(FROM CHAPTERS 1, 2 ,4, 5, 6, 7 MIDTERM TEST)
These chapters are from textbook: Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS INCLUDING ANSWERS CHAPTER 2 – BIOSTATISTICS - WEEK 1
Solutions to
...
(FROM CHAPTERS 1, 2 ,4, 5, 6, 7 MIDTERM TEST)
These chapters are from textbook: Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS INCLUDING ANSWERS CHAPTER 2 – BIOSTATISTICS - WEEK 1
Solutions to Problems
1 An investigator wants to assess whether smoking is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Electronic medical records at a local hospital will be used to identify fifty patients with pancreatic cancer. One hundred patients who are similar but free of pancreatic cancer will also be selected. Each participant’s medical record will be analyzed for smoking history. Identify the type of study proposed and indicate its specific strengths and weaknesses.
Type of Study: The nested case-control study (type of case-control study) and usually design
For a cohort study.
Strengths:
1 The analysis will focus specifically on thr association between smoking history and pancreatic cancer.
2 Is a cost and time efficient study for studying rare diseases.
3 Investigators can unsure that a sufficient number of cases are included.
4 Case-control studies are useful when there are several potentially harmful exposures under consideration: data can be collected on each exposure and evaluated.
Weaknesses:
1 Case-control studies can be subject to bias and confounding. Matching is one way to handle confounding.
2 What is the most likely source of bias in the study described in Problem 1?
The most likely source of bias is misclassification bias, particularly with regard to classification of smoking status (exposure) because smoking information will be collected from the medical record.
CONTINUED.................
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