PUBH 6033—Week 1 Assignment

PUBH 6033—Week 1 Assignment

Worksheet: Study Designs

(Rubric included)

Carefully read each scenario below. Then identify the study design used (choose from case study/case series, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, or experimental) and classify each study variable as quantitative, ordinal, or categorical.

Scenario 1:

A study was conducted in which healthy women (aged 35 to 55) received either a new blood pressure medication or a placebo pill for 5 months.  The results indicated that those women who took the actual medication experienced a significantly greater decrease in systolic blood pressure (average decrease = 17 mm Hg) as compared to those who took the placebo (average decrease = 2 mm Hg).

Coding for study variables:

• MED— 1 = medication; 2= placebo
• SBP— systolic blood pressure [mm Hg (millimeters of mercury)]

Scenario 2:

A researcher is interested in assessing college students’ level of involvement with binge-drinking and perceived risk for negative consequences related to such. Data is gathered by having students complete a questionnaire.

Coding for study variables:

• FREQ frequency— total days/mo. typically binge drink
• RISK—1 = very low risk; 2 risk; 3 = moderate risk; 4 = high risk; 5 = very high risk

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Scenario 3:

The British Doctors Study of the 1950s was the first study to show a link between smoking and lung cancer. In 1951, investigators recruited 40,000 British male doctors and then monitored them for 50 years. The results indicated that many more doctors who smoked went on to develop lung cancer than those who did not smoke.

Coding for study variables:

• CIGS—total number of cigarettes typically smoked per day
• CANCER—1 = yes; 2 = no

Scenario 4:

A study was conducted to determine if a walking plus strength training exercise program results in a significantly greater increase in aerobic capacity as compared to a walking only or a strength training only exercise program.  Participants were randomly selected and then randomly assigned to one of three groups— walking plus strength training, walking only, or strength training only.  Participants’ aerobic endurance was assessed at the beginning of the study and, again, after 6 months of exercise.

Coding for study variables:

EXERCISE—1= walking and strength training; 2 = walking; 3 = strength training

• ENDUR—maximum oxygen uptake (liters per minute)

Scenario 5:

A study was conducted to determine if pesticide exposure increases the risk of breast cancer in women. A total of 979 women aged 48 to 74 years with primary breast cancer and 952 matched controls without breast cancer were surveyed. Exposure to specific pesticides dating back 40 years was assessed.

Coding for study variables:

• EXPOSURE—1 = yes; 2 = no
• CANCER—1 = yes; 2 = no

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