Lectures 24-25 Cross-Sectional Studies

Question 1

Cross-sectional studies

Answer 1

observational
descriptive/analytical studies
examine relationships of health/disease to other variables of interest at the same time

Question 2

Cross- sectional studies are also known as

Answer 2

Prevalence studies

Question 3

Why are cross-sectional studies named cross-sectional

Answer 3

Represents what is occurring at a point in time or time frame a-cross a large population
“snap-shot” in time

Question 4

Focuses of Cross-sectional studies

Answer 4

focuses simultaneously on disease and population characteristics, including exposures, health status, health-car utilization, etc.

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

Question 5

Most cross sectional studies are

Answer 5

surveys or databases related to different aspects of US population

Question 6

Advantages of cross-sectional studies

Answer 6

fairly quick and easy to perform
useful for-
- determining prevalence of disease and risk factors across the population
- measuring current health status and planning for health services across the population
- Evaluating differences in sub-groups within the population

Question 7

Disadvantages of cross-sectional studies

Answer 7

prevalent cases may represent survivors
- difficult to study diseases of low frequency
Problems in determining temporal relationship of a presumed cause and effect

Question 8

Cross-sectional approaches

Answer 8

• collect data on each member of the population

- take a sample of the population and draw inferences to the remainder

Question 9

Collection of data how

Answer 9

Questionnaires/surveys

Physical assessments

Question 10

NHANES

Answer 10

National health and Nutrition examination survey

Question 11

NHIS

Answer 11

National health and interview survey

Question 12

NAMCS

Answer 12

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey

Question 13

NHCS

Answer 13

National Hospital Care Survey

Question 14

BRFSS

Answer 14

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Question 15

What is the NHANES

Answer 15

National Health and Nutrition examination survey

• assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children
• Oversamples persons> or equal to 60, African Americans and Hispanics

Question 16

What is the NHIS

Answer 16

National Health and Interview Survey

• Principle source of information on health of the civilian, non-institutionalized population
• data collected through a personal household interview

Question 17

What is the NAMCS

Answer 17

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
- National survey designed to need the need for objective, reliable information about the provision and use of ambulatory medical care services in the U.S.

Question 18

National Hospital care Survey

Answer 18

NHCS
A combined national survey designed to describe national patters of healthcare delivery in non-federal hospital-based settings
- integrates 3 previous cross-sectional surveys: NHDS, NHAMS, DAWN (Drug-abuse warning network)

Question 19

What is BRFSS

Answer 19

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

• A 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
• Larges landline telephone health survey in the world

Question 20

What is the main limitation of cross-sectional studies

Answer 20

Inability to determine temporality