title: Forming the research question.
abstract: The most important precondition for performing a clinical research project in plastic surgery, or any other surgical subspecialty, is the need to ask the "right question." Although this might seem to be an easy task, in truth it requires a lot of effort and hard work. This article addresses the key points to remember when formulating a research question.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences Centre, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada. athoma@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design