Certificate Program
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp
Evidence based practice is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the decision making process for patient care.
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About this Certificate Program
Evidence based practice is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values, and the best research evidence into the decision making process for patient care. Identifying the “best research evidence” is a complex task that involves an understanding of the multiplicity of factors that can influence the quality of evidence. Study design, analyses, publication pathway and criterial appraisal can all influence the transferability of evidence. Indeed, a strong understanding of the basics of research, what we define within this series as “rehabilitation research boot camp”, can directly influence the interpretation of caregivers across all disciplines. In this Certificate Program, the learner will be exposed to all the essential aspects involving the process of creating and disseminating research.
Target audience
The Certificate Program is designed to target three audiences. First, all practicing clinician who engage in rehabilitation research would benefit from this series. Second, all individuals who participate in clinical research will find useable content within the rehabilitation research boot camp. Third, individuals who are interested in the intricacies of research provided from a viewpoint of those who are actively engaged in the scholarship process may appreciate the learning opportunities within this course.
Goals & objectives
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Understand how study design, rigor, and analyses can influence the results affiliated with evidence.
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Synthesize the influence of fraud and bias on research results.
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Navigate the complex world of journal publication and information dissemination.
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Compare and contrast best methods for disseminating information to practicing clinicians.
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Evaluate different funding opportunities and the challenges within this environment.
What’s included in the Certificate Program
Accredited Online Courses*
20 hours of online video lectures and patient demonstrations.
Case Study Interviews
Recorded Q&A sessions between instructors and practice managers.
Interactive Learning Assessments
Case-based quizzes to evaluate and improve clinical reasoning.
Certificate Program overview
Section 1
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp 8 ItemsRehabilitation Research Boot Camp: A Renewed Look at Evidence-Based Practice Course
Chapter 1: How Research Has Changed Healthcare
This chapter examines the transformative power of medical discovery, highlighting how innovations like penicillin and genome mapping have saved billions of lives. It emphasizes the empirical nature of medicine, in which conclusions must be continually revised as the “half-life” of medical knowledge continues to shrink at a staggering pace.
Chapter 2: Evidence-Based Practice: A Historical Tutorial
Learners will trace the origins of evidence-based practice from its philosophical groundwork in the 1970s to its formal definition in the mid-1990s. This history is essential for understanding the original intent of EBP—to standardize care and bridge the gap between research and practice—while identifying modern barriers, such as information overload.
Chapter 3: The Three Pillars of Evidence-Based Practice
This section explores the vital interdependence between the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values. It is important because an overemphasis on research alone can lead to inappropriate care, requiring clinicians to balance these pillars to achieve truly personalized, evidence-informed results.
Chapter 4: Classification of Strength of Evidence
This chapter introduces the traditional evidence-based pyramid and the methodological rigor required for different study designs. Understanding this hierarchy, along with its limitations and potential for oversimplification, helps clinicians better synthesize complex data and select the most appropriate research for their specific clinical questions.
Chapter 5: Ethical Considerations of Research
Participants will evaluate the historical atrocities that necessitated the development of the Nuremberg Code and Institutional Review Boards to protect human subjects. Reviewing past ethical breaches, such as the Tuskegee and Willowbrook studies, underscores the permanent necessity of informed consent, beneficence, and justice in clinical science.
Chapter 6: Why Are Our Outcomes Worsening?
This chapter critiques the alarming trend of rising disability and worsening morbidity despite increased research funding and guidelines. It highlights the need to rethink healthcare delivery by addressing health behaviors and social factors that traditional biomedical models often fail to influence.
Chapter 7: Course Summary
The final chapter synthesizes the course’s core themes to help clinicians reflect on future directions for evidence-based practice. By integrating historical lessons with modern challenges, learners will be better prepared to adapt their clinical decision-making to their patients’ evolving needs.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Research Methodology I Course
Chapter 1: Preclinical to Phase 4 Research
This chapter outlines the structured progression of clinical research, from initial mechanism-of-action studies to large-scale, postapproval effectiveness trials. Understanding these phases is essential for clinicians to recognize how evidence for safety and efficacy is systematically built while minimizing harm to subjects.
Chapter 2: Mechanistic and Basic Science
This section explores the biomedical foundation of rehabilitation, focusing on how basic science provides the theoretical framework for developing new interventional strategies. By understanding causal pathways at the molecular and physiological levels, providers can move toward precision medicine and more targeted patient phenotyping.
Chapter 3: Comparative Effectiveness Research
Comparative effectiveness research shifts the focus from simple placebo controls to evaluating which existing tests and treatments work best in real-world clinical practice. This chapter highlights the importance of providing stakeholders with answers regarding the highest quality of care at the lowest possible cost.
