Nightingale- Final part of Epidemiology Paper

Milestone 3 Study Designs

Diana Berrios

IHP-330

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Study Design

Cross-sectional Study Design

The researcher will utilize a cross-sectional study design, which is a research method

whereby data about a variable of interest are collected on once in a given period of time or over a

short period of time. The researcher selected this study design because it provides a snapshot of

the prevalence and frequency of human papilloma virus if the throat (disease) and the different

health related factors for the population under study at a specific time. In addition, this design will

assist in assessing the burden of disease in the target population. An appropriate study design

ensures that the research will be conducted in a systematic manner that will ensure the validity and

reliability of the study findings (Woodward, 2013).

The study design will be used to identify the patterns of HPV of the throat including the

specific factors predisposing the target population including those people living with HIV&AIDS.

The design will help in the collection of quantitative data about specific factors contributing to

the HPV of the throat and in regard to the factors under investigation. Cross-sectional studies have

several advantages which include they are relatively quick and simple to conduct since it does not

require a longer period of follow-up. In addition it allows the study of multiple outcomes and

exposure.

Despite the strengths, the cross-sectional design has some limitations. First it is very hard

to find out if the outcome was preceded by an exposure in time or whether an exposure to the

factors under study resulted from the outcome. This study design is also not suitable for researching

of

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a rare condition or disease especially within a short period of time. In addition, it is very difficult

to interpret the identified associations during in the study (Woodward, 2013).

Measures of association refer to several coefficients, which measure the statistical strength

of the relationship between the variables under study. There are several measures of association

but each measure is suitable for a specific study design. In this study, the researcher will utilize

prevalence odds ratio (POR) which is measured in the same way as the odds ratio (OR). POR

refers to a measure of association between two variables under study, which is mostly used in

cross-sectional studies (Woodward, 2013). This measure of association is appropriate cross-

sectional studies because it is preferred for the study of chronic diseases or risk factors that occur

over a long period.

Interventions to prevent HPV of the throat

Health promotion strategies need to be put in place to address this growing public health

issues through primary, secondary and tertiary interventions. Oral HPV is a preventable condition

and if sensitization is conducted on the prevention, we will reduce the prevalence and eventually

eliminate new cases of the infection. The Center for Disease Control and prevention recommends

that all individuals should get three shots of HPV vaccine over a period of six months. For this

vaccine to be effective, it is very essential to receive the three shots although it does not protect

one against oropharyngeal cancers associated with HPV but it is the be a way to prevent HPV

(Herrero et al., 2013). Other prevention measures include limiting the number of sexual partners

that a person has since multiple sexual partners is a risk factor to HPV. Abstain from oral sex in

case you are not familiar with the oral sex partner and if you have to engage in oral sex make sure

you utilize dental dams or condoms. Additionally, it is important to ask the sexual partner whether

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thy have recently get tested for sexually transmitted diseases and remember always to use a

condom every time you engage in sexual intercourse (Kreimer, Bhatia, Messeguer, González,

Herrero & Giuliano, 2010). During the six-month dental checkups, always ask the dentist to look

for anything abnormal in the oral cavity and always do a self-examination to palpate for anything

abnormal in the mouth. Regular screening is also vital to ensure early diagnosis and timely

treatment of HPV of the throat and other oropharyngeal cancers (Harper, 2012).

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References

Harper, D. M. (2012). Prevention of HPV-Associated Diseases in the United States. HPV and

Cervical Cancer, 211-255. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-1988-4_9

Herrero, R., Quint, W., Hildesheim, A., Gonzalez, P., Struijk, L., Katki, H. A., ... & Jimenez, S.

(2013). Reduced prevalence of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) 4 years after bivalent

HPV vaccination in a randomized clinical trial in Costa Rica. PloS one, 8(7), e68329.

Kreimer, A. R., Bhatia, R. K., Messeguer, A. L., González, P., Herrero, R., & Giuliano, A. R.

(2010). Oral human papillomavirus in healthy individuals: a systematic review of the

literature. Sexually transmitted diseases, 37(6), 386-391.

Woodward, M. (2013). Epidemiology: study design and data analysis. CRC press.