Medical research for beginners

Given that medical curricula focus on clinical practice, it is also important for future practitioners to understand the role of research. The knowledge guiding clinical practice cannot be entirely dependent on the practitioner's observations and personal experience. These vital qualities have to be transformed into scientific evidence for better health care. Otherwise, how can we expect quality care if the very basis for evidence is not understood? How reliable can clinical decisions be if not based on some form of evidence? In this work some concerns regarding research expressed by some medical trainees are explored. A novel self-help tool designed to guide anyone making their debut in medical research is presented and elucidated. This tool is expected to serve as an adjunct to "classical" lectures on research methods.