Study Design and Data Collection Methods

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Questions and Answers

What is another name for a cohort study?

Experimental study

Cross-sectional study

Case-control study

Longitudinal study (correct)

In a cohort study, what is the role of the risk factor?

To prevent the disease occurrence

To cause the disease immediately

To be suspected of causing the disease (correct)

To have no relation to the disease

What type of data is collected in a prospective cohort study?

Data on exposure to the risk factor over time (correct)

Data on subjects who don't have the disease

Data on unrelated variables

Retrospective data

Why are subjects in a cohort study followed up over a period of time?

To observe disease development over time Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn if there is an excess of disease in the exposed group in a cohort study?

The risk factor might be causal for the disease Signup and view all the answers

In what setting might a cohort study be conducted to evaluate coffee consumption during pregnancy and fetal abnormalities?

Research institutions following pregnant women Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended statistical measure to assess the likelihood of developing a disease in a cohort study?

Relative risk Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to carefully trace subjects in a study?

To effectively hand over all details of data and methodologies Signup and view all the answers

What does a strong association between a risk factor and a disease in a cohort study NOT necessarily indicate?

A causal relationship Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of cohort studies compared to case-control studies?

Can take a very long time to complete Signup and view all the answers

Which method allows the examination of the effects of more than one exposure in a cohort study?

Relative risk assessment Signup and view all the answers

When interpreting results in a cohort study, what should be considered despite a strong association?

The potential for misinterpretation without causal proof Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between prospective cohort studies and retrospective cohort studies?

Prospective cohort studies look forward in time, while retrospective cohort studies look back in time. Signup and view all the answers

In what type of epidemiological investigations are retrospective cohort studies common?

Occupational epidemiology Signup and view all the answers

What is the exposure and outcome in the example involving Asian patients with diabetes?

Exposure: Being Asian; Outcome: Quality of care Signup and view all the answers

Why might a study choose to use a retrospective cohort design instead of a prospective one?

To save time and utilize existing records Signup and view all the answers

What is crucial to consider when selecting members for a study cohort?

Similarity apart from exposure to the risk factor Signup and view all the answers

Which type of study involves looking back in time at existing records?

Retrospective cohort study Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of subjects in a cohort study?

Not having the disease of interest at the start of the study Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for data collection to be well-planned in a study?

To ensure like-for-like comparisons between groups Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of follow-up bias in cohort studies?

Loss of continuity in follow-up Signup and view all the answers

Which factor may necessitate a long follow-up period in a cohort study?

Long latent period of the disease of interest Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to minimize the impact of subjects being lost during follow-up in cohort studies?

Planning ahead and accounting for possible losses Signup and view all the answers

Why is it crucial to collect the same items of data for both groups in a cohort study?

To enable like-for-like comparisons Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cohort Study Basics

Another name for a cohort study is a longitudinal study
In a cohort study, the role of the risk factor is to potentially cause or prevent a disease or outcome

Data Collection in Cohort Studies

In a prospective cohort study, data is collected over a period of time, observing subjects forward in time
Data collected includes exposure and disease status

Following Up Subjects

Subjects in a cohort study are followed up over a period of time to observe the development of disease or outcome
If there is an excess of disease in the exposed group, it may indicate a causal relationship between the risk factor and the disease

Settings and Statistical Measures

A cohort study might be conducted in a hospital setting to evaluate coffee consumption during pregnancy and fetal abnormalities
The recommended statistical measure to assess the likelihood of developing a disease in a cohort study is the relative risk

Importance of Tracing Subjects

It is important to carefully trace subjects in a study to minimize loss to follow-up and prevent biased results

Associations and Limitations

A strong association between a risk factor and a disease in a cohort study does not necessarily indicate causality
A disadvantage of cohort studies compared to case-control studies is that they can be time-consuming and expensive
The method that allows the examination of the effects of more than one exposure in a cohort study is stratification

Interpreting Results

When interpreting results in a cohort study, confounding and bias should be considered despite a strong association

Types of Cohort Studies

The main difference between prospective cohort studies and retrospective cohort studies is the direction of data collection
Retrospective cohort studies are common in epidemiological investigations involving existing records

Exposure and Outcome

In the example involving Asian patients with diabetes, the exposure is a risk factor for diabetes, and the outcome is the development of diabetes

Study Design

A study might choose to use a retrospective cohort design instead of a prospective one due to time or cost constraints
It is crucial to consider the selection of members for a study cohort to ensure they are representative of the population

Characteristics of Cohort Studies

A type of study that involves looking back in time at existing records is a retrospective cohort study
A key characteristic of subjects in a cohort study is that they are free of the disease of interest at the beginning of the study

Importance of Data Collection

It is important for data collection to be well-planned in a study to minimize bias and ensure accurate results

Minimizing Bias

A consequence of follow-up bias in cohort studies is biased results
A long follow-up period may be necessary in a cohort study if the disease of interest has a long latency period
To minimize the impact of subjects being lost during follow-up, it is essential to trace subjects carefully
It is crucial to collect the same items of data for both groups in a cohort study to ensure comparability

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Description

Learn about important considerations in study design such as subject selection, population cohorts, and data collection methods. Understand whether a questionnaire or interviews involving specially trained staff would be more suitable for gathering data.