Reference no: EM133536465

Imagine that you have been approached by a team of medical health officers who are concerned about the growing number of cases of emphysema being diagnosed in young adults (20-39 years of age) in Revelstoke (in the eastern or interior region of BC). Emphysema is a chronic lung disease that causes shortness of breath. The medical health officers know that some regions of BC, including the region around Revelstoke, have higher levels of radon, owing to geological factors.They have compiled estimates of median household radon emissions by region of BC and compared them to emergency department visits related to emphysema, also counted by region. In other words, the health officers have made an ecological observation: some regions of BC (near Revelstoke) have higher incidence of emphysema and higher levels of radon exposure (vs. other regions like those of the Lower Mainland). The health officers would like you to design two different epidemiological studies to answer the research question: is childhood radon exposure associated with emphysema among young adults (20-39 years old)?

(Study designs: ecological, cross-sectional, case-control, retrospective cohort, prospective cohort, randomized controlled trial)

1. What are some of the limitations of using the ecological data described above to answer the research question? Please provide rationale for your selected limitations.

2. Design a study that will overcome some of these limitations. Name the study design and describe what methods you will use to address at least one limitation named in your answer to Q1.

3. Design another study, using a different design from the one you used for Q2. Name the study design and describe what methods you will use to address at least one limitation of either the ecological study or the study you designed in Q2.