Research Methods in Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship-Quasi-Experimental Designs

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2016 Oct;37(10):1135-40. doi: 10.1017/ice.2016.117. Epub 2016 Jun 7.

Abstract

Quasi-experimental studies evaluate the association between an intervention and an outcome using experiments in which the intervention is not randomly assigned. Quasi-experimental studies are often used to evaluate rapid responses to outbreaks or other patient safety problems requiring prompt, nonrandomized interventions. Quasi-experimental studies can be categorized into 3 major types: interrupted time-series designs, designs with control groups, and designs without control groups. This methods paper highlights key considerations for quasi-experimental studies in healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship, including study design and analytic approaches to avoid selection bias and other common pitfalls of quasi-experimental studies. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1-6.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antimicrobial Stewardship*
  • Bias
  • Control Groups
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Epidemiologic Studies*
  • Humans
  • Interrupted Time Series Analysis
  • Research Design*