ALIGN Flashcards
what is an experimental research study?
investigator specifies the intervention as part of research design
what is an observational research study?
the investigator DOES NOT specify the intervention
what is included in both observational and experimental research designs
people are observed and the outcomes are recorded
what is the difference between a controlled and an uncontrolled study
in a controlled group - more than 1 group is studied, there is comparison between the control group and the intervention group
in an uncontrolled group - there is a single group, no comparison is made
what are some problems with research design?
short term outcomes by not predict long term benefit (shortcuts have negative consequences)
what are some solutions to research designs?
consider future patients for the long term
follow through with RCTs until completion
what is equipoise?
uncertainty about whether the intervention is better than the comparison (control)
what is a placebo?
a substance or procedure that looks, tastes, sounds identical to the intervention but doesn’t have the active ingredient
what is double blinding?
neither the participants nor investigators know what group the participant is in
what is bias?
a systematic error or deviation in results or inferences from the truth
What is selection bias? What is a solution to it?
non-randomization - the people in the comparison group are not the same as the people in the experimental group
solution = randomization and allocation concealment
what is attrition bias? what is a solution for it?
systematic differences in withdrawls or exclusions of people in a study - excluding them from the results
solution - intention to treat analysis
what is performance bias? what is a solution to it?
differences in the care given to each group (if the providers know what group you’re in and they treat you differently)
solution = double blinding
what is information bias? what is a solution for it?
differences in how info is gathered from each group
solution =all groups measured the same, double blinding
what is the least effective level of evidence?
unsystematic clinical observations
what is the highest level of evidence?
systematic reviews of randomized trials
what is the purpose of research?
to benefit future patients
what is an ecologic study?
group comparisons of rates of diseases among different regions
rates of BC in japan vs in US
what is a case report/case series study?
groups of patients are interviewd or fill out studies
case reports = describe NEW or unusual occurrences
case series = follow a group of patients
eg. what are the outcomes for 150 patients who are having a new hip surgery technique
what is a cross sectional study?
a sample of a population at a given point in time
difficult to eval cause because you aren’t looking at a group over time - can just show prevalence of a disease
what is a case control study?
people with and without a condition are compared on exposures/interventions they had in the past
what is a cohort study?
groups who have an exposure are compared with those who don’t and are followed over time to see whether the condition being studied develops
what is recall bias?
when cases cant recall the past accurately as compared to controls
the nurses health study is an example of what type of study?
cohort
