Descriptive study includes
activities relates to characterizing the distribution of disease within a
population. Descriptive studies can yield valuable information about a
population's health status, and they can be used to measure risks and generate hypotheses. It is also useful in health service evaluation and can be used periodically to determine whether a particular service is improving
The type of descriptive study
- Case reports
- Case series
- Cross sectional studies
- Ecologic studies
Case reports and series
Case report: describes an observation in a single patient.
ª “I had a patient with a cold who drank lots of orange juice and
got better. Therefore, orange juice may
cure colds.”
Case series: same thing as a case report, only with more
people in it.
ª “I had 10 patients with a cold who drank orange juice….”
Cross sectional studies
A cross-sectional study is a descriptive study in which
disease and exposure status are measured simultaneously in a given population. Also
called a “survey” or “prevalence” study Cross-sectional studies can be
thought of as providing a "snapshot" of the frequency and
characteristics of a disease in a population at a particular point in time. This
type of data can be used to assess the prevalence of acute or chronic
conditions in a population.
Research aim of prevalence survey
- To describe distribution of disease
- To discovery clue of pathogenesis
- Be used in secondary prevention
- To evaluate prevention and cure effect
- Surveillance of disease
- Health demand, health project and health policy decision
Describe the distribution of disease or health status by
person, place and time, then analyze that which factors are relate to the
disease or health status.
Secondary prevention seeks to minimize adverse outcomes of
disease through early detection, even before symptoms develop and care is
sought. Mammography for early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women
is an example.
An occupational physician planning a coronary prevention
program might wish to know the prevalence of different risk factors in the
workforce under his care so that he could tailor his intervention accordingly.