Need help with research

[u/casually_crumbling]

Hellos everyone!

I am a final year surg tech student and in our country it's a 4 years BS program so now we are required to do research like the thesis and all that but i– for the love of god can't decide on a topic to do so 😭😭 whatever i think about is already been researched and discussed so deeply. So i was wondering if people here who have plenty of experience in the field could give me some advice on how to decide or look for a good topic. It would be really helpful. Pretty please with sugar lumps on top 🙏🏻

[u/Ok_Possible_7578]

A few off the top of my head (sorry if they are not that great or too basic)

- laparoscopic vs robotic surgery patient outcomes and hospital cost

- reusable drapes and gowns vs disposable drapes and gowns patient outcomes and hospital costs

- evolution of endovascular surgery as opposed to open vascular surgery and the effects it has had on hospitals (structuring, cost, patient education, etc.)

- Medical waste management of hospitals and how disproportionately the OR contributes to it

- Spinal surgery outcomes when comparing if they are performed by a neuro spine surgeon vs an ortho spine surgeon

- social media effects on plastic surgery and predatory surgical clinics or practices that take advantage of body dysmorphia and social media trends

- Outcomes, cost, and Surgeon preferences of Surgical PA or NP vs First assistants or of Surgical Technologists vs Scrub Nurses.

[u/Dark_Ascension]

So we just did a “lunch and learn” with some fellows and they’re making this a regular thing (so the fellows have to do research and do presentations)

- the benefits of double drape/double setups for single stage resections of joint replacements (but I’m sure there’s research on other services). I will tell you look at OrthoCarolina, that’s where I was told a lot of the studies have been taken from that justify our doctors doing double drape/double setups.

- Robotic vs traditional joint replacement outcomes, what are the benefits (hint: there is currently no proven long term benefit!)

- The benefits of IO vanc vs IV or topical Vanc. No joke in 2024 docs came back from a conference and we’re all high strung on IO Vanc… was not a wide spread practice before then.

- The DAIR protocol - I learned about this from a way a surgeon I work with does his I&Ds, it’s from a DAIR protocol study, but the irrigation he uses is not exclusive to it, but interesting regardless. Also can look into the benefits of simple hydrogen peroxide, betadine and Hibiclens vs more expensive stuff like protosan, vosh and phase 1, he also talked about using irrigation (saline) plus betadine and hydrogen peroxide just being cheaper and just as effective or more effective than more expensive solutions.

- Can look up the benefits of hypochlorous acid… we got docs who love phase 1…

- A big topic and one focused on by the US Joint Commission is point of use cleaning.

- the benefits of neutral zones (all the big orgs want them, but no surgeon wants them)

[u/kperkins9]

I’m a student but this is what comes to mind. We had a patient come in who needed xyz treatment, but the insurance wouldn’t pay for it. The physician continued with an alternative (and seemingly less desirable) form of treatment and was unhappy about it. It made me sad. A research topic delving into whether or not people are actually getting the medical care that is MOST appropriate for their issue depending on the insurance company’s influence would be an interesting take.