Chapter 4: Diagnostic Accuracy Research
This chapter examines the methodologies used to determine how well a diagnostic test differentiates between those with and without a specific condition. It is crucial for clinicians to understand how study designs, such as cohort or case-control, can impact psychometric properties and lead to potential misdiagnosis.
Chapter 5: Observational Research
Participants will explore various nonexperimental designs, including cohort and cross-sectional studies, which are vital when randomized trials are unethical or impractical. This chapter details how these designs establish incidence, prevalence, and risk, providing invaluable data on the natural progression of illnesses.
Chapter 6: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
This section details the rigorous process of identifying, rating, and compiling evidence to filter existing research and increase statistical power. Understanding the mechanics and potential biases of these reviews allows clinicians to interpret “average treatment effects“ with the appropriate level of caution and certainty.
Chapter 7: Course Summary and Discussion
The final chapter synthesizes the various research designs discussed, emphasizing that all methodologies have value when viewed through the lens of expert clinical reasoning. It reinforces the idea that the ultimate goal of research is to support pragmatic problem-solving to achieve the best possible outcomes for individual patients.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Research Methodology II Course
Chapter 1: Qualitative Research
This chapter introduces the fundamental concepts and methodologies of qualitative research, emphasizing its role in understanding the complex why and how behind human experiences and social phenomena. By exploring techniques such as ethnography, phenomenology, and thematic analysis, learners will understand how nonnumerical data provides the depth and context necessary to complement quantitative findings.
Chapter 2: Consensus-Based Research
Participants will examine the structured methodologies used to synthesize expert judgment, including the nominal group technique, the Delphi method, and consensus development panels. This chapter highlights how these collaborative approaches are essential for creating clinical practice guidelines and making informed decisions on controversial topics where high-level evidence may be lacking.
Chapter 3: Translational Research
This section defines the stages of translational research, from basic laboratory discoveries (T0) to broad population health impacts (T4). It addresses the significant 17-year time lag often seen in moving research into practice and discusses the interdisciplinary collaboration required to ensure scientific breakthroughs actually reach the patients who need them.
Chapter 4: Implementation Research
Learners will differentiate implementation research from traditional models, focusing specifically on the strategies required to integrate evidence-based practices into routine clinical use. The chapter covers vital outcomes such as feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability, explaining how hybrid designs can simultaneously evaluate clinical effectiveness and the success of implementation efforts.
Chapter 5: Cost-Effectiveness Research
This chapter explores methods for comparing the costs and health outcomes of different interventions using metrics like quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Understanding these economic evaluations is crucial so clinicians can justify the value of their services and stakeholders can make informed resource allocation decisions in a complex healthcare economy.
Chapter 6: Reporting Guidelines for Methodological Areas
This chapter introduces major reporting standards like CONSORT, PRISMA, and STROBE, and demonstrates how to utilize the EQUATOR Network to find appropriate guidelines. These standards are vital for ensuring research transparency, reproducibility, and high-quality peer review, ultimately improving the reliability of the evidence used in clinical practice.
Chapter 7: Course Summary
The final chapter provides a comprehensive synthesis of the interconnected research designs covered throughout the course. This discussion reinforces the importance of using diverse methodologies to address multifaceted healthcare challenges and encourages participants to apply these insights to their own professional development and clinical environments.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Statistical Analysis Essentials Course
Chapter 1: Hypothesis Testing and the Goal of Statistical Analyses
This chapter introduces the fundamental mathematical models used to describe relationships between predictor and outcome variables while accounting for inherent systematic and random errors. It is essential for learners to understand that the p-value is a probabilistic estimate of the data to accurately determine whether a null hypothesis remains tenable.
Chapter 2: Understanding and Describing Data
Participants will explore the characteristics of descriptive and inferential statistics, focusing on measures of central tendency, variability, and the various types of data scales. Mastering data visualization and understanding distribution shapes are critical prerequisites for selecting the most appropriate analytical methods and correctly interpreting experimental outcomes.
Chapter 3: Parametric and Nonparametric Statistics
This section details the specific assumptions required for parametric testing, such as normality and homogeneity of variance, and introduces nonparametric alternatives for categorical or skewed data. Understanding these distinctions ensures that researchers use the most powerful and familiar statistical tools available while remaining robust to common data violations.
Chapter 4: Studies of Differences
This chapter examines experimental designs aimed at determining whether differences between or within groups are statistically significant and clinically relevant. By comparing means and proportions using tests such as ANOVA or the chi-square test, clinicians can better evaluate the true impact of their interventions relative to control groups.
Chapter 5: Studies of Associations
Learners will investigate exploratory research methods that identify the strength and direction of relationships between multiple variables through correlation and regression. This is important for developing predictive models and understanding how various factors covary to influence patient risks or treatment hazards.
Chapter 6: Clinical and/or Statistical Significance
This chapter addresses the vital distinction between a model’s mathematical significance and the patient's actual meaningfulness of the change perceived. It provides the tools necessary to calculate effect sizes and minimal clinically important differences, ensuring that research findings translate into practical improvements in the clinical setting.
