Health Care Research & Statistics
Differentiating Experimental & Observational Designs
Instructions: For each abstract, indicate whether the study is observational or experimental, and then indicate the population being studied and the dependent and independent variables.
1.
- Background:A national study of radiologic technologists' radiation safety practices in 2003 documented poor compliance. In addition, the 2003 study found that years of work experience and length of employment at a work site were significantly related to adherence with safety practices. The current study is a refinement and extension of the 2003 study.
- Purpose:To determine the degree of compliance with personnel radiation practices and patient radiation safety practices as correlated with initial professional education, highest level of education, years of employment in the radiologic sciences and type of work site.
- Method:A 33-item questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1500 California radiologic technologists certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The return rate was 32%.
- Results:Mean scores were 77.1% for compliance with patient safety practices and 70.5% for compliance with personnel safety practices. Performance on individual items ranged from 95.6% to 27.4% compliance. Two independent variables, years of employment in the radiologic sciences and work site, were significantly related to adherence with safety practices (P<.05).
- Conclusion:The results of this study corroborated those of the national study and indicated the need for educational and organizational interventions to increase compliance with safety practices for patients and personnel. (RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY 81(6) 538-547.
A) Is the research design Observational or Experimental? Justify your answer.
B) Dependent variable(s):
C) Independent variable(s):
D) Population studied:
2.
- Objective:Chronic fatigue syndrome is a profoundly disabling condition characterized by severe, unrelenting fatigue and a number of other physical and cognitive symptoms. Currently, there is no cure or widely accepted treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, and few rehabilitation programs exist to address quality of life issues in chronic fatigue syndrome. In the present randomized clinical trial, the effects of an integrative, consumer-driven rehabilitation program on quality of life and symptom severity for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome were examined.
- Method:Forty-seven participants were randomly assigned to either an immediate program group (n=23) or a delayed program control group (n=24) and assessed with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Rating Scale and the Quality of Life Index before the program, after program participants completed the group phase, and after program participants completed the one-on-one phase. It was hypothesized that the program would lead to improvements in quality of life and an overall reduction in symptom severity
- Results:Linear growth models were estimated comparing program and control conditions over time using random-effects regression analyses. Significant condition by time interactions were observed for the main outcome of symptom severity and overall quality of life. Effect sizes for these interactions involving symptom severity and overall quality of life were moderate.
- Conclusions:Finding indicate that consumer driven programs such as this one can have a positive impact on symptom severity and quality of life over time for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome. (Quality of Life and Symptom Severity for Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Findings From a randomized Clinical Trial, Taylor RR.The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 58(1); pp. 35-43).
A) Is the research design Observational or Experimental? Justify your answer.
B) Dependent variable(s):
C) Independent variable(s):
D) Population studied:
3.
- Purpose:the purpose of this study was to compare osteoporosis knowledge among women in three different age groups, 25-35, 36-49, and 50 years and older living in San Bernardino County, California.
- Methods:Study subjects were shoppers at a Wal-Mart store in Redlands, California. A five-item questionnaire was used to assess overall knowledge of osteoporosis and its prevention. The questionnaire also contained questions about subjects' age, educational level, race, income and number of doctor visits annually.
- Results:Overall knowledge of osteoporosis prevention was not significantly different by age group, educational level, race, income level, or the number of times women visited their health care providers annually. Knowledge of the frequency of exercise needed per week to strengthen bones yielded a statistically significant difference across race (p=.03), educational level (p<.001), and income (p=.02).
- Conclusions:Osteoporosis prevention education should target all women regardless of their age, race, education, or income. In addition educational campaigns should specifically target Hispanic and African-American women of all ages who are less educated and of lower income, and should focus on preventive measure involving exercise. Given that 40% of the subjects saw their doctor three or more times per year, primary care providers should initiate educating women about osteoporosis prevention. ( Knowledge of Osteoporosis Among Women in San Bernardino County, Castro V, Elsayed C, Hoang TP, Kumar S, Lonac J, Martin J, Chene Y, Daher N. Master of Physician Assistant Research Monograph, Loma Linda University, 2008; pp. 15-21).
A) Is the research design Observational or Experimental? Justify your answer.
B) Dependent variable(s):
C) Independent variable(s):
D) Population studied:
4.
- Background.Soy diet has been suggested to have antihypertensive effect in animal studies. The present study examined the cross-sectional relationship between blood pressure and intake of soy products and other food groups in Japanese men and women.
