An introduction to experimental epidemiology

1. An introduction to experimental
epidemiology
Professor Maja Miskulin, MD, PhD

2. Epidemiology
 one of the core sciences of public health and medicine in
general
 way of thinking and methodology that can be used to learn
about and to resolve a very wide range of research questions

3. The basic components of every research
 the background of a research
 the study design
 materials of the study or study subjects
 variables (data to be collected and the properties to be
measured)
 statistical issues

4. The background of a research
 is related to the knowledge known from the previous
research of the same problem, to the knowledge we will gain
in the specific research and to the questions that will remain
unanswered after we conduct the planned research

5. The study design
 it involves the selection of epidemiological methods
 it depends on the purpose of the research, human and
financial resources and the time we have at our disposal

6. Epidemiological
research methods

7. Epidemiological research methods
 given the main approach they can be divided into:
observational epidemiological methods (non-
experimental)
experimental epidemiological methods (interventions)

8. The observational epidemiology
 can be divided into:
descriptive epidemiology (who, where, when)
analytical epidemiology (why)

9. The analytical epidemiological methods
 cohort study
 case-control study data collection for individual subjects
 cross-sectional study
 ecological study data collection for groups of subjects
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10. The analytical epidemiological methods
cross-sectional study exposure data and health outcomes
are collected at the same time
 case-control study there is a certain period of time
 cohort study between the health outcome and
the exposure
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11. The analytical epidemiological methods
 cohort study
 case-control study
 cross-sectional study
 ecological study

12. Experimental epidemiology
basic epidemiological questions - who, where, when and why they
are ill
methods of experimental epidemiology can be applied once we have
responded to questions with descriptive and analytical epidemiology

13. Experimental methods
randomized clinical trial
controlled field trial
community trial

14. The decision on observational or experimental
approach?
primarily depends on the factor we are investigating
the advantage of observational research is the ability to apply it for
evaluation of any exposure, protective or harmful, after the subjects
are exposed, irrespective of the researcher's interventions

15. Materials of the study or study subjects
how the study subjects will be selected (inclusion and exclusion
criteria)
what sampling method will be used

16. Variables (data to be collected and the properties
to be measured)
depend on the research question and the research method
types of variables:
outcome variables
predictor variables
confounding variables

17. Statistical issues
sample size
selection of appropriate statistical methods for data analysis

18. Experimental epidemiology? (mark the correct answer)
 in an experimental epidemiology the subjects are only
observed and recorded
WRONG
in an experimental epidemiology the researcher actively
participates in the process being investigated
CORRECT

19. Experimental methods? (mark the correct answer)
randomized clinical trial, controlled field trial, community trial
CORRECT
cohort study, case-control study, cross-sectional study
WRONG

20. The decision on observational or experimental approach?
(mark the correct answer)
primarily depends on study subjects we are investigating
WRONG
primarily depends on the factor we are investigating
CORRECT

21. Thank You for Your kind attention!