data analysis module will allow trainees to acquire practical skills and familarity with standard statistical analysis packages such as SPSS or SAS. Each mentor will work with trainees as the needs of the research project dictate to:

• conduct basic statistical analysis using SPSS or SAS beginning with frequency distributions and crosstabulation analysis.
• conduct correlation and regression analysis based on the progress and prior training of individual students and the demands of the analysis project.
• present ethical issues pertaining to data analysis.
• Trainees will also attend related seminars and lectures on data analysis.

Report Preparation – This module will require trainees to exercise and develop writing skills in preparation of reports summarizing study findings. Each participating MIRT trainee will be required to:

• Write an abstract which may be submitted for presentation at a scientific forum.
• demonstrate an understanding of how scientific articles are prepared.
• make a formal presentation based on MIRT experience to the study team.
• relate the study findings to a specific problem of minority communities and smoking in the U.S.

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