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Cross-sectional studies: Definition, benefits, and challenges

cross section design

Longitudinal studies involve monitoring the same individuals over time, which can be expensive and time-consuming due to the need for large sample sizes to account for churn rates over the study period. In a cross-sectional study, data are collected from a sample of the target population at a specific point in time, and everyone in the sample is assessed in the same way. There isn’t a manipulation of variables or a control group as there would be in an experimental study design. Recipients thought to be more likely to use a specific language option, based on supplemental information in the sampling frame or their address location, were sent a paper screener in that language in addition to an English screener questionnaire.

cross section design

Examples of cross-sectional studies

In contrast, cross-sectional studies collect data at just one point in time, allowing for quicker access to research findings once data collection is complete. This makes cross-sectional studies particularly valuable for research projects that are under tight time constraints, have limited budgets, or where insights are needed quickly. Cross-sectional research design can be used to assess the attitudes, interests, or behaviors of a study sample.

Cohort Differences

Cross sectional study designs and case series form the lowest level of the aetiology hierarchy. In the cross sectional design, data concerning each subject is often recorded at one point in time. Data records for AST were collected from microbiology electronic register retrospectively, covering the period of 2019 to May, 2023. All nursing students who fulfilled the study’s inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the optional survey. The exclusion criteria were on leave from school, or diagnosed with a significant mental illness or psychiatric disorder. Nevertheless, simulation-based education improves nursing students’ problem-solving, clinical judgment, and communication skills [5, 6] and develops the teamwork necessary for clinical nurses [7], leading to its increasing use in nursing education.

Are cross-sectional studies qualitative or quantitative?

The data was analyzed for antibiotic use, characterization of pathogens and their susceptibility patterns using Microsoft excel and STATA-14 software. Therefore, to maximize the effectiveness of simulation-based education, instructors should develop strategies to increase flow in simulation situations to elicit learners’ flow experiences [15, 20]. In recent years, many studies on simulation education in Korea have identified learning outcomes and defining factors after training [5,6,7, 9, 12, 20]. However, there is a lack of research on the role of flow in learning design and simulation educational satisfaction. A cohort study is a type of longitudinal study that samples a group of people with a common characteristic.

cross section design

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Cross-sectional studies can also be susceptible to confounding, where an external variable influences both the independent and dependent variables, creating a spurious association. Without longitudinal data, it is difficult to control for or identify these confounding factors, which can lead to erroneous conclusions. Researchers must carefully consider potential confounders and employ statistical methods to adjust for these variables where possible. Cross-sectional studies are inherently timely, providing quick snapshots that are especially valuable in fast-paced research areas where timely data is crucial. They allow researchers to collect and analyze data relatively quickly, offering insights that are current and relevant. This timeliness is particularly beneficial for informing immediate policy decisions or for studies in fields where trends may change rapidly, such as technology or public health.

Cross-sectional study

One of the inherent limitations of cross-sectional studies is their inability to establish causality. Since data is collected at a single point in time, it is challenging to ascertain whether a relationship between two variables is causal or merely correlational. This limitation necessitates cautious interpretation of results, as establishing temporal precedence is essential for causal inference, which cross-sectional designs cannot provide.

Cross-sectional studies takes place at a single point in time

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Unlike other types of observational studies, cross-sectional studies do not follow individuals up over time. They are useful for establishing preliminary evidence in planning a future advanced study. This article reviews the essential characteristics, describes strengths and weaknesses, discusses methodological issues, and gives our recommendations on design and statistical analysis for cross-sectional studies in pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Prevalence Odds Ratio/Odds Ratio

Government policy supporting rotation of certain broad-spectrum antibiotics could help to safeguard and maintain the sensitivity profile for a longer user [30]. The data collected through the survey was anonymized with a unique identification code and deleted immediately after saving the research data. Stored research data was encrypted and would be permanently deleted three years after the completion of the study. Participants’ mobile phone numbers that were collected to provide rewards were permanently deleted immediately after the rewards were sent. The recruitment document and study description were delivered through the fourth-year class representative. Cross-sectional studies don’t need a control group as the selected population is not based on exposure.

