Journal article
Observational Study Design in Veterinary Pathology, Part 1: Study Design
Veterinary pathology, Vol.55(5), pp.607-621
09/2018
DOI: 10.1177/0300985818785705
PMID: 30071806
Abstract
Observational studies are the basis for much of our knowledge of veterinary pathology and are highly relevant to the daily practice of pathology. However, recommendations for conducting pathology-based observational studies are not readily available. In part 1 of this series, we offer advice on planning and conducting an observational study with examples from the veterinary pathology literature. Investigators should recognize the importance of creativity, insight, and innovation in devising studies that solve problems and fill important gaps in knowledge. Studies should focus on specific and testable hypotheses, questions, or objectives. The methodology is developed to support these goals. We consider the merits and limitations of different types of analytic and descriptive studies, as well as of prospective vs retrospective enrollment. Investigators should define clear inclusion and exclusion criteria and select adequate numbers of study subjects, including careful selection of the most appropriate controls. Studies of causality must consider the temporal relationships between variables and the advantages of measuring incident cases rather than prevalent cases. Investigators must consider unique aspects of studies based on archived laboratory case material and take particular care to consider and mitigate the potential for selection bias and information bias. We close by discussing approaches to adding value and impact to observational studies. Part 2 of the series focuses on methodology and validation of methods.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Observational Study Design in Veterinary Pathology, Part 1: Study Design
- Creators
- Jeff L Caswell - 1 Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaLaura L Bassel - 1 Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaJamie L Rothenburger - 2 Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaAndrea Gröne - 3 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsJan M Sargeant - 4 Department of Population Medicine and Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaAmanda P Beck - 5 Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USAStina Ekman - 6 Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SwedenKatherine N Gibson-Corley - 7 Department of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAThijs Kuiken - 8 Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsElise E B LaDouceur - 9 Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD, USADavid K Meyerholz - 10 University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USAFrancesco C Origgi - 11 Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandHorst Posthaus - 12 Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandSimon L Priestnall - 13 Deparment Pathobiology & Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United KingdomLorenzo Ressel - 14 Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United KingdomLeslie Sharkey - 15 Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, N. Grafton, MA, USALeandro B C Teixeira - 16 Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USAKazuyuki Uchida - 17 Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanJerrold M Ward - 18 GlobalVetPathology, Montgomery Village, MD, USAJoshua D Webster - 19 Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USAJyoji Yamate - 20 Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano City, Osaka, Japan
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Veterinary pathology, Vol.55(5), pp.607-621
- DOI
- 10.1177/0300985818785705
- PMID
- 30071806
- ISSN
- 0300-9858
- eISSN
- 1544-2217
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/501100000038, name: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, award: RGPIN-2017-03872
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2018
- Academic Unit
- Pathology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984083277202771
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