Lecture 4 - Epidemiological Study Designs Flashcards
What are 4 types of review studies?
Systematic reviews
Meta-analyses
Narrative reviews
Scoping reviews
Generally what a systematic reviews and metanalyses?
They use pre existing studies
The present, analyse and synthesis results from different studies
What is the weakness of systematic reviews and meta-analyses?
Publication bias
What is publication bias?
When things are only published if there is some sort of association
No association studies not published
What is systematic reviews?
When you collect existing studies then review and analyse their results from a research question you are given
What is meta-analyses?
A natural extension of systematic reviews where data is extracted from existing studies to form a pooled result
(Trying to summarise quantitative measures)
What is a narrative review?
Where there is a topic of interest and theres no research question or pre-determined search strategy
What are scoping reviews?
Where theres a broad topic/question which has been identified for systematic review
What are2 types of experimental studies?
Randomised controlled trials (RCT)
Quasi-experiments
What is a randomised controlled trial?
When a sample population is taken then they are randomly assigned to the control group or intervention group
They are then observed and results from 2 groups compared
(Placebo group and drug group)
What is the purpose of a double blind randomised study?
Double blind so that the assessor doesn’t introduce bias
What are the limitations of Randomised controlled trials?
Expensive
Non-compliance of participants
Loss of follow up
Not efficient if the outcome is a rare condition
WHat is the benefit of Randomised controlled trials?
Radomisation reduces bias and confounding
What is a Quasi-experiment?
An experimental study that is NOT AN RCT
So has Non-random assignment
When are quasi-experiments used rather than a randomised controlled trial?
Ethical consideration (cant random assign patients too treatments)
Difficultly to randomise by location (comparing the effectiveness of a type of upportive care in children and adult
