In: Nursing
Choose the study design that best fits the following description: A study was conducted to determine if the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss was greater in registered dental hygienists who used ultrasonic scaling devices for cumulative periods of time longer than two hours per day as compared to registered dental hygienists who used these devices for less than two hours daily or not at all. Annual amount of time using the scaling devices was ascertained at the start of the study. All of the participants were then contacted every year for a hearing exam.
a) Ecologic Study
b) Randomized Clinical Trial
) Prospective Cohort Study
d) Retrospective Cohort Study
e) Case Control Study
f) Cross Sectional Study
Answer
Cross-sectional study will suit for determining incidence of Noise induced hearing loss in registered dental hygienists.
Cross-sectional study design is a type of observational study design.In a cross sectional study,the investigator measures the outcome and the exposures in the study participants at the same time.For example a cross sectional study might be used to determine if exposure to specific risk factors might correlate with particular outcome.
The defining feature of a cross-sectional study is that it can compare different population groups at a single point in time.Think of it in terms of taking a snapshot.Finding are drawn from whatever fits into the frame.