Research Designs in Healthcare Flashcards
What are the pros of quantitative methods of research?
Can study a large number of people - statements about what is likely to be true can be made
Allows for hypothesis testing
What are the cons of quantitative methods of research?
Lacks context
Lacks depth
Lacks understanding of why
What methods can be used to collect quantitative data?
Questionnaires
Clinical data
Routine data
Experiments
What form is the data presented in for quantitative data?
Numbers and stats
What are the pros of qualitative methods of research?
How and why can be answered
Captures experiences, thoughts and feelings
Exploratory research
What are the cons of qualitative methods of research?
Usually small numbers so generalisations can’t be made
Can be time consuming
What methods can be used to collect qualitative data?
Interviews
Focus groups
Observations
Text and image analysis
What form is the data presented in for qualitative data?
Words
Images
Audio
Visual
Quotes
Which study designs are descriptive?
Cross-sectional
Case reports/series
Which study designs are observational?
Cross-sectional
Case-control
Cohort
Which study designs are experimental?
Trials
Which study designs are analytical?
Cross-sectional
Case-control
Cohort
Trials
What are the pros of a case report?
Data is already available
Likely the first time this has been documented
Prompts further research
What are the cons of a case report?
Mostly anecdotal
Limited value
Not representative
What is a cross-sectional study?
A ‘snapshot’ of information at one given time (e.g. frequency and characteristics of a disease)
No follow up
What are the pros of a cross-sectional study?
Cheap
Quick
Easy
No loss to follow up
What are the cons of a cross-sectional study?
Selection bias (only assessing people of a particular group)
Investigates association, not causality
What is a case-control study?
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
What are the pros of a case-control study?
Often sampled from existing databases
Cheap
Quick
Easy
No loss to follow-up
Efficient way of studying rare conditions
What are the cons of a case-control study?
Recall bias (px may remember incorrectly or answer with what they think you want)
Missing info in notes
Investigates association, not causality
What is a prospective cohort study?
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
What are the pros of a prospective cohort study?
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
What are the cons of a prospective cohort study?
Expensive
Time consuming
Difficult
Long duration for follow up
Loss to follow up likely
Investigates association, not causality
What is a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)?
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)
What is stratification (as part of randomisation)?
Balancing the characteristics within the groups, e.g. age, gender, disease severity
What does randomisation prevent?
Clinician bias
What does masking prevent?
Bias from px, clinician and outcome assessor
Who is masked during a single-blind trial?
The patient
Who is masked during a double-blind trial?
Patient and clinician
Who is masked during a triple-blind trial?
Patient, clinician and outcome assessor
What does a feasibility RCT achieve?
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
What is a systematic review?
Review of all previous studies with research area
Pools the data
First step in answering research question ahead of a trial
