Cross-Sectional Study

Question 1

Define a cross-sectional study

Answer 1

Observational studies that capture health/disease and exposure statuses AT THE SAME TIME

Question 2

What is an synonym of a cross-sectional study?

Answer 2

A prevalence study or “snapshot”

Question 3

When is the most appropriate time to use a cross-sectional study?

Answer 3

When wanting to study entire populations or subset populations.

Question 4

Study populations from cross-sectional studies are formed by

Answer 4

samples are taken from populations to represent the U.S population via questionnaires or surveys of records or even from physical assessments.

Question 5

List the strengths of cross-sectional studies

Answer 5

Quick and easy since data is available
Less expensive for researcher for prospective type study
Analysis is flexible to be reviewed through case-control or cohort
Useful for estimating prevalence rates
Useful for answering research questions about a myriad of exposure and disease using same data

Question 6

List the weakness of cross-sectional studies

Answer 6

Prevalent cases may represent survivors
Difficult to study diseases of low frequency
Unable to generate incidence rates
Problems in determining temporal relationship of presumed cause/effect

Question 7

What is NHANES?

Answer 7

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Question 8

How is NHANES data collected and what are they assessing?

Answer 8

Via interviews and physical examinations

Assess the health and nutritional status of adult and children

Question 9

NHIS

Answer 9

National Health Interview Survey

Question 10

How is NHIS data collected and what are they assessing?

Answer 10

Collect data on health of the civilian from non-institutionalized populations(not in hospitals)

Can minimize participation bias by adding survey Questions in home interviews

Question 11

NAMCS

Answer 11

National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey

Question 12

How is NAMCS data collected and what are they assessing?

Answer 12

Look at data and medical records of ambulatory data

Question 13

NHCS

Answer 13

National Hospital Care Survey

Question 14

How is NHCS data collected and what are they assessing?

Answer 14

A combined national survey data from non-federal hospital-based settings. It multi-staged randomization for broad sampling.

Question 15

BRFSS

Answer 15

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Question 16

How is BRFSS data collected and what are they assessing?

Answer 16

Via telephone or questionnaires in school for youth
Collects data on health risk behaviors, preventive health factors and health care accesses

Susceptible for responder bias due to phone