What Types of Epidemiological Studies Are Commonly Used?
There are several types of epidemiological studies that nurses might encounter:
Cohort Studies: These studies follow a group of people over time to examine how exposure to certain factors affects outcomes. Case-Control Studies: These involve identifying patients with a specific condition and comparing them to those without, to assess exposures or risk factors. Cross-Sectional Studies: These look at data from a population at a single point in time, often used for prevalence studies. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Though more experimental, RCTs are pivotal in testing the efficacy of interventions.
