Translational research

Topic 1 DQ1

Identify the different levels of translational research. Explain how translational research is different from evidence-based practice and discuss application to population health management.

Sample Student Answers

Response One

Translational research uses scientific discoveries or findings made in the laboratory settings, and in the field, and transform the findings into new approaches and treatments to enhance population health. There are three main levels of translational research, denoted as T1, T2, and T3 (TCRM, 2018). T1 focuses on developing interventions and treatments. T2 tests the effectiveness and efficacy of the interventions and treatments. T3 focuses on the implantation and dissemination of research findings to implement system-wide changes (TCRM, 2018).

There are significant differences between evidence-based practice (EBP) and translational research. EBP refers to a problem-solving approach and conscientious approach applied in clinical practice. EBP incorporates the best available evidence, patient preferences and values, and a healthcare provider’s expertise in making viable decisions in patients’ care. On the other hand, translational research aims at providing meaningful results that directly impact population health (Barreto et al., 2020). \

Translational research aims at translating scientific discoveries more efficiently and quickly into practice. Translational research promotes and encourages multidisciplinary collaboration among clinical and laboratory researchers (Barreto et al., 2020). Translational research incorporates the desires of the population and engaging the communities in determining their own healthcare needs. Translational research supports the adoption of the best available health and medical practices (Barreto et al., 2020).

Translational research plays a significant role in population health management. Translational research occurs in five main phases (Titler et al., 2018). At T0, basic science and preclinical research is conducted using animal studies. At T1 stage, the safety and efficacy of an intervention is tested through clinical trials involving a small sample of human participants. At T3 stage, the efficacy of an intervention is tested using larger sample sizes (Titler et al., 2018).

At T4 stage, the outcomes of clinical trials are translated into practice. At T5 stage, the research outcomes are implemented at population level. Translational research helps in the promotion of population health by applying clinically proven research outcomes to solve the health problems facing individuals in the population (Titler et al., 2018).

References

Barreto, J. O. M., Silva, E. N. D., Gurgel-Gonçalves, R., Rosa, S. D. S. R. F., Felipe, M. S. S., & Santos, L. M. P. (2020). Translational research in public health: challenges of an evolving field.

TCRM, (2018). Translational Research. Defining the “T’s”. http://www.tcrn.unsw.edu.au/translational-research-definitions

Titler, M. G. (2018). Translation research in practice: An introduction. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(2).

FAST DISCUSSION POST WRITING HELP

Response 2

According to Titler (2018), translational research is a dynamic process consisting of five processes running from basic research to applying research findings in practice. The purpose of translational research is to improve patient, community, and public health and health outcomes. According to Titler (2018), the five stages of translational research include preclinical and animal studies followed by clinical trials, where the efficacy and safety of the intervention are tested on a small group of humans.

Phase 2 and phase 3 are clinical trials that involve testing the effectiveness and safety on a larger group of humans and comparing them to common treatments. In the fourth phase, further clinical trials and clinical outcomes research are conducted, translating the intervention into practice. The last phase is phase 5, which is population-level outcomes research or translation of research to the community.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) involves the application of scientifically proven evidence into practice. On the contrary, translation research is a systematic research process involving comparing and implementing new EBP practice protocols or innovations to care protocols (Weiss et al., 2018). Titler (2018) further highlights that translational research involves understanding interventions, factors, and contextual variables that affect knowledge uptake and use in practices and communities.

Using translational research, it is possible to apply basic research findings to inform prevention and treatment practices that affect population health outcomes (Guastaferro & Collins, 2019). Besides preventive and diagnostic approaches, translation research is also useful in policy development and implementation and the development of other technology modalities used in providing care.

References

Guastaferro, K., & Collins, L. M. (2019). Achieving the Goals of Translational Science in Public Health Intervention Research: The Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). American Journal of Public Health, 109(S2), S128–S129. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304874

Titler, M. G. (2018). Translation Research in Practice: An Introduction. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(2), 1. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol23No02Man01

Weiss, M. E., Bobay, K. L., Johantgen, M., & Shirey, M. R. (2018). Aligning evidence-based practice with translational research: Opportunities for clinical practice research. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(9), 425-431. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000644

Topic 1 DQ 2

Using the GCU Library (notably the GCU Library: Nursing and Health Sciences Research Guide), find a database, journal, or other collection of resources that focuses on translational research. Select a population health problem or issue of interest from the available studies. What type of translational research is used for the study? Provide rationale as to why this is the best.

