Clinical Epidemiology: Practice and Methods (Methods in Molecular Biology, 2249)

This third edition volume expands on the previous editions with updated chapters on longitudinal studies, randomized trials, evidence-based decisions making, and a new section on changing health-related behaviors. The chapters in this book are organized into six parts: Part One focuses on framing clinical research questions and choosing a suitable design; biases that may occur in clinical research; and the ethics associated with doing conducting research on humans. Parts Two through Four discuss designs, measurements, and analysis that pertain to evaluation of risk in longitudinal studies; assessment of therapy in controlled trials; and evaluation of diagnostic tests. Part Five presents methods used in various components of evidence-based decision-making; and Part Six highlights interventions focused on changing health-related behaviors. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of various types of bias, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols for different research designs, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.