OnlineMedEd: Epidemiology and Stats - "Study Design"

Question 1

Observational studies without a comparison group could be what two types of studies?

Answer 1

• Case series: a qualitative description of a group
• Cross-sectional: a quantitative assessment of multiple groups at the same time

Case series is good for new knowledge of rare or unknown diseases.

Cross-sectional studies are good for prevalence studies.

Question 2

Studying the same group over a period of time is what type of study?

Answer 2

Longitudinal

Question 3

Studying a disease by comparison of groups with and without the disease by past exposure is a __________ study.

Answer 3

case-control

This gives you the odds ratio. It is retrospective.

Question 4

In a cohort study, you are comparing ____________.

Answer 4

two groups based on exposure status; this is prospective

Question 5

Observational studies cannot establish ____________.

Answer 5

causation

Question 6

Single-blind studies involve blinding of the ____________.

Answer 6

patients (not the researchers)