Chapter 7: Course Summary and Discussion
The final chapter synthesizes the core analytical concepts covered throughout the series to reinforce a multimodal approach to interpreting evidence. This summary serves as a reflective conclusion that helps practitioners apply their newfound statistical literacy to the broader medical literature.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Why Critical Appraisal Skills Are Necessary Course
Chapter 1: Why Do We Critically Appraise Research?
This chapter defines the systematic process of critical appraisal and its relatively recent emergence as a cornerstone of evidence-based practice. Understanding how to evaluate the validity, reliability, and applicability of a study is vital for any professional who relies on research to guide clinical decisions and avoid the adoption of ineffective care models.
Chapter 2: The Peer Review System
Participants will explore the history and internal mechanics of the modern peer review process, including the roles of editors and the various types of blinding used to maintain objectivity. Learning these nuances helps clinicians appreciate the system’s strengths as a quality filter while recognizing the significant burden placed on unpaid reviewers.
Chapter 3: Predatory Publishing
This chapter examines the explosive growth of predatory journals and the deceptive practices they use to bypass legitimate scientific standards for profit. Identifying these unreliable sources is essential to prevent “source amnesia,” a phenomenon where flawed information is remembered while its untrustworthy origin is forgotten.
Chapter 4: Bias vs. Fraud
Understanding the distinction between omnipresent, often unconscious bias and intentional, unethical fraud is critical for accurately interpreting research results. This chapter highlights how various errors impact data validity and explains the role of retractions in correcting the scholarly record when science is found to be fundamentally flawed.
Chapter 5: How to Interpret Outliers
This chapter provides strategies for identifying and managing statistical outliers that can significantly skew treatment effects and lead to inaccurate conclusions. By learning to differentiate between legitimate data variation and errors in coding or methodology, providers can better determine the true merit and effect size of clinical interventions.
Chapter 6: Logical Fallacies in Research
Clinicians will learn to recognize flaws in reasoning, such as the confusion of association with causation, that render an argument invalid or misleading. Mastering the ability to detect these fallacies, including those that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, is necessary to maintain critical thinking and public trust in healthcare.
Chapter 7: Course Summary
The final chapter synthesizes the core concepts of the course, reinforcing the importance of lifelong practice in critical appraisal skills. This summary ensures that participants leave with a cohesive framework for vetting the credibility and clinical utility of any published research they encounter.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Translating Research to Practice Course
Chapter 1: Understanding Average Treatment Effects vs. Individualized Treatment Effects
This chapter examines the fundamental difference between the aggregate data reported in research and the unique responses of individual patients. It is essential for clinicians to understand that “average” effects may not mathematically apply to any single person, which provides a basis for a more precise, patient-centered approach to medicine.
Chapter 2: Effect Sizes, p Values, and Other Misunderstood Metric Estimates
This section clarifies the often confusing statistical parameters used to assess the magnitude and significance of research findings. By identifying common misconceptions regarding p values and confidence intervals, clinicians can more accurately judge the clinical relevance of new studies.
Chapter 3: How to Appropriately Interpret Clinical Practice Guidelines
This chapter provides a framework for using clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) as flexible references rather than rigid rules. Understanding the strengths and limitations of CPGs allows practitioners to reduce ineffective care while still accounting for the specific contextual factors of their patients.
Chapter 4: Generalizability and Transferability of Findings
This chapter explores the various barriers—including therapist, patient, and institutional factors—that prevent the adoption of evidence-based strategies. Identifying these challenges is the first step toward creating a multifactorial culture that successfully translates knowledge into clinical action.
Chapter 5: Translation Mistakes, “Bandwagoning,” and the Swinging Pendulum of Research Interests
This section examines the risks of early research adoption and the cognitive biases that lead to the pursuit of treatment fads. It highlights how funding trends and professional agendas shape what is studied, urging clinicians to remain critical of the evidence as the profession evolves.
Chapter 6: Course Summary and Discussion
The final chapter synthesizes the key clinical pearls from the course to reinforce a nuanced understanding of research application. This summary helps clinicians integrate these diverse concepts into a cohesive strategy for improving their daily practice through informed evidence use.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Navigating Grant Funding Course
Chapter 1: How Research Funding Works
This chapter introduces the lifecycle of external funding and explains why academic institutions and the federal government prioritize research investment to fuel societal innovation. Understanding these motivations and the historical shift toward competitive federal grants is essential for researchers to appreciate the broader economic and professional context of their work.
Chapter 2: How Much Does Research Cost?
Participants will analyze the substantial expenses associated with clinical and laboratory research, ranging from personnel and equipment to the complex application of institutional indirect rates. Recognizing these costs is vital for developing realistic budgets that ensure study fidelity and comply with the financial requirements of research-based organizations.
