What is the importance of epidemiological study?
It is the scientific method of investigation problem-solving used by disease detectives— epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, statisticians, physicians and other health care providers, and public health professionals—to get to the root of health problems and outbreaks in a community.
What does epidemiological study mean?
By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global).
What is the primary goal of an epidemiological study?
The principal aim of epidemiology is to identify factors related to the occurrence of disease. Identification of these factors both causal ( causation) and risk factors, enable developing a rational basis for prevention ( epidemiology, prevention).
What is the primary goal of an epidemiological study and should never be sacrificed?
The goal of any epidemiological study is to acquire an accurate picture of a particular health problem or disease.
What are the two main branches of epidemiological study designs?
Epidemiologic studies fall into two categories: experimental and observational.
Which study design is best?
Hierarchy of Evidence
| Clinical question | Suggested best study design |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | prospective, blind comparison to a gold standard |
| Therapy | RCT > cohort > case control > case series |
| Prevention | RCT > cohort study > case control > case series |
| Prognosis | cohort study > case control > case series |
What are the steps in the epidemiological process?
Section 2: Steps of an Outbreak Investigation
- Prepare for field work.
- Establish the existence of an outbreak.
- Verify the diagnosis.
- Construct a working case definition.
- Find cases systematically and record information.
- Perform descriptive epidemiology.
- Develop hypotheses.
- Evaluate hypotheses epidemiologically.
What are the types of study design?
Types of Study Designs
- Meta-Analysis. A way of combining data from many different research studies.
- Systematic Review.
- Randomized Controlled Trial.
- Cohort Study (Prospective Observational Study)
- Case-control Study.
- Cross-sectional study.
- Case Reports and Series.
- Ideas, Editorials, Opinions.
What are the 5 common elements of research?
An understanding of the basic elements of research is essential for good research practices. Among the most important elements to be considered are variables, associations, sampling, random selection, random assignment, and blinding.