Cohort Studies Flashcards
What research methods are listed under qualitative research methods?
- Cross-sectional
- Longitudinal
- Participant observation
- Self study
- In-depth interview
- Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
What research methods are listed under quantitative research methods?
- Cross-sectional
- Longitudinal
- Case-control study
- Cohort study
- Randomized controlled trial
- Reviews & systematic reviews
- Analysis of existing data collected for another purpose
- Meta-analysis
In research design, what two key components are related?
Exposure and outcome
What is the starting point in a case-control study?
The outcome
In a case-control study, what is the direction of inquiry? What type of ratio can be used to describe the results in a Case-control study? Can case control studies establish prevalence?
Retrospective
Odds ratio
No
What are the pros of case-control studies?
- Simple to conduct
- No long follow up (disease already developed)
- Cheaper
- Work well for rare diseases (selection of patients)
- Works for diseases with a long latent period e.g. cancer
What are the cons of case-control studies?
- Less reliable at demonstrating causality
- Most source of errors in case-control studies are confounding factors and bias!
What are the three types of bias?
Selection bias, information bias, confounders
What is selection bias?
What is information bias?
What is a confounding variable?
When the sample does not represent the target population
Flaws in measurement
A variable that correlates with both exposure and outcome
What is one of the main approaches to control for confounders?
Randomization
What data analysis techniques control for confounders?
Stratification by age, sex, etc.
Modelling
Regression
What is another name for a cohort study? In a cohort study, what is determined at the beginning of the study?
Follow-up or longitudinal study
Exposure
What can be used to determine prevalence?
Cohort study
What are the pros of cohort studies?
- Best for causation
- Incidences of disease
- Examine a range of outcomes
- Work well for rare exposures (selection of patients)
What are the cons of cohort studies?
- Major undertakings
- Long periods of follow up
- Expensive
- Does not work well for rare diseases (need lots of patients)
- Participants loss to follow-up
What does Risk measure?
What does Odds measure?
Probability
Chances
What is a risk ratio? What does Odds ratio compare?
Ratio of probability of outcome in exposed group to unexposed
Odds of outcome in exposed group with unexposed group
What is the formula for risk difference (RD)? What is the formula for number needed to treat (NNT)?
RD = (a/a+b) – (c/c+d)
NNT = 1/RD
What is an exposure in the context of research? What is an outcome in the context of research?
A factor being investigated for its effect
The result or condition being studied
What is another name for Adiposis dolorosa?
What is a characteristic symptom of Dercum’s disease?
What population is Dercum’s disease more common in?
What is the nature of the treatment for Dercum’s disease?
What is the prognosis for Dercum’s disease?
Dercum’s disease
Multiple, painful, lipomas
Postmenopausal women
Symptomatic
Poor
What is a major limitation regarding causality in case-control studies?
Less reliable at demonstrating causality
What is a potential result of selection bias?
Not representing the target population
What can flaws in measurement lead to?
Information bias
What is the formula for risk?
What is the formula for odds?
Number of events / total observations
Number of events / number without event
