Understanding clinical literature

Question 1

what are primary studies?

Answer 1

1. experiments
2. observations
3. clinical trials (therapies, diagnostics)
4. surveys, questionnaires

Question 2

what are secondary studies?

Answer 2

1. reviews (systematic or non-systematic)
2. economic analyses
3. decision analyses

Question 3

are cohort studies usually prospective or retrospective?

Answer 3

prospective

Question 4

are case control studies usually prospective or retrospective?

Answer 4

retrospective

Question 5

what is the best study design for intervention (therapy)?

Answer 5

RCT

Question 6

what is the best study design for harm / risk / etiology?

Answer 6

cohort

Question 7

what is the best study design for prognosis / prediction?

Answer 7

cohort

Question 8

what are the advantages of RCTs?

Answer 8

1. rigorous evaluation of a single variable
2. designed prospectively
3. seek to confirm a null hypothesis
4. allow for meta analysis
5. minimize bias

Question 9

what are the disadvantages of RCTs?

Answer 9

1. expensive
2. often require long term study
3. hidden bias from inadequate randomization, selection bias, single blinding

Question 10

when is randomization inappropriate?

Answer 10

1. involves prognosis
2. investigating validity of a diagnostic or screening test
3. investigating quality of care when criteria for success are not known

Question 11

prognosis studies are a subcategory of what study type?

Answer 11

cohort

Question 12

is there an intervention with cohort studies?

Answer 12

no - observational

Question 13

what is the general concern for case control studies?

Answer 13

harm or etiology

Question 14

is there an intervention with case control studies?

Answer 14

no - observational

Question 15

systematic reviews commonly compare what study types?

Answer 15

RCTs