Answer 2 for NURS 8310 Week 3 Discussion Observational Study Designs
Study designs are important in epidemiology to determine what is known about a disease. Relationships between risk factors and health outcomes can be explored through epidemiology study designs to measure prevalence, incidence, or test hypotheses for risk factors of disease and outcomes (Laureate Education, 2012). Observational study designs differ from each other and understanding their strengths and limitations are important to examine for public health problem investigation and public health benefits.
Second-Hand Smoke Risk in Children
Exposure to secondhand smoke at home in early life increases the risk for asthma in children. Second-hand smoke also triggers asthma exacerbations in children, increasing their risk for hospitalization (Tooley et al., 2015). This risk factor of second-hand smoke and the associated outcome of asthma can be explored using an observational, analytic, cohort study. This observational design is appropriate in prospectively studying the risk of parental smoking for asthma in children.
Cohort Studies Strengths and Benefits
The risk factors between parental smoking and childhood asthma incidences can be strengthened using a cohort study. A cohort design study reduces uncertainty regarding the cause and effect timeline of exposure and outcome by collecting information about exposures before the outcome occurs (Friis & Sellers, 2021). Cohort studies are also beneficial in following a population group over a period of time and establishing a hypothesis for factors leading to chronic disease. A prospective cohort study will follow children who are exposed to secondhand smoke over time by collecting data on the exposure, measuring the exposure, and direct measures of cigarette smoke concentration can be made (Friis & Sellers, 2021). Cohort studies are considered superior to other epidemiology study designs but are costly and the availability of exposure size and data collection may be limited ( Friis & Sellers, 2021).
Population Improvement
The use of a cohort design to assess risk factors between parental smoking and childhood asthma can lead to population improvement by identifying potential methods for disease prevention (Friis & Sellers, 2021). Taking an epidemiology finding and using it as a basis for directing public health action to control disease and improve health is important in public health practice (Laureate Education, 2012).
References
Friis, R.H., & Sellers, T.A. (2021). Study designs: Ecologic, cross-sectional, case-control.
Epidemiology for Public Health Practice (6th ed., pp.240-277). Jones & Bartlett.
Friis, R.H., & Sellers, T.A. (2021). Study designs: Cohort Studies. Epidemiology for
Public Health Practice (6th ed., pp. 282-319). Jones & Bartlett.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Epidemiology and population health:
Observational studies. Baltimore, MD: Author.
