Lecture 17 - Cross-sectional and Ecological studies Flashcards
Descriptive Epidemiology studies
Looks at person, pace, time (who, what, when, where)
Analytic studies
Looks at association (causation) between exposure and outcome
Studies can be divided into two other studies
- observation
- Interventional
Observational
Collection data made from observations - passive
Interventional
Giving the participants a treatment or interventions - Active
The Gate frame and PECOT
GATE - The graphic approach to epidemiology
- contains PECOT
Population
Exposed group
Comparison Group
Outcome
Time
Descriptive Studies
Cross- sectional and ecological studies
Analytic Studies
- Cohort studies
- Case - control studies
- Randomised control trials
Cross sectional studies
Measures exposure and / or outcomes at one point in time e.g. specific date, event
Example of CSS
- NZ health survey
- Census
- Wellbeing surveys
Measure of occurrence of CSS
Prevalence ; the proportion of a define population who have a disease at a point in time
CSS can be used for;
- To Compare prevalence
- To generate hypothesis
- To plan
- Describe prevalence
Limitations of CSS
- Temporal Sequencing
- Measure prevalence not incidence
- Not good for rare outcomes or exposures
Not good for assessing variable and transient exposure or outcome
Why CSS
- can Assess multiple exposures and outcomes
- less expensive
- Relatively quick
Ecological studies
Compare exposures and outcomes across groups not individuals.
Descriptive, observational studies
