Browsing by Author "Yach, D."
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- ItemEpidemiological research methods. Part I. Why epidemiology?(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1986) Yach, D.; Botha, J. L.In the first article in a series on epidemiological research methods, we describe the origins and uses of epidemiology and introduce the different types of epidemiological study design.
- ItemEpidemiological research methods. Part II. Descriptive studies(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1986) Botha, J. L.; Yach, D.In a descriptive study, therefore, the magnitude and distribution of a health problem in a specified population is studied in terms of TIME (when did it occur?), PLACE (where did it occur?) and PERSON (which groups are affected?). The design starts with an idea that occurs to the researcher about a particular problem. This is followed by selecting a group of individuals to be studied (sampling), considering which attributes to measure (measurement), describing the findings, and finally drawing conclusions on the basis of the findings. Commonly, new ideas or hypotheses are generated in this final stage, usually regarding possible explanations for the health problems described (cause-effect relationships). Such relationships may be attempts to explain the aetiology of diseases or the effect of preventive, curative or rehabilitative measures. Important issues affecting the reliability of the sampling and measurement processes are discussed, some descriptive statistical measures demonstrated and how conclusions are affected by these, are indicated.
- ItemEpidemiological research methods. Part IV. Case-control studies(Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 1987-06) Yach, D.; Botha, J. L.Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), although regarded as the best method for assessing the efficacy of an intervention, have several shoncomings and may be impossible to conduct, for example in the case of harmful risk factors or aetiological factors such as smoking4 or schistosomes. Analytical studies such as case-eontrol studies or non-RCT follow-up studies provide alternative approaches for assessing drug or vaccine efficacy, health service8 interventions, as well as the role of risk factors for disease.
- ItemEpidemiological research methods. Part VI. Planning a research project(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1987) Botha, J. L.; Yach, D.The need for writing a good protocol is still paramount and applies not only to randomised controlled trials (RCTs), but to all research projects. Writing a good protocol reflects good planning, and in this paper we address some vital aspects of planning a study and writing a protocol. The information given here should be augmented by referring to earlier articles in this series, as well as guidelines published elsewhere.
- ItemEpidemiological research methods. Part VII. Epidemiological research in health planning(Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1987) Yach, D.; Botha, J. L.The goal of epidemiology is to improve the health status of human populations. In our series thus far we have srressed the need to use the correct design for epidemiological studies, a sampling scheme that yields interpretable results, measurements that are both valid and reliable, and finally the appropriate analysis. These methodological considerations are of importance if the goal is to be reached. In this article we assume that most of these issues have been adequately dealt with and focus on how the results of epidemiological research can be used by health planners to improve the health status of regions and the country as a whole.