Chapter 3: Current United States Funding Agencies
This chapter identifies major US funding sources, including federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), private foundations, and the growing influence of industry sponsors. Evaluating these diverse sources allows researchers to strategically target the most appropriate partners for their specific scientific or commercial goals.
Chapter 4: The Complex World of the NIH
This section provides an organizational overview of the 27 NIH institutes and centers, focusing on the rigorous, multi-level peer-review process and the decline of competitive pay-lines. Navigating this complexity is crucial for applicants to understand how their proposals are scored and why institutional alignment is a key factor in funding decisions.
Chapter 5: Types of NIH Grants
This chapter differentiates between various NIH activity codes, such as individual project grants, career development awards, and large-scale cooperative agreements. Understanding the specific purposes and eligibility criteria for each mechanism ensures that researchers apply for the funding type best suited to their current career stage and project scope.
Chapter 6: Key Components of Successful Applications
This chapter breaks down the essential operational elements of a grant, including the specific aims, significance, innovation, and the extensive supporting documentation required for a submission. Mastering these components is fundamental to building a compelling narrative that can overcome record-low success rates and demonstrate both scientific rigor and clinical need.
Chapter 7: Course Summary
The final chapter synthesizes the core concepts of the grant lifecycle and highlights the technical and strategic blueprints necessary for a successful submission. It serves as a concluding review of the time-intensive preparation required to secure funding in a highly competitive modern research environment.
Rehabilitation Research Boot Camp: Publishing Case Reports and Series Course
Chapter 1: Why Publish?
This chapter explores the professional and personal benefits of sharing clinical findings, emphasizing how the writing process itself can refine a clinician’s reasoning and enhance their expertise. Learners will identify common barriers to research, such as time constraints and a lack of mentorship, and discover practical strategies to overcome these hurdles and advance their profession.
Chapter 2: Case Report, Case Study, or Case Series?
Participants will learn to differentiate among various small-scale research designs, focusing on the specific characteristics that distinguish a medical case report from a case series or a qualitative case study. This section provides essential guidance on selecting the appropriate design based on the uniqueness of the clinical presentation and the number of subjects available.
Chapter 3: How to Write a Case Report/Series
This chapter outlines the structural requirements for scientific manuscripts, including the IMRaD format and specific case description sequences necessary for clarity and replication. It covers the nuances of writing effective titles, abstracts, and discussion sections that avoid “spin” while accurately linking clinical outcomes to existing literature.
Chapter 4: Tips for Publishing Your Case Report/Study
Focusing on the technical aspects of the submission process, this chapter provides a behind-the-scenes look at the roles of editors and peer reviewers in the publication life cycle. Practitioners will gain valuable insight into managing copyright agreements, authorship ethics, and the diplomatic process of responding to reviewer critiques to achieve successful publication.
Chapter 5: Guidelines and Scoring
This section introduces standardized tools, such as the CARE guidelines and JBI checklists, used to evaluate the completeness and methodological quality of reports. By learning to think like a reviewer and use these assessment instruments, authors can ensure their manuscripts meet high standards of transparency and internal validity.
Chapter 6: Strengths and Weaknesses of Case Studies/Reports
This chapter situates case-based research within the broader hierarchy of evidence, acknowledging its limitations in establishing cause-and-effect while highlighting its vital role in identifying rare adverse events. Understanding these strengths and weaknesses helps clinicians interpret findings appropriately and recognize when a case can serve as a catalyst for larger, more rigorous trials.
Chapter 7: Course Summary/Discussion
The final chapter synthesizes the series’ core concepts, underscoring the importance of disseminating unique clinical observations to advance the field of healthcare. It serves as a concluding forum to review the essential steps of the research process and encourage ongoing scholarly engagement among clinical practitioners.
Instructors
Chad E. Cook
PT, PhD, MBA, FAPTA
Kenneth E. Learman
PT, PhD, FAAOMPT
CEU approved
20
total hours*
of accredited coursework.
Medbridge accredits each course individually so you can earn CEUs as you progress.
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Browse PlansFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Certificate Programs.
Accreditation Hours
Each course is individually accredited and exact hours will vary by state and discipline. Check each course for specific accreditation for your license.
When do I get my certificate?
You will receive accredited certificates of completion for each course as you complete them. Once you have completed the entire Certificate Program you will receive your certificate for the program.
Do I get CEU credit?
Each course is individually accredited. Please check each course for your state and discipline. You can receive CEU credit after each course is completed.
Do I have to complete the courses in order?
It is not required that you complete the courses in order. Each Certificate Program's content is built to be completed sequentially but it is not forced to be completed this way.
How long do I have access to the Certificate Program?
You will have access to this Certificate Program for as long as you are a subscriber. Your initial subscription will last for one year from the date you purchase.
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