I chose my essential question based on what I was seeing and learning during my internship at Gwinnett Pulmonary Group, a healthcare facility specializing in pulmonology and sleep medicine. I had spent several weeks shadowing my mentor during consultations, and I was able to meet some of his patients who had dangerous lung conditions.
During the consultations, I could see that the majority of patients appeared to be fairly healthy and I wanted to know how they still had diseases like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The patients came from many different backgrounds and careers: some worked in offices, several others worked in construction, and one woman worked as an airport employee.
Based on my observations of patient consultations, I had an inkling that there is possibly a relation between the patients’ lung conditions and their professions. This led me to research how the patients' occupations influenced their development of IPF and COPD. I chose to research about IPF and COPD specifically because of the fatality and frequency associated with those diseases.
During the consultations, I could see that the majority of patients appeared to be fairly healthy and I wanted to know how they still had diseases like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The patients came from many different backgrounds and careers: some worked in offices, several others worked in construction, and one woman worked as an airport employee.
Based on my observations of patient consultations, I had an inkling that there is possibly a relation between the patients’ lung conditions and their professions. This led me to research how the patients' occupations influenced their development of IPF and COPD. I chose to research about IPF and COPD specifically because of the fatality and frequency associated with those diseases.