Training activity information
Details
Critically appraise and present new bioinformatics methods and asses clinical use in rare disease
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Impact on service delivery
- Integration with existing systems
- Literature and evidence base
- New laboratory technologies
- Advances in methodologies and algorithms
- Service improvement
- Improvements to patient care
- Evaluation of developments
- Standards of care and guidelines
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What new bioinformatics methods will you be appraising? What aspects of their clinical use in rare disease will you assess?
- How will you develop your skills in critically evaluating new bioinformatics methods? What will you learn about the challenges and opportunities of applying these methods in a clinical setting for rare diseases?
- Will you research new bioinformatics methods relevant to rare disease? Will you consider how these methods could be applied clinically? Have you discussed potential methods to appraise with your training officer?
In action
- Which new bioinformatics methods are you critically appraising? What criteria are you using for the appraisal? How are you assessing their potential clinical use in rare disease? How are you structuring your presentation?
- Are you able to identify the key strengths and limitations of the new methods? Are you developing a clear understanding of their potential clinical applications and challenges in rare disease? Is your presentation effectively conveying this information?
- If you find conflicting information about the methods, how are you evaluating it? Are you adjusting your presentation based on the assumed knowledge of your audience? Are you prepared to discuss potential ethical or practical implications?
On action
- Describe the new bioinformatics method(s) you critically appraised. What were the key aspects of their methodology and potential clinical applications in rare disease? Summarise your critical appraisal and your assessment of their clinical use.
- What criteria did you use to critically appraise the new methods (e.g., novelty, validity, feasibility, impact)? What factors did you consider when assessing their potential clinical use in the context of rare diseases? Were there any unexpected strengths or limitations of the methods you identified? What did you learn from these? How did your analytical and presentation skills (‘reflect-in-action’) shape your appraisal and assessment? How does the ability to critically appraise new methods relate to the advancement and adoption of innovative bioinformatics approaches in clinical practice?
- What aspects of critical appraisal of scientific methods do you want to develop further? How can you effectively communicate your appraisal and assessment to different audiences? What specific actions / ‘next steps’ will you now take to enhance your skills in this area? What support or resources might you need to further develop your expertise in evaluating bioinformatics methods?
Beyond action
- Have you since encountered new bioinformatics methods relevant to rare disease diagnostics or research? How did your experience of critically appraising methods in this training activity influence your evaluation of these newer methods? Have you had opportunities to present bioinformatics methods to different audiences since this training activity? Did your experience in this training activity inform your presentation style or the content you chose to highlight? Have you compared your approach to critical appraisal and presentation in this DTA with similar activities in other modules or your daily work? What differences or similarities do you observe?
- Do you now approach the evaluation of new bioinformatics methods with a more structured and critical mindset due to this experience? Can you provide specific examples? How has your confidence in presenting complex bioinformatics information to others changed since completing this training activity? Have the skills developed in this training activity (critical appraisal, presentation) supported you in other tasks, such as reviewing literature or participating in team meetings?
- How will your ability to critically appraise new methods be important in keeping up with advancements in the field of rare disease bioinformatics? In what ways might your presentation skills, honed through this training activity, be valuable in future roles involving training, collaboration, or service development? What further steps could you take to enhance your skills in critically appraising and presenting bioinformatics methods for rare diseases?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 5 |
Outcome
Critically appraise new technologies and methods objectively. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Practice in accordance with relevant standards and guidance. |