module 1 lesson 4 Flashcards
Ecological study design
data representing entire population used to evaluate an entire population
Why is study design important
The purpose of a study design is to organize the collection of relevant information to provide strong evidence for a causal relationship between a factor of interest and the development of a health outcome.
Counterfactual outcomes
the ideal experiment:
people are subject to exposure and followed for a period of time and calculate the incidence proportion (risk for exposure - Re)
Now turn back time so the same people are in the original state at the same time prior to exposure. Follow for the same period of time and caculate incidence proportion (risk for unexposed - Ru)
A causal effect of exposure is defined as Re-Ru
Four major reasons study result does not represent a true effect:
- lack of temproality
- lack of validity due to confounding
- lack of validity due to bias
- lack of validity due to chance
How can statistical analysis assist in establishing association versus effect
- stat analysis can est association, but not necessarily true effect
-can help removing confounding effects and dealing with chance
NOT helpful in dealing with biases and lack of temporality
Categories of study design
Observational: prospective, retrospective
Experimental: randomized parallel, randomized crossover, cluster randomized parallel, quasi-experimental
Case control- cumulative, density, case-cohort
cross sectional
Ecological
Observational
Natural experiments - investigator does not control exposure
study groups often not comparable
**research on harmful factors must use this approach
Prospective study
study starts in real time and entire study cohort is at risk at the start of the study
Retrospective
study starts after the health outcome has occurred; entire study cohort is “at risk”some time in the past
Strengths of observational study
- good evidence is needed for a risk factor
- exposure is rare
- desire accurate measure of exposure
- little known about exposure
Limitations of observational study
relatively expensive
- lengthy
- difficult to recruit
- loss to follow up
Experimental cohort
investigator manipulates exposure
usually subjects randomly assigned to groups
used only when tx is beneficial
BEST results
Types of experimental study designs
- Randomized Parallel
- Randomized cross over
- Cluster randomized parallell
- Quasi experimental trial
Randomized parallel
individuals are randomized to experimental groups
All groups followed in parallel over time
Most effective
Randomized cross over
individuals randomly experience all group treatments in sequence
efficient for some treatment effect combinations
requires tx and effect short lived