7312MED: Principles And Practices - Epidemiology

Internal Code: MAS6895

Epidemiology:

1) What is the research question of this study? 2) What type of study design was used in this study (the actual study type)? Identify two key features of the study type presented in the paper. Indicate the study type that would give the highest quality of evidence for the research question? 3) What is/are the study factor(s)? How did the authors measure the factor(s) and classify study groups based on the factor(s)? 4) What is/are the outcome factor(s) and how was the outcome status determined? 5) How were cases identified? Describe the procedures used to ascertain cases. 6) What are the main findings of the study in determining the relationship between the study factor and the outcome factor 7) How was the association between the risk factor and outcome factor assessed? Please describe the methods/ statistical techniques used to assess the association. 8) Identify major sources of selection bias in this study. Could selection bias have had any effects on the observed association between the study factor and the outcome factor? Provide reasoning to support your answers 9) How have the authors dealt with the issue of confounding? What are the potential confounders considered by the authors? Could confounding have affected the observed results? Explain your view briefly.