In: Nursing
Process for determining causality (sample size, bias, confounders)? Methods for controlling confounders (and when to use them)?
PROCESS OF DETERMINING CASUALTY:-
(A) Sample size:- this is calculated based on Z-score.
This is a constant value needed for this equation.
Sample size= (Z-score)^2 * StdDev*(1-StdDev) / (margin of
error)^2
(B) Bias:- it is a systematic error in the design or data
collection that results in a mistaken estimation of the true effect
of the exposure and the outcome.
E.g. -selection bias
- information bias
(C) Confounding:- it is a situation in which association between
an exposure and outcome is impaired by the presence of another
variable.
This variable called confounder.
A confounder fulfill below conditions:-
-It is a risk factor for
the disease
-It is not in the causal
pathway between exposure and disease.
-Confounding masks the
true effect of a risk factor on a disease due to the presence of
another variable.
METHODS OF CONTROLLING CONFOUNDERS:-
-Restriction
-Stratification
-Matching
-Regression
-Randomization