Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 1-4, March 2003

Observational studies and evidence-based practice: Can't live with them, can't live without them☆

UCLA School of Dentistry, Division of Public Health Dentistry and the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center, RAND and the Southern California University of Health Sciences

Abstract 

Role in Health Care Stroup et al1 define an observational study as “an etiologic or effectiveness study using data from an existing database, a cross-sectional study, a case series, a case-control design, a design with historical controls, or a cohort design.” Generally, there are several major problems with the use of observational studies in systematic reviews of evidence for a treatment procedure. The first is that since all observational studies lack randomization, true assessment of efficacy is not possible. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine what biases may have influenced the results, both from the provider and the patient. Analytically, results from observational studies either cannot be pooled for a meta-analyses or can be done so only with caution.

J Evid Base Dent Pract 2003;3:1-4

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 20.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

☆ 1532-3382/2003/$30.00 + 0

PII: S1532-3382(03)80092-1

doi:10.1067/med.2003.1

Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 1-4, March 2003

Article Tools