Quantitative Data

Question 1

What are the 6 features of quantitative data?

Answer 1

1. Measurable
2. Aims, objectives, hypotheses all pre-stated
3. Procedures must be standardised
4. Measures must be valid and reliable
5. Results should be presented statistically
6. Results should be aimed at falsification, establishing causal relationship and establishing association

Question 2

How good is expert opinion as a form of evidence?

Answer 2

Not good at all - lowest level of opinion with a high chance of bias.

Question 3

What are case series and case reports?

Answer 3

Descriptive studies with few participants

Question 4

What is the difference between case series and case reports?

Answer 4

Case reports have a very small number of participants.

Case series have more than 10 similar cases and are focused on progression

Question 5

What are the positives of Case series and Reports?

Answer 5

They can provide useful initial data and can be deployed quickly, useful for pilot data

Question 6

What are the positives of Case series and Reports?

Answer 6

Insufficient numbers for statistical analysis and single groups so can’t compare the patients to a control.

Question 7

What are case-control studies?

Answer 7

Observational studies conducted in retrospect- starts with cases of people with the condition and then matches them to the control

Question 8

What is bad about case-control studies?

Answer 8

Can’t produce causation - don’t fulfill Bradford Hill Criteria

Question 9

What is the Bradford-Hill criteria?

Answer 9

Criteria for causation, have to have all 9 satisfied to be sure that the intervention

Question 10

What are the 9 criteria of the Bradford-Hill criteria for causation?

Answer 10

Temporal relationship, Strength, Dose-response, Consistency, Plausibility, Multiple hypotheses (alternate explanations), Experiment, Specificity, Coherence

Question 11

What is a cohort study?

Answer 11

It is an observational study that looks at the associations between two factors comparing a group with another - looks at the risk a group will get a disease - regression analysis

Question 12

What is the difference between a Cohort study and a Case-Control study?

Answer 12

A Cohort study is conducted prospectively (before) whereas a Case-Control study is conducted retrospectively (after). A cohort study therefore is more accurate and can collect the data you want. It is also more precise

Question 13

What is a randomised controlled trial?

Answer 13

Two groups, one intervention and one control and compare results. It is prospective which is good. Complex and can be impossible.