Diagnosing and Treatment of Adolescent Obesity - Research Proposal Example

The paper "Diagnosing and Treatment of Adolescent Obesity" is an excellent example of a research proposal on health sciences and medicine.This study specifically implements a mixed-methods approach. The rationale for the implementation of the mixed methods approach is that an expansive survey of medical perspectives on base-line issues is necessary; for instance, means of diagnosing obesity. This is best accomplished with quantitative methods. Additionally, however, it is necessary to establish more probing insights into the approach medical professionals take to obesity through the semi-structured interviews.

Following Walker et al. (2007), these interviews will involve six nurses and six primary care physicians. The analysis of these interviews is accomplished through qualitative methods. Research Questions From an overarching perspective, this research investigates potential ways that medical professionals can increasingly adopt to a greater role in diagnosing and treating adolescent obesity. Within this context of an investigation, the research considers the ways that medical professionals determine obesity.

The research considers medical professionals’ overriding perspective on the causes of obesity. In another realm of investigation, the research examines perspectives on the extent that medical professionals believe they are responsible for informing patients about obesity problems. Further investigation questions if medical professionals believe that they have the resources and training to aid adolescents with obesity. Hypothesis It is hypothesized that there will be considerable diversity in terms of opinion and perspective among medical professionals.

Approaches to treating obesity, not only in adolescents but also among all members of the population, remain an area of some ambiguity. Even while there may be some accepted approaches to obesity treatment among the medical professionals, it is further hypothesized that these individuals will demonstrate a diversity of perspectives on their particular responsibility to inform and offer patients’ treatment options. Sampling Techniques As noted, the two sampling techniques are questionnaires and the semi-structured interview form.

Data-collection procedures The quantitative portion of the research will be collated from structured survey questions with doctors and nurses working within a cross-section of the state’s medical institutions. The qualitative portion of the research involves semi-structured interviews with six nurses and six primary care physicians. Ethical Concerns Ethical responsibility must form a cornerstone element of any research project. Within the spectrum of this specific research study, there are a number of ethical concerns.

One of the most prominent ethical concerns is the participants’ privacy. In these regards, privacy concerns will be ensured through administering the questionnaires and interviews anonymously. The participants’ who respond will only be referred to through a participant number. Diversity Issues There is a clear challenge regarding diversity, as differing populations can potentially demonstrate differing perspectives on obesity. As a means of remaining cognizant of diversity concerns, these research models will implement cultural sensitivity through administering the survey and interviews to a diverse population base.

Resources Needed The main resources needed are access to diverse populations of medical professionals willing to complete the questionnaire. Additionally, it will be necessary to gain access to a group of medical professionals – 6 nurses and 6 primary care physicians willing to engage in the semi-structured interview process.