– This is a case study/critical analysis of an epidemiological issue for a doctoral-level nursing class.
1. Select a health care problem/issue from a population perspective; it may be of international importance.
2. Identify an epidemiological study related to that health care issue chosen from one current professional literature source (MMWR, American Journal of Public Health, Community Health Nursing, or other peer-reviewed journal, etc.).
3. Critically review the selected study and assess for evidence of the essential elements of an epidemiological study.
– The entire review should be completed directly on the matrix grid/rubric
– There is no length requirement. The only requirement is that it should be no longer than 5 pages total.
– The entire article should be attached to the document as well
– THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS COPIED AND PASTED FROM THE GUIDELINES PAGE
1. Definition: What is the health problem described in the study? How is the problem defined? What is the population at risk?
2. What is the case definition of the problem? This is regarded as a set of standard criteria for deciding whether persons have a particular disease or health-related condition. Were definitions clear as to what constituted a “case” of the disease or health problem under study? Explain.
3. What is the distribution of the condition/problem in a given population? Describe the context and scope of the health problem in terms of supporting descriptive and epidemiological data.
4. How sufficient is the information provided regarding the PERSON, PLACE, AND TIME factors associated with the occurrence of the health problem? Provide examples of such information.
5. Was there an assessment for relationships that exist between agent, host, and environment? Provide a description of this.
6. Identify the type of study design used (i.e. descriptive, retrospective, case-control, cohort, etc.). Explain if it is clearly described and justified.
7. What methods or instruments, or screening devices were used to collect
information/data? What evidence was provided to assure their quality (i.e. reliability,
validity, appropriateness, etc.)?
8. Compare initial assumptions (hypotheses) with actual findings. Were they congruent or not? Please explain.
9. What were the final conclusions and/or recommendations, especially prevention and control measures? How well does the author relate them to the promotion of public health and policy development?
10. Project implications of the findings of this epidemiological study for advanced practice nurses providing population-based care or for nurse educators or nurse executives, include any recommendations you believe would be important additions for nurses.