Cohort studies observe a group of people over time to compare outcomes with different treatments and interventions. They provide valuable observational data, but are expensive and time-consuming. Researchers use them when ethical issues prevent experimentation. A control group is established for comparison. Results can be published in specialized journals.
A cohort study is a study of a group of people over time to see how outcomes differ when people are given different treatments and interventions. The study may also involve the following groups of people who are similar except in one lifestyle factor, such as occupation or personal habits such as smoking. These studies are expensive to administer and can take years to complete, but they provide very valuable observational data.
There are a number of reasons researchers may choose to use a cohort study. Unlike case studies, where people follow up on fact by reading medical patient records, cohort studies provide the opportunity to capture data over time, select specific data points of interest, and interact with subjects in real time. Observational studies such as cohort studies and case studies are used when there are ethical issues with experimentation, such as in cancer treatments where it is not considered reasonable to offer treatment to some people while giving nothing to a control group .
To recruit people for a cohort study, researchers identify a topic of interest and track the study so they can approach subjects with information about what to expect. People may be compensated for their participation in the study and generally receive free medical care when they need to see a doctor to provide data for the study. The length of a cohort study is a concern, as partial neglect of cohort members would skew the data, and individuals are encouraged to think carefully before consenting to involvement in the study.
In addition to a cohort selected on the basis of