Study Designs

Population and outcomes research is a multidisciplinary fi eld of study that utilizes principles from epidemiology, economics, and policy research to determine how exposures in the form of health services affect outcomes of interest, such as survival, functional status, and patient satisfaction, among many others (1). As outlined in Figure 10.1, this chapter reviews common study designs used in population and outcomes research. First, researchers defi ne the distribution of disease or healthcare services in the populace through descriptive studies. By asking, “Why do certain individuals develop disease or undergo treatment, while others do not?” researchers generate testable hypotheses about the causes of such patterns. Next, observational studies are used to identify associations between healthcare interventions—also known as exposures—and the effects observed in patients—the outcome of interest. While these studies might strongly suggest a link between an exposure and outcome, real-world individuals are complex, and often introduce confounding factors that complicate any analysis. Therefore, in a fi nal step, researchers perform meticulous experimental studies to isolate and test only the effects of a single healthcare intervention on a single outcome, thereby generating highly reliable conclusions.