Epidemiology: Study Design and Data Analysis

This article discusses the different study designs used in epidemiology and their suitability for investigating various medical conditions. It explores the advantages and limitations of each method, including cohort study design, cross-sectional study, case-control study design, systematic review, meta-analytic methods, and questionnaire survey. The article also provides examples of how these methods have been applied in real-world scenarios.

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Part 1
Among the methods of studies mentioned namely cohort study design, cross-sectional
study and case-control study design, the most suited study design for investigating the causal
effects during a study is the cohort design.
This cohort design was used since the study design aims to observe a group of
individuals especially a large group. By exploring the group the risk factors to which the
group is exposed can be possibly found out. The data that is already collected can be studied
in a prospective manner using this cohort method of studies. This type of study can also be
used in order to recognise the factors in the social terms that tend to influence the health of
the individuals.
The use of this study design can be justified using the examples of the application of
the cohort study designs can be seen in case of the Nurses' Health Study. This had been
conducted for investigating the health of the women and the impact the use of oral
contraceptives have on their health. The individuals who participated in the study were
interrogated regarding their lifestyle choices and also about the gains and harms that is caused
due to the various factors including their nutrition and diet. This was possible using the
cohort study design as it acts as an efficient tool to understand the relationships that exists
between the environment and the health factors. Cohort study also enable the researchers to
pool in large amount of data that helps to increase the size of the sample, making the results
more credible especially in rare scenarios as of different types of cancer (Titulaer et al.,
2013).
Another such example can be seen in case of the Framingham Heart Study. This study
involved over a 5,209 male and female participants in order to find out the causes of the

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factors that are involved in cardiovascular risk. A study was designed which was a ‘large-
scale cohort study’ in order to explore the babies that were born in the same week but in
various parts of the United Kingdom. This study was possible using the cohort design as it
involved a huge sample sign and it was required to understand the relationship between the
behaviour of the child and the cognitive development. Additionally the social factors that
were involved in the health of the children and their parents were also investigated using the
study (Woodward, 2013).
Part 2
Investigate the long term effects of detention on the mental and physical health of
asylum seekers
For the given medical conditions the appropriate study method is investigated as the
benefits and the drawbacks of the selected study design is discussed. In order to investigate
the long term effects of detention on the mental and physical health of asylum seekers, the
appropriate study design was detected as the method of systematic review, which included
meta-analytic methods. This type of study was helpful since it enabled the inclusion of the
controlled trails along with the conduction of the nonrandomized studies. Both the groups
could be compared. Additionally the systematic review helped in considering the different
types of interventions that are carried out including the asylum seekers. Being a meta-analytic
method, different parameters and factors were included in carrying out the studies that helped
to increase the credibility of the study since different conditions was able to be included in
the study process. Inspite of the several advantages there were certain limitation which
included the unavailability of few references in full text. This created a possibility of biasness
as the studies were omitted. For such studies there is a requirement of feedback for the
reviews for which more detailed research is required (Filges et al., 2015).

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Relation between the association between depression and binge eating in obese
adolescents and adults
In the case of investigation of the relation between the association between
depression and binge eating in obese adolescents and adults, the appropriate study method
seems to be the qualitative analysis using the questionnaire survey. With the help of
questionnaires questions were asked to the participating individuals regarding their
characteristics and eating habits. These questions effectively helped in finding out the eating
disorders, the depression that is caused due to the overweight and the level of self-satisfaction
that is present. The data obtained through the questionnaire survey was further analyzed by
descriptive analysis that calculated the relation between the factors binge eating and
depression. Limitation of the study design was due to the fact that it did not help in promoting
any sort of proper eating habits or the ways by which depression can be reduced. There is
also a requirement of psychological support for the individuals who are suffering from such
sort of depression, however the study fails to extend any kind of support to them (Sonneville
et al., 2013).
Testing a drug for use in elderly people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease
In order to test a drug for use in elderly people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,
clinical trial method is used for investigation along with use of a control group that is a case-
control study design. This method is justified for this study as it helps to understand the
existing different between the effects of the drug that is being tested on the selected sample
population. The control group successfully shows the difference of the effects when the drug
is not being administered on the individuals. Although this method is appropriate for use in
such a research, however it imposes a limitation when a large sample group needs to be

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considered for carrying out the research. This in turn reduces the credibility of the study if a
small sample number is being considered (de Gage et al., 2014).
The folate supplementation during pregnancy and development of autism in offspring
For investigating the folate supplementation during pregnancy and development of
autism in offspring, the cohort study method could be applied. This method is appropriate in
such a study since it is desirable to understand the causation of the disease. Additionally the
cohort study enables the researchers to understand the relationship that exists between the
environmental factors and the health factors that are responsible for the occurrence of the
disease. Disadvantages include that this method is not suited for investigating rare diseases or
sudden outbreaks. Additionally the study is expensive to carry out (Surén et al., 2013).
The above discussion successfully identifies the need of the appropriate methods of
research design that is required for the different cases. It also projects the advantages and the
disadvantages that exists due to the application of the respective research methods.

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References
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Sonneville, K. R., Horton, N. J., Micali, N., Crosby, R. D., Swanson, S. A., Solmi, F., &
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