Effectiveness of Studies Used in Epidemiology

 A premise of epidemiology is that health outcomes are not random occurrences within a population, but are linked to particular risk factors and diseases. Epidemiologists utilize a range of study design methods to evaluate evidence-based associations to understand and improve health outcomes. Use the specific Excel worksheets, located in the “Excel Study Design Workbook,” to complete this assignment. Part 1: Study Design Comparison Using the “Study Design Comparison Worksheet,” compare and contrast the characteristics of the different types of study design types discussed in this course. You will be able to use this as a reference throughout the program. Part 2: Article Comparison Consider an area of interest that you want to explore as a potential topic for your Epidemiological Profile project. Search for two articles that fit any two of the four study designs (randomized trial, cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) pertaining to the interest area you chose. Review the articles provided in the “Study Design Resource Document” to practice identifying articles for each study design. (Do not use the actual articles listed in the “Study Design Resource Document” for this assignment.) Complete the “Article Comparison Worksheet” to compare the study design characteristics in each of your two articles. Include details of any gaps in the characteristics or identify if information is missing.