BSC 1005: Sample Draft Research Journal Summary                      Dr. Chung
Instructions: Type in the following information.

Name: G. Chung

Date: 1/7/02

Course #: BSC 1005

Research Journal Article Citation

Mossad, S.B., Macknin, M.L., Medencorp, S.V., & Mason, P. (1996). Zinc Gluconate Lozenges for Treating the Common Cold: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Annals of Internal Medicine, 125 (2), 81-88.

Use correct format. ie Turner, L., Blanchard, V., & Compton, E. (1999). Bacteria that are dangerous. Lancet, 45 (2), 10-36.

Research/Problem Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that ingesting zinc gluconate lozenges will reduce the duration of common cold symptoms.

Use correct format. ie The hypothesis is that eating one, fresh, purple, small fig each day will positively effect grade attainment in BSC 1005 at Broward Community College.

Describe the sample. N=100

Control group:
n1=50(beginning), =43(end; 10 male, 33 female; mean age 38.4 years; 30 white, 11 black, 2 other)
employees of the Cleveland Clinic, OH who volunteered to participate in this study
experienced a minimum of 2 of the common cold symptoms being evaluated
enrolled in study within 24 hours of experiencing these common cold symptoms

Experimental group
n2=50(beginning), =40(end; 7 male, 33 female; mean age 37.5 years; 34 white, 5 black, 1 other)
employees of the Cleveland Clinic, OH who volunteered to participate in this study
experienced a minimum of 2 of the common cold symptoms being evaluated
enrolled in study within 24 hours of experiencing these common cold symptoms

List the variables.

Independent variable/s [What is being manipulated.]
lozenges: 
1. 13.3 mg zinc gluconate or 
2. 5% calcium lactate pentahydrate (placebo) 

Dependent variable/s [What is the result of the manipulation.]
1. duration of common cold symptoms:
2. coughing
3. headache
4. hoarseness
5. muscle ache
6. nasal drainage
7. nasal congestion
8. scratchy throat
9. sneezing
10. fever

Describe the method [how the treatment was implemented].

Method: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

List the steps used to implement the method. 
1. 100 employees of the Cleveland Clinic, OH who volunteered to participate in this study
2. who experienced a minimum of 2 of the common cold symptoms being evaluated
3. enrolled in study within 24 hours of experiencing these common cold symptoms
4. subjects were randomly assigned to the control (5% calcium lactate pentalhydrate lozenges) or experimental group (13.3 mg zinc gluconate lozenges), lozenges were similar in wieght, appearance, flavor and texture
5. instructed to take lozenges wevery 2 hours while awake until common cold symptoms resolved (maximum 18 days)
6. instructed to daily rate each common cold symptom on a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (severe)
7. instructed to return to clinic within 1 day of common cold symptoms resolving
8. asked to guess which group in

Describe the statistical analyses [p value for each variable researched, < or = .o5 statistically significant].

Variable researched	p value
1. time resolve common cold symptoms	<.001
2. coughing	=.04
3. headache	=.02
4. hoarseness	=.02
5. nasal congestion	=.002
6. nasal drainage	<.001
7. sore throat	<.001
8. side effects	<.001
9. nausea	=.02
10. bad taste reactions	<.001

Describe the research findings.

1. equivalent groups (initial severity, signs and symptoms of the common cold were not statistically significantly different between the control and experimental group)
2. experimental group had statistically significantly different: 
<time to resolve common cold symptoms [median 4.4 versus 7.6 (control) days]
<days coughing [2 vs 4.5 days], headache [2 vs 3 days], hoarseness [2 vs 3], nasal congestion [4 vs 6], nasal drainage [4 vs 7], sore throat [1 vs 3]
3. no statistically significant difference between groups in regard to duration of fever, muscle ache, scratchy throat or sneezing
4. ability to accurately guess which group participant was in (control or experimental) was no greater than that which would have occurred by random chance

Describe your conclusions and recommendations.

Conclusions:
ingestion of 13.3 mg of zinc gluconate lozenges every 2 hours within the initial 24 hours of expriencing common cold symptoms can significantly reduce the duration of common cold symptoms in this type of population

Recommendations:
repeat study to confirm results
include an objective way to score common cold symtoms

Describe any study limitations

results limited to populations that are not pregnant or immunocompromised

Describe what you would change in the experimental design and why.

I would change: 
repeat study
include an objective way to score common cold symtoms

Why:
to confirm results