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FILES07.EXE
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DESIGN.EPA
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1994-08-22
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%PROGRAM Study Design
_WordWrap On
_Define SBasis
_Define SSubject
STUDY DESIGN
The items so far established in the investigation relate primarily to
['cases' or 'exposed persons']
_LET SBasis = Entry
_If Entry = "cases" then SSubject = "illness" else SSubject = "exposure"
.
The study group, therefore, will fulfill the definition for
_Write SBasis
.
The frequency of variables related to the study hypotheses will be
determined in the
_Write SBasis
by
['interview','hospital record search','etc.]
.
Use of a comparison group of non
_Write SBasis
was considered by reviewing the following factors:
_Lmargin 4
1. The problem is of
['major','moderate','modest' (importance)]
importance because
[Reasons for above]
.
2. The expected frequency of the study variables
[is/is not (known from other sources)]
known from
['census data','ordinary experience','other sources', etc.]
.
3. The study variables
['are' or 'are not' (well enough defined for a comparison study)]
well enough defined to set up an appropriate quantitative comparison
study.
4. It is
['likely' or 'not likely' (that the hypotheses would explain the risk)]
that the hypotheses so far developed, if confirmed,
would explain most of the risk in this investigation.
5. The biologic plausibility of the proposed hypotheses is
[Describe biological plausibility or 'excellent','poor']
.
6. Resources available to conduct the study include
[Describe resources]
. These resources are considered
['adequate','not adequate' (to support a comparison study)]
to support a comparison study of the analytic type.
7. The minimal desirable participation rate of the comparison group is
[Minimal rate (%)]
percent and members of the group
['are'/'are not' (expected to participate at this rate)]
believed willing to participate at this or a higher rate.
8. Clearance from human subject committees
[Describe status of application if required, or state why not required]
.
_Lmargin 0
This phase of the investigation is to be a
['descriptive' or 'comparison' (study)]
_SType = Entry
study of
_Write SBasis
.
_If SType = "descriptive" then jump Descriptive
The comparison group will consist of non
_Write SBasis
[Further description of group, eg 'who ate lunch at Herbies on 10/29']
.
_Lmargin 0
:Descriptive
The following definition will be used for
_Write SBasis
--
_LMargin 4
[Case definition, including Disease, Time period, Place.]
_LMargin 0
.
Systematic search for
_Write SBasis
will be done by
[Methods for finding all potential study group members]
in order to determine the total number of eligible
_Write SBasis
. The study group will consist of
['all', 'every second', 'randomly selected', etc.]
_Write SBasis
.
_If SType = "descriptive" then Jump Descriptive1
The comparison group will meet the following definition for non
_Write SBasis
--
_LMargin 4
[Definition for comparison group.]
_LMargin 0
.
The group from whom comparison subjects are selected is thought to be
similar to the study group with respect to
[Description of similarities due to group composition]
. To control for confounding, individual members of the study
and comparison groups will be matched for the following characteristics,
which are not either the DISEASE or EXPOSURE variables to be studied:
[Variables AND criteria ('age, +/- 3 yr')]
. Information sufficient for matching will be obtained from potential
comparison subjects by
['interview', 'hospital record review', etc.]
.
It is estimated that for every subject found to meet the criteria,
[Number that will have to be interviewed to obtain one]
will need to be reviewed. Additional possibilities for confounding by
[Other variables that will be treated as confounders in analysis of data]
will be considered during the analysis of the data.
:Descriptive1
_If SType = "comparison" then jump comparison1
This phase of the study will determine the frequency of
_Write SSubject
in
_Write SBasis
. Associations between disease and exposure which appear
to be present may be examined during a subsequent phase using
case and control or exposed and unexposed groups in an analytic study.
_If SType = "descriptive" then jump FinishUp
:Comparison1
The objective of the study will be to measure the frequency of
_Write SSubject
in
_Write SBasis
and non
_Write SBasis
. After correction for confounding, the degree of
association between illness and exposure
will be estimated. This will be used to evaluate the hypotheses
outlined above.
:FinishUp
[Further discussion or information if desired. <Esc> when done.]