Sexual Health | Public health | Introduction to Epidemiological Study Design

Introduction to Epidemiological Study Design
Session Overview
Description
This session will introduce you to the design features, advantages and disadvantages of common study designs used for describing a population’s health, identifying risk factors, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments or other interventions.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the difference between descriptive observational studies, analytical observational studies, and experimental studies
• Identify the key characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of different types of descriptive observational study designs, analytical observational study designs and randomised controlled trials
• Describe key features of the CONSORT statement
• Distinguish examples of selection bias and information bias from each other and describe steps that can be taken to minimise bias

Prerequisites
This session accompanies HIV-STI 16 - Public Health/Introduction to Epidemiological Measures (260-0173)

The Dictionary of Epidemiology defines epidemiology as:

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems. [1](read details regarding the reference)

In other words, epidemiological studies address ‘where, when and how much’ questions about health and disease, as well as questions as to ‘why’ some people, but not others, experience certain diseases.

To answer these questions, it is important to set-up a study properly.

Although it is often neglected, study design is the most important aspect of a study. There are two main types of study design for answering epidemiological and public health questions: observational and experimental.

This session describes the main features of these designs, including potential sources of bias and steps that can be taken to minimise this source of error.