Disease Surveillance Methods
Epidemiology is driven by data and usually relies on the collection of information and the analysis and interpretation of that information. Researchers in epidemiology are interested in the constant measurement or assessment of the relationship between exposure and disease/outcome. The study designs can be classified as observational or experimental depending on the approach used to assess the association between exposure and outcome.
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Disease Surveillance Methods
For the Unit III Case Study, research and describe one experimental study design and one observational study design, and provide at least one example of how each design can be used in a research intervention.
Explain how one of these studies can be applied to one of the health problems you identified in your community. Provide a statistical table of the health problem you identified in your community (prevalence, incidence, mortality rates, and morbidity rates). This information is usually found in the local departments of health websites. Explain whether the health problem in your community is an endemic, epidemic, or pandemic.
Your case study must be a minimum of three pages in length, excluding the title and reference pages. To support your ideas, use a minimum of three outside sources; one may be the textbook. Additionally, use a source that focuses on your community, such as a newspaper or journal article.
Experimental and Observational Study Designs
In epidemiology, experimental and observational designs assess the relationship between exposure and outcomes differently. An experimental study involves manipulating the exposure to study its effect on an outcome. For example, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) tests a new vaccine by randomly assigning participants to vaccine or placebo groups. This design controls for confounding variables and provides strong evidence of causality. On the other hand, observational studies observe exposure and outcomes without intervention. A cohort study follows a group over time to compare disease incidence between exposed and unexposed individuals. For instance, a cohort study……………………….
Application to Community Health Problem
In my community, diabetes is a major health concern. According to the local health department, diabetes prevalence is 12%, incidence rate is 3%, mortality rate is 2%, and morbidity includes complications such as kidney disease and neuropathy. This health problem is endemic, meaning it is consistently present at a baseline level. By following individuals with different behaviors, researchers can identify risk factors to target in prevention programs. The observational design suits this purpose as it reflects real-world conditions without ethical concerns of withholding……………………………
