Aims of quantitative research in the clinical, healthcare and biomedical sciences (Statistics)

Question 1

Aims and objectives of Clinical/Healthcare research

Answer 1

Study of health and illness in people and the population

Developmentment of new treatments

Pre-clinical research

Identification of risk factors for disease and conditions

Question 2

Types of research?

Answer 2

Qualitative research: Collecting non-numerical data to understand underlying opinions and motivations e.g. Interviews with structured open ended questions. Analysing results with thematic analysis

Quantiative research: collecting and analysing numerical data

Question 3

Define a risk factor

Answer 3

Something associated with a disease or condition- can be a behaviour, environmental toxin, gene (does not need to be causal, independent or modifiable)

Question 4

Define experimental studies

Answer 4

Researcher controls the exposure of interest (intervention) and records effects of intervention

Aims: evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intervention e.g. treatment, lifestyle change, medical device

e.g. RCTs, parallel or crossover