Cross -sectional studies

Comparative
study

Exposure and Groups defined

outcome Groups defined by exposure
measured by outcome
at the same time

Cross-sectional Case-control Cohort study

study study
 Cross -sectional studies

A cross-sectional study is a
form of observational study that
involves collecting data from a
target population at a single
point in time.
 Cross -sectional studies

What is
happening
right now?
 Cross -sectional studies

This methodology is
particularly useful for
assessing the true burden
of a disease or the health
needs of a population.
 Cross -sectional studies

Cross-sectional studies are

therefore useful for planning
the provision and allocation
of health resources.
 Cross -sectional studies

Most government surveys

conducted by the National
Centre for Health Statistics
are cross-sectional studies
Cross -sectional studies

Data collection methods

Questionnaires

Medical
examinations

Interviews
 Cross -sectional studies
Cross-sectional studies are good at discovering
people with clinical iceberg :-

A symptomatic disease who have not

previously sought any medical advice.

asymptomatic (e.g. asymptomatic HIV

infection)
 Cross -sectional studies

Descriptive Analytical
cross-sectional cross-sectional
studies studies
 Descriptive cross-sectional studies

Descriptive cross-sectional
studies are used to measure the
prevalence and distribution of
a disease in a defined
population.
 Descriptive cross-sectional studies

For example, a random sample of

medical schools across Sana’a
were selected to measure the
prevalence or of depression
amongst medical students
 Analytical cross-sectional studies

Analytical cross-sectional studies are

used to investigate the
interrelationship between any
variables of interest.
Analytical cross-sectional studies

Now
 Analytical cross-sectional studies
Smokers

Lung cancer

No smokers
Cancer center
Smokers
No Lung cancer
No smokers
Now
Advantages cross-sectional studies
 Exercise

A hypothesis said that repeated

hemodialysis may lead to acquired
occult hepatitis B virus. Researchers
measured HBV DNA in 100 patients and
all patients were asked about the
number of hemodialysis through
predesigned questionnaire.