Epidemiologic Research Methods

Epidemiologic Research Methods

Q. 1:

Epidemiology is the research of the determinants and distribution of the occurrence of any disease in humans and the use of this research to manage public health problems. The goal of epidemiologic research is to yield precise and valid data about the preventions, treatments, and causes of any disease. (Stanhope, 2012)

Data is needed to research and get knowledge of activities in healthcare. Stanhope and Lancaster have divided the data in three kinds which may be used in epidemiology. It includes the following:

Regularly Collected Data e.g. includes data obtained from the field i.e. natural setting). For example, data for research on patients would be collected from hospitals. Data on prevention of a disease, would be obtained from the studies conducted for its treatment.

Data Collected by Different Records e.g. data would be obtained from archives or records. For example, in a medical setting, data from patient records or prevalence and statistics on diseases would be obtained and analyzed.

Data Collected for Epidemiological Research e.g. it includes primary data obtained by researchers in their study on diseases, prevention, etiology, treatment etc. Epidemiological research data is supposed to be the most authentic because it is obtained by specialists in the field.

The above mentioned kinds of data present a huge quantity of diverse knowledge. Which data is particularly required is up to the decision of epidemiologists. Regularly Collected Data include the data collected by the government of many countries. This sort of data is regularly collected by the specific governmental agencies, for example, birth and deaths statistics are regularly maintained by the government agencies. This data may not be of better quality but still it is helpful in researching continuing tendencies.

Significance

The above mentioned data collection methods are vital to epidemiological research in health and disease prevention. All the three methods are chosen based on the nature and potential of the disease. However, primary data collected by specialist researchers on the topic is believed to be the most authentic because of the expertise involved in the research.

Q. 2:

Epidemiologic research includes a number of research plans, the 03 most common forms are as follows:

Cohort Study: usually studies compound health consequences of an contact; subjects are classified in accordance with their contact levels and pursued for disease incidence.

Case Control Study: usually studies compound exposures regarding a disease; subjects are classified as controls and cases, and contact histories are evaluated.

Cross-Sectional Study: studies connection between disease prevalence and exposure in a classified population at a particular moment.

Explanation and Comparison Of Two Types Of Epidemiological Research

1. Cohort Study

In Cohort Study, data collection is carried out by sampling rows. It is used to study compound health consequences of an contact; subjects are classified in accordance with their contact levels and pursued for disease incidence. Data collection is made from subjects enrollment by reason of lack of exposure or exposure to an aspect or on association in a distinct population. (Nordhuizen, 2007)

Since entry into a this sort of Epidemiologic Research is derived ...