Thesis Resources

Thesis Topic or Title Ideas

MD/MS, MCh, DM, PhD Thesis or Postgraduate research title and topic ideas:

Tamil Nadu Dr. MGU University
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Karnataka
Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library
Christian Medical College Vellore Theses/Dissertation Library

Orthopedics thesis titles:

University of British Columbia
Faculty of Medical Sciences

Sample Size Calculation for Thesis

1. Cross-sectional and Descriptive Studies

When data is on nominal/ordinal scale and proportion is one of the parameters

n = z²pq/d²
n = minimum sample size required

z = critical value and a standard value for the corresponding level of confidence

At 95% CI or 5% level of significance (type-I error) it is 1.96 and at 99% CI it is 2.58

p = expected prevalence or based on previous research

q = 1 – p

d = margin of error or precision (usually 0.05 for 5% margin of error).

n = z²σ²/d²

σ = S.D (Standard Deviation) which is based on previous study or pilot study

d = margin of error or precision (calculated as Mean X Relative error)

You can also use OpenEpi: https://www.openepi.com/SampleSize/SSPropor.htm

2. Single group cohort studies

Minimum sample size required can be calculated using the formula:

N = [σ²(z1−β+z1−α/2)²] / (μ0−μ1)²

μ0 = population mean

μ1 = mean of study population

N = sample size of study population

σ = variance of study population

α = probability of type I error (usually 0.05)

β = probability of type II error (usually 0.2)

z = critical Z value for a given α or β

3. Comparative studies

When case data is on nominal/ordinal scale and proportion is parameter of the study
n = [p₁(1-p₁) + p₂ (1 – p₂)] / (p_{1 –}p₂)² * C
n = Minimum sample size for a group
p1 and p2 = Proportion of two groups
C = Standard value for the corresponding level of α and β selected for the study:

80% power and 95% CI = 7.85
90% power and 95% CI = 10.51
80% power and 99% CI = 11.68
90% power and 99% CI = 14.88

When case data is on interval/ratio scale and mean is parameter of the study
n = [σ₁² + σ₂²] (Z_1-b + Z_1-a/2)² / d²d = difference in means of two group (effect size)
σ1 = SD of Group 1
σ2 = SD of Group 2
Z_1-b = Desired power (0.84 for 80% power and 1.282 for 90% power)
Z_1-a/2= Critical value and a standard value for the corresponding level of confidence (1.96 at 95% CI and and 2.58 at 99% CI)

Further reading: http://njppp.com/fulltext/28-1567942207.pdf

Formatting Thesis

The key topics covered in this lesson are:

Creating Citations
Adding Captions
Inserting Footnotes and Endnotes
Creating a Table of Contents
Inserting a Cover Page
Creating and Modifying Headers or Footers
Creating Bookmarks

Using Endnote Function of Microsoft Word for Referencing

Inserting Arabic number Endnotes before the last page of document

If the whole document is one section, then follow the bellowing steps:

Put insertion pointer at the end of the document but ahead of endnotes. Or you can press “Ctrl+ End”.
Then click “Page Layout” tab.
Next click “Breaks”.
And choose “Next Page”. All endnotes will go to a new page. If you would like to have references in a separate section but on a page with other contents as well, choose “Continuous”.
Now click “References” and then the extend button to open “Footnote and Endnote” dialog box.
In the box, choose “Endnotes”.
Then select “End of section’.
In the Number format, select “1, 2, 3, …”.
Lastly, click “Apply”. All endnotes shall go back to the end of the section and leave the new page blank where is now independent of the endnote area.

Refer to the same endnote more than once

On the View menu, click Print Layout.
In your document, click where you want the reference to be located.
On the Insert menu, click Cross-reference.
On the Reference type list, click Endnote.
Do one of the following.

To insert the cross-reference as	Do this
Regular text	On the Insert reference to list, click Endnote number.
Superscript text	On the Insert reference to list, click Endnote number (formatted).

In the For which endnote box, click the note that you want to refer to.
Click Insert, and then click Close.

Deleting the Endnote Separator Lines

Changing the style of Endnote references in Reference page

As told in the pdf above, go to draft view and to “Show notes” in References tab.
Select all endnotes
Select the numbers and remove “superscript” format from them.
Format the references as per your requirement.