Research Designs in Healthcare

Question 1

What are the pros of quantitative methods of research?

Answer 1

Can study a large number of people - statements about what is likely to be true can be made
Allows for hypothesis testing

Question 2

What are the cons of quantitative methods of research?

Answer 2

Lacks context
Lacks depth
Lacks understanding of why

Question 3

What methods can be used to collect quantitative data?

Answer 3

Questionnaires
Clinical data
Routine data
Experiments

Question 4

What form is the data presented in for quantitative data?

Answer 4

Numbers and stats

Question 5

What are the pros of qualitative methods of research?

Answer 5

How and why can be answered
Captures experiences, thoughts and feelings
Exploratory research

Question 6

What are the cons of qualitative methods of research?

Answer 6

Usually small numbers so generalisations can’t be made
Can be time consuming

Question 7

What methods can be used to collect qualitative data?

Answer 7

Interviews
Focus groups
Observations
Text and image analysis

Question 8

What form is the data presented in for qualitative data?

Answer 8

Words
Images
Audio
Visual
Quotes

Question 9

Which study designs are descriptive?

Answer 9

Cross-sectional
Case reports/series

Question 10

Which study designs are observational?

Answer 10

Cross-sectional
Case-control
Cohort

Question 11

Which study designs are experimental?

Answer 11

Trials

Question 12

Which study designs are analytical?

Answer 12

Cross-sectional
Case-control
Cohort
Trials

Question 13

What are the pros of a case report?

Answer 13

Data is already available
Likely the first time this has been documented
Prompts further research

Question 14

What are the cons of a case report?

Answer 14

Mostly anecdotal
Limited value
Not representative

Question 15

What is a cross-sectional study?

Answer 15

A ‘snapshot’ of information at one given time (e.g. frequency and characteristics of a disease)
No follow up

Question 16

What are the pros of a cross-sectional study?

Answer 16

Cheap
Quick
Easy
No loss to follow up

Question 17

What are the cons of a cross-sectional study?

Answer 17

Selection bias (only assessing people of a particular group)
Investigates association, not causality

Question 18

What is a case-control study?

Answer 18

Start with an outcome (e.g. lung cancer), and look to past for possible cause/RFs
Second group without outcome are studied to see if any differences in lifestyle etc

Question 19

What are the pros of a case-control study?

Answer 19

Often sampled from existing databases
Cheap
Quick
Easy
No loss to follow-up
Efficient way of studying rare conditions

Question 20

What are the cons of a case-control study?

Answer 20

Recall bias (px may remember incorrectly or answer with what they think you want)
Missing info in notes
Investigates association, not causality

Question 21

What is a prospective cohort study?

Answer 21

2 groups are followed over time to see if there is a difference in outcome when exposed or not exposed to a variable
e.g. smokers/non-smokers and lung cancer

Question 22

What are the pros of a prospective cohort study?

Answer 22

Baseline assessment of RFs not influenced by recall bias
Can collect exact data needed (i.e. can study very specific risk factors)
Efficient in studying rare risk factors

Question 23

What are the cons of a prospective cohort study?

Answer 23

Expensive
Time consuming
Difficult
Long duration for follow up
Loss to follow up likely
Investigates association, not causality

Question 24

What is a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)?

Answer 24

The sample population is randomly split into 2 groups (the groups should have equal characteristics)
1 group is given a new intervention/treatment
1 group is studied with usual care or a placebo (control group)

Question 25

What is stratification (as part of randomisation)?

Answer 25

Balancing the characteristics within the groups, e.g. age, gender, disease severity

Question 26

What does randomisation prevent?

Answer 26

Clinician bias

Question 27

What does masking prevent?

Answer 27

Bias from px, clinician and outcome assessor

Question 28

Who is masked during a single-blind trial?

Answer 28

The patient

Question 29

Who is masked during a double-blind trial?

Answer 29

Patient and clinician

Question 30

Who is masked during a triple-blind trial?

Answer 30

Patient, clinician and outcome assessor

Question 31

What does a feasibility RCT achieve?

Answer 31

Tests and evaluates study processes - checks if trial is manageable for pxs, can they recruit enough?
Has a large qualitative component - questionnaires to check feasibility

Question 32

What is a systematic review?

Answer 32

Review of all previous studies with research area
Pools the data
First step in answering research question ahead of a trial