Cross-sectional studies

Question 1

Cross sectional studies definition

Answer 1

Observational studies that capture health/disease and exposure status at the same time
A PREVALENCE study

Question 2

Populations selection

Answer 2

Entire population or a subset is selected for study

Question 3

Cross sectional studies goals

Answer 3

Seeks associations (not causation)
Generates and tests hypothesis
By repetition in different time periods, can be used to measure change/trends

Question 4

Many cross sectional studies are

Answer 4

Large scale national surveys or databases capturing different aspects of the population

Question 5

2 Cross sectional approaches

Answer 5

Collect data on each member of the population (i.e., pregnancy-smoking data from KC health dept.)
Take a sample of the population and draw inferences to the remainder

Question 6

Two common broad approaches to collection of data

Answer 6

Questionnaires/surveys

Physical assessments

Question 7

Strengths of cross sectional

Answer 7

Quicker and easier for the researcher when using data already collected
Less expensive for researcher than any prospective study
Can be analyzed like a case control/cohort study (regarding group allocation)
Useful for estimating prevalence rates
Useful for answering research questions about a myriad of exposures/diseases using the same date

Question 8

Weaknesses of cross sectional

Answer 8

Prevalent cases may represent survivors
Difficult to study diseases of low frequency
Unable to generate incidence rates
Problems in determining temporal relationship of presumed cause and effect (b/c exposure and disease histories are taken at same time)

Question 9

NHANES study

Answer 9

National health and nutrition examination survey
Assesses the health and nutritional status of adults/children
Combines interviews and physical exam
Survey sample is selected to represent the US population of all ages

Question 10

NHIS

Answer 10

National health interview survey
Principal source of information on health of the civilian, non-institutionalized population
Data are collected through a personal household interview
Consists of a set of core questions
Sample represents the US population of all ages

Question 11

NAMCS

Answer 11

Ambulatory health care data
National survey designed to meet the need for objective, reliable information about the provision and use of ambulatory medical care services in the US
Based on a sample of visits to office based physicians primarily engaged in direct patient care

Question 12

NHCS

Answer 12

National hospital care survey
Designed to describe national patterns of healthcare delivery in non-federal hospital based settings
Integrates 3 cross sectional studies:
NHDS-National hospital discharge survey
NHAMS-ambulatory care survey
DAWN-drug abuse warning network

Question 13

BRFSS

Answer 13

Behavioral risk factor surveillance system
State based system of telephone health surveys that collects information on health risk behaviors, preventative health practices, and health care access primarily related to chronic disease and injury