However, the combination of the PPS findings, the patents antibiotic history as well as laboratory AMR data improved the validity and reliability of the study outcomes. The results of assessing the mediating effect of flow on the relationship between simulation design and simulation educational satisfaction of the participants were as follows (Table 4; Fig. 1). As a result of checking for multicollinearity among the independent variables to verify the assumptions for the regression analysis, the tolerance was 0.70, and the variance expansion factor was 1.43, indicating no multicollinearity. As a result of checking the autocorrelation of the dependent variable, the Durbin-Watson value was 2.06, which was close to 2, indicating that they were independent of each other. Cross-sectional studies are observational studies that analyze data from a population at a single point in time. They are often used to measure the prevalence of health outcomes, understand determinants of health, and describe features of a population.

Limitations of cross-sectional studies include the inability to make causal inferences, study rare illnesses, and access incidence. Once the researcher has selected the ideal study period and participant group, the study usually takes place as a survey or physical experiment. We’ll explore examples, types, advantages, and limitations of cross-sectional studies, plus when you might use them. Whether you’re building a marketing strategy or performing a cutting-edge medical study, you can get started by creating an intuitive survey from QuestionPro. Please choose from one of our 350+ survey templates, or build your own and leverage our reporting tools to discover deep insights to apply to your best work. You can also use this type of research to map prevailing variables that exist at a particular given point—for example, cross-sectional data on past drinking habits and a current diagnosis of liver failure.

Data with missing values for age, sample type or results for culture tests were excluded. The second set of records were files for hospitalized patients reviewed during PPS as described in the subsequent paragraphs. With an inappropriate response rate of approximately 10%, 152 participants were selected for the study. A total of 152 people responded, and 143 were selected for the final analysis after excluding nine people who gave biased responses.

Are you considering whether a cross-sectional study is an ideal approach for your next research? Participants in longitudinal studies have to commit for an extended period, which significantly increases costs. Although longitudinal and cross-sectional studies are both observational, they are relatively different types of research design. Cross-sectional studies typically allow researchers to collect a great deal of information quickly. Researchers are then able to amass large amounts of information from a large pool of participants.

This can happen due to non-random sampling methods or non-response, leading to skewed results that do not accurately reflect the broader population. Such bias can compromise the generalizability of the study's findings, making it critical to employ rigorous sampling methods and consider potential biases during analysis. The versatility of cross-sectional studies is evident in their wide applicability across various fields and purposes. They can be designed to explore numerous variables and their interrelations within different populations and settings. This flexibility enables researchers to tailor studies to specific research questions, making cross-sectional studies a versatile tool for exploratory research, hypothesis generation, or situational analysis across disciplines. Descriptive cross-sectional studies aim to provide a detailed snapshot of a population or phenomenon at a particular point in time.

Cross-sectional studies are not designed to follow individuals forward in time (prospective) or look back at historical data (retrospective), as they analyze data from a specific point in time. In these studies, researchers study one group of people who have developed a particular condition and compare them to a sample without the disease. Longitudinal studies require more time and resources and can be less valid as participants might quit the study before the data has been fully collected. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are observational and do not require any interference or manipulation of the study environment. Cross-sectional studies can be categorized based on the nature of the data collection and the type of data being sought.

For the largest five Asian ethnic subgroups, Filipinos had the largest percentage of excluded adults, with 6.8%, while Indians had the lowest with 4.2% of the adults. This stratification and the assignment of differential sampling rates to the strata were critical design components because of the rareness of the Asian American adult population. Would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their contributions towards this article. Prof Adamson Muula from KUHeS for supporting the Abstract and Manuscript writing; many thanks to the all members of the Rumphi hospital antimicrobial stewardship committee for their support in terms of data collection for PPS.

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