Question

Cross-sectional studies provide important information related to health and behavioral aspects of people of a country, state, county, or community. In your opinion, can cross-sectional studies be used for making health policy decisions and allocating resources based on the results of the study? Why or why not? Do some research online for an example where cross-sectional study has been useful in understanding the health or economic impact of a disease or a risk factor in a community?

Answer 1

ANS .1 CROSS SECTIONAL STUDIES

it is a study that observes and analyse data from a population at a specific point of time , also called as cross sectional analysis, transverse study .

In medical Research it can be helpful in decision making as there main aim is to provide data on entire population under study. it is a descriptive study which can be used to describe some features of population such as prevalence of an illness.

- these are used to access the burden of disease or Health need of population and help in allocating resources accordingly.

-It is often used to assess the prevalence of acute or chronic condition, it has more advantages then other form of study , as in this a specific group is analysed to see if an activity is related to Health and it's effect is also being investigated like effect of alcohol on liver .

- it is easy to conduct and relatively help in quick decision making as it provide flexibility to look at one independent variable as the focus of study

- it also measure prevalence of all factors under investigation , multiple outcomes and it's exposure can be studied and allocate resources accordingly.

ANS 2 Example

Cross sectional study has been useful in understanding Health as it generally investigate Research between two parameters and access how frequently the variable effect the specific demographic population.

For example it is used to look at the prevalence of cancer among different population, for this Researchers in America evaluate people of different ages , ethnicities, geographical location and social background. Like if the number of women of particular age group are more prone to disease like cancer , then the researchers can conduct further study to know the  reasons for it and make decisions regarding this study , as well as Improve the quality of health care facilities for prevention of such disease, . They can also analyze the Economic impact of such condition like increase in medical spending on health care, increase in admission in hospital, increase in demand of medication to cure such disease.