Sample Student Answers

Response One

My chosen health issue is on the rising incidents of opioid use, more so, among veterans. Opioids are ideally supposed to be used under prescription as a pain relief medication. However, the subsequent effects make it highly addictive and subject to abuse, especially for those under long-term prescription. According to the CDC (2018), over 50,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2019. Veterans are identified as part of the at risk population group who are likely to abuse opioids, since they are more likely to suffer from chronic pain coupled with other psychological challenges (Lin et al., 2021).  

One of the articles that speaks on this issue is an article by Mi-Hyon Cho et al. (2021). The article is a case report on the use of alternative medicine as a way of preventing opioid dependence among veterans. The authors recognize veterans as group susceptible to major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse afflicted by high-impact chronic pain, which in turn makes them vulnerable to abusing opioids to get reprieve from the pain encountered.

The authors conclude that complementary and alternative medicine offers a safe and effective pain relief option with minimum undesired effects. The research can be categorized as a T1 research given that it is a case report that elaborates proof of concept on the use of alternative medicine as an option to prevent opioid abuse.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Understanding the epidemic. Atlanta, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html

Lin, L. A., Bohnert, A. S., Blow, F. C., Gordon, A. J., Ignacio, R. V., Kim, H. M., & Ilgen, M. A. (2021). Polysubstance use and association with opioid use disorder treatment in the US Veterans Health Administration. Addiction, 116(1), 96-104.

Mi-Hyon Cho, Arya, A., & Fernandez, J. A. (2021). Complementary and Alternative Medicine’s Effectiveness in Reducing High-Impact Chronic Pain and Opioid Consumption: A Case Report in the Veteran Population. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 20(2), 26–30.

Response Two

The topic that I had chosen for this discussion was on the feeding problems in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mealtimes can be stressful. Up to 90% of children with ASD present with problems related to food selectivity and disruptive mealtime behavior (Zlomke, Rossetti, Murphy, Mallicoat & Swingle, 2020). I can attest to this fact as a mother of two school-aged boys who were diagnosed with ASD.

It had picked my interest because introducing new foods had been a constant struggle for me and my children’s therapists. I had completed a “Picky-eater class” before regarding this issue and had realized during that class how important parent training was; not only for parents of ASD children but also for the parents of other kids that have food aversion concerns.

The title of the study I had selected was “Parent Training for Feeding Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Initial Randomized Trial”. The goal of this study was to address feeding and mealtime problems on ASD-diagnosed children. The research had established eligibility for the participants which include the children’s age, current medications, receptive language level and oral motor dysfunction. The T1 or translation to human research was use in this study. T1 seeks to move basic discovery into a candidate health application (Khoury, et al., 2007).

This study was the pilot randomized clinical trial for using individually delivered, nutritionally informed parent training program specifically for feeding problems in young children with ASD (Johnson, et al, 2019). Since this was the first time this intervention was used, more specifically for this population, it was appropriate to use the T1 research or clinical research. Because at this point, the researchers were trying to established an intervention that they can use to tackle the feeding problem on autistic children.

And the best way to get this done is through a small clinical trial. Choosing clinical research was also back by the statement that clinical research includes behavioral and observational studies, and the goal of most clinical trials is to obtain data to support regulatory approval for an intervention (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 2021).

Reviewing the conclusion of this study, it shows that individually delivered parent training for feeding was feasible, accepted by parents and resulted in significantly more improvements in feeding and mealtime problems in a small group of young children with ASD (Johnson, et al, 2019). The success of this study will be the impetus for further research including a wider population. Which will eventually aid and empower parents of children with ASD like me to address concerns regarding our kids’ feeding problem.

References:

Johnson, C. R., Brown, K., Hyman, S. L., Brooks, M. M., Aponte, C., Levato, L., Schmidt, B., Evans, V., Huo, Z., Bendixen, R., Eng, H., Sax, T., & Smith, T. (2019). Parent Training for Feeding Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Initial Randomized Trial. Journal of pediatric psychology, 44(2), 164–175. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsy063

Khoury MJ. et al. (2007). The continuum of translation research in genomic medicine: how can we accelerate the appropriate integration of human genomic discoveries into health care and disease prevention? Genet Med 2007:9(10):665-674.

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. (2021, November 10). Translational Science Spectrum. Retrieved November 30, 2021, from https://ncats.nih.gov/translation/spectrum.

Zlomke, K., Rossetti, K., Murphy, J., Mallicoat, K., & Swingle, H. (2020). Feeding Problems and Maternal Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 24(10), 1278–1287. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02966-8