Abstract
Study design is a fundamental aspect of research. If the design of a study is poor, no amount of clever analysis will provide reliable results. The results from poorly designed studies could be meaningless, and many resources will have been wasted, not to mention the possible risk to the subjects, which would be unethical. Therefore, it is essential that researchers invest adequate time and effort in designing their studies appropriately. It would be advisable to involve a medical statistician or an epidemiologist at the design stage of a study.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Machin D, Campbell M, Fayers P, Pinol A. Sample Size Tables for Clinical Studies, 2nd ed. London: Blackwell Science; 1997.
Marre M, Lievre M, Chatellier G, Mann JFE, Passa P, Ménard J. Effects of low dose ramipril on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and raised excretion of urinary albumin: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial (the DIABHYCAR study). BMJ 2004;328:495.
Abernethy AP, Currow DC, Frith P, Fazekas BS, McHugh A, Bui C. Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial of sustained release morphine for the management of refractory dyspnoea. BMJ 2003;327:523–528.
Jordan WM. Pulmonary embolism. Lancet 1961;2:1146–1147.
Wakefield AJ, Murch SH, Linnell AAJ, et al. Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet 1998;351:637–641.
Health Survey for England. http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PublishedSurvey/HealthSurveyForEngland/fs/en.
Young J, Geest SD, Spirig R, et al. For the Swiss HIV Cohort Study Group. Stable partnership and progression to AIDS or death in HIV infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy: Swiss HIV cohort study. BMJ 2004;328:15.
Smeeth L, Cook C, Fombonne E, et al. MMR vaccination and pervasive developmental disorders: a case-control study. Lancet 2004;364: 963–969.
Rothman KJ, Greenland S. Causation and causal inference. In: Modern Epidemiology. Rothman KJ, Greenland S, eds. Philadelphia: Lippencott-Raven; 1998:7–28.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Omar, R.Z., Barber, J.A., Ambler, G. (2007). Designing Health Studies. In: Patel, H.R.H., Arya, M., Shergill, I.S. (eds) Basic Science Techniques in Clinical Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-740-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-740-4_2
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-84628-546-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-740-4
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)