Step 1:  A not-for-profit organization called Epidemiologists Without Borders has reached out to student researchers studying epidemiology at NextGenU.Org. The organization has asked for support in the design of three research projects they plan to carry-out in several of the communities where they currently work. Read these three case studies summarized below.

NOTE: You may substitute one of the case-studies outlined below for a case study that is relevant to your own community. If you choose to do so, generate a case-study regarding a public health problem that is relevant and requires epidemiological research (or ask your mentor to generate one for you). Include the case study when you submit your assignment.

Case study 1:

Vaginal cancer is a rare disease that can often be cured when detected in its early stages. Vaginal cancer occurs more often in women over the age of 50, but can occur at any age. There are usually no symptoms for vaginal cancer. Epidemiologists Without Borders has been awarded a large grant to study the relationship between vaginal cancer and prior exposures to any risk factor among women in a South African city.  

Case study 2:

Epidemiologists Without Borders has learned that a large group of employees who have worked in a specific building (building A) of a very large corporation for more than 25 years appear to have high cancer incidence rates. The corporation has a total of 3 office buildings (buildings A, B, and C). Epidemiologists Without Borders would like to conduct research to determine if the rates of cancer incidence among those workers from building A are in fact higher than expected.

Case study 3:

Epidemiologists Without Borders supports the rights to life, health, and dignity for people who use illicit drugs. The organization is concerned about the high rates of HIV infection it has observed in one particular community and suspects that there are many risk factors possibly contributing to this high HIV risk. Currently, the data in this community with respect to the exact HIV incidence rate among injection drug users is of poor quality, but estimates indicate that the prevalence is as high as 10-20%. Access to HIV testing is also low in this population. Additional challenges include limited resources, and the difficulty in recruiting people for testing due to their high mobility and hidden social networks. 

Epidemiologists without Borders would like to identify potential risk factors for contracting HIV among injection drug users in this community so that it can develop appropriate interventions.

Step 2: Select the most appropriate study design for each of the three case-studies proposed by Epidemiologists Without Borders (or for the one relevant in your community) based on what you have learned in your NextGenU Epidemiology course thus far.

Step 3: Write a letter responding to Epidemiologists Without Borders outlining the study designs that you recommend. Justify why the study designs you selected are appropriate for each of the three case-studies. Your response must also outline at least one benefit and one limitation for each of the study designs you have recommended for each case-study. Your letter to Epidemiologist Without Borders should be clear and concise and contain no more than 850 words.  

Step 4: Review your work by asking yourself the questions listed below and then revise your document accordingly before final submission to ensure you capture the self-evaluation questions:

1. Have I selected suitable study designs for each of the three case studies and provided justifications for these choices?
2. Have I included at least one benefit and one limitation for each of the study designs selected?
3. Does my assignment comply with the word count requirement, not exceeding 850 words?

Utilize these points to ensure that your assignment is methodically reflective of the task requirements. Adjust and improve your document as needed. When you are satisfied that your work effectively meets each of the criteria, submit the final version to the appropriate area of the course system for evaluation.

Step 5: Submit your assignment by clicking “add a new discussion topic” below and completing the fields.

OPTIONAL Step 6: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”

Randomized control studies are often called ‘the gold standard’ in health research. Do agree with this statement, and why or why not?