Table 2.

Research question conceptualising using FINER to organise thinking.

FINER variables		Example
F	Feasible? Can you do this with the resources at your disposal? Be honest with yourself, think about the time it will take (hint: it will always take more time and effort than you expect). Will you have help to do it? Do you have the knowledge and the tools?	Via Surveys, do hospitalised patients… (we have surveyors, we have patients, we have permission to do surveys in the hospital)
I	Interesting? Is the question of interest to others, or just to yourself? (This is your who cares part, which you should already have begun to address). Show your colleagues why it would matter to them, and/or to your patients, or to politicians, or others.	Do patients think they are routinely HIV tested on each hospital admission? If they think so, they may live with HIV and pass it on, unknowingly.
N	Novel? Since you already looked at the literature, you know if someone has already answered the question. But, have they answered that question for your population? Perhaps it is well known that IV fluids are helpful in resuscitating septic children in developed countries. Is the same true in your population? And if you learn that it is not, perhaps the next question is Why not? What is different in this population?	No articles were found in PubMed on this topic.
E	Ethical. Is it ethical to do this? Is it safe for human subjects? Are the benefits likely to outweigh the risk?	Anonymous surveys are generally considered ethical.
R	Relevant. What influence will the answer have on whom?	Elucidates the expectations of hospitalised patients. It also affects HIV transmission. Since HIV is epidemic, this question is relevant to all hospitals and to public health.