- Methods.Blood pressure was measured in 294 Japanese men and 330 Japanese women who participated in a health check-up program provided by a general hospital. Intake of various food groups and nutrients was estimated from a valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
- Results.In men, soy product intake was inversely significantly correlated with diastolic blood pressure after controlling for age, total energy, smoking status, body mass index, and intake of alcohol, salt, and seaweeds. The correlation of soy product intake with systolic blood pressure was of borderline significance. Systolic blood pressure was inversely correlated with intake of vegetables and dairy products. There were no significant correlations between soy product intake and diastolic blood pressure in women.
- Conclusion.These results indicate a mild effect of soy intake on blood pressure reduction in men. (Association of Blood Pressure with Intake of Soy Products and Other Food Groups in Japanese Men and Women, Nagata C, Shimizu H, Takami R, Hayashi M, Takeda N, Yasuda K.Preventive Medicine 36(2003);pp. 692-697).
A) Is the research design Observational or Experimental? Justify your answer.
B) Dependent variable(s):
C) Independent variable(s):
D) What variables did the researchers control for in doing the correlation between soy intake and diastolic blood pressure? What are these variables called?
E) Population studied:
*You answered theses before and got them right, Same thing with the above assignment. Here is you pervious work on the same info.
HEALTH-CARE RESEARCH & STATS
Instructions: For each purpose/question/hypothesis indicate the dependent and independent variables and the population being studied.
1) This study compared attitudes toward obesity between dietetics and non-dietetics majors to test the hypothesis that dietetics students would have more negative attitudes that their peers.
(Journal of the American Dietetic Association 106(10) pp. 1678-1682).
a) Dependent variable(s): Attitude toward obesity
b) Independent variable(s): Type of major whether dietetics or non-dietetics
c) Population studied: All the students of that university.
2) A study of registered nurses and nursing assistants from 10 midwestern hospitals revealed that nursing staff who perceived less missed nursing care on the patient care unit where they worked are more satisfied in their current position. (Journal of Healthcare Management, 56(2); pp. 117-131).
a) Dependent variable(s): Satisfaction level of the nurses
b) Independent variable(s): Time missed nursing care on the patient care unit
c) Population studied: All the registered nurses and nursing assistants from Midwestern hospitals.
3) Our findings suggest that the organizational characteristics of ownership, size, and region and the individual characteristics of gender, profession affiliation, and the focus of the continuing education may influence how much continuing education CEOs take. (Journal of Healthcare Management 55(6); pp. 413-427).
a) Dependent variable(s): The length of continuing education CEOs take.
b) Independent variable(s): The organizational and the individual characteristics.
c) Population studied: CEOs of all the organizations.
4) There will be no statistically significant difference in student outcomes as measured by course grade and ARRT certification exams based on gender when comparing face-to-face instruction to online instruction. (Radiologic Technology 79(6); pp. 497-506).
a) Dependent variable(s): Course grade and ARRT certification exams outcomes
b) Independent variable(s): Gender and Type of instruction student received.
c) Population studied: All the students of the Radiologic Technology.
5) Is there a relationship between degree of compliance with radiation safety practices and professional education, continuing education, years of employment in the radiologic sciences and work site. (Radiologic Technology 79(4); pp. 297-305).
a) Dependent variable(s): Degree of compliance with radiation safety practices.
b) Independent variable(s): Professional education, continuing education, years of employment in the radiologic sciences and work site.
c) Population studied: All the students of the Radiologic Technology.
6) The purpose of the study was to determine whether one-legged exercise training would improve aerobic capacity compared with two-legged training in stable patients with COPD. (Chest, October 2007).
a) Dependent variable(s): Aerobic capacity.
b) Independent variable(s): Type of exercise training, i.e. one-legged or two-legged.
c) Population studied: All the stable patients with COPD.
7) The purpose of this study is to determine if Alzheimer's patients who own a pet are less dependent on prescription anti-depressant medication than those who do not own a pet. (Master of Physician Assistant Research Monograph, Loma Linda University, 2009; pp. 25-28).
a) Dependent variable(s): Frequency of using prescription anti-depressant medication.
b) Independent variable(s): Ownership of a pet, i.e. own a pet or do not own.
c) Population studied: All the Alzheimer's patients under treatment.
8) The purpose of this study was to examine quality of life in American Indian and white women with and without rheumatoid arthritis. (The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(3); pp. 280-289).
a) Dependent variable(s): The quality of life.
b) Independent variable(s): Race of the women and Status of rheumatoid arthritis.
c) Population studied: All the American Indian and white women in America.