HEALTHCARE

discussion board due thursday 250 - 300 words

Ideally, the variables present in an experimental study can be controlled. There are also many other issues to consider when designing an experimental study.

In this Discussion, you will propose a design for an experimental study and identify some of the issues that could arise as a result of the design. You will then be asked how you would mitigate, or minimize, those issues.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Refer to the public health problem you selected last week. Or, choose another public health problem that interests you.
• Determine a research question for the study.
• Based on the research question, consider how you would design an experimental study.

Post a comprehensive response that proposes an experimental study design for your chosen topic. Your contribution should take into account at least two of the following factors:

• Informed consent
• Special populations
• Blinding
• Incentives for volunteers
• Closing a study early

Your post should also answer the following questions.

• What is the research question for your study?
• What exposure and outcome variables will you measure?
• Who will be the participants?
• How is the method for this week's study different from the method for last week's study?

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resources

Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
Chapter 8, "Experimental Study Designs"The authors continue the discussion about epidemiological studies by explaining the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of experimental study designs.

NPR (2002). Remembering tuskegee. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1147234

This resource describes the atrocities that characterized the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. It was a defining study in history that highlighted ethical issues concerning the treatment of human subjects during the conduct of experimental trials. Numerous government regulations and ethical considerations intended to protect human subjects have been developed in part as a consequence of this study. 

Alexander, L., Lopes, B., Ricchetti-Masterson, K., & Yeatts, K. (2014). Randomized controlled trials (experimental studies), 2nd ed. ERIC Notebook,10. UNC CH Department of Epidemiology. Retrieved from https://sph.unc.edu/files/2015/07/nciph_ERIC10.pdf

This newsletter succinctly summarizes the concept of randomized experimental trials.

Optional Resources

The CDC, U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegee
http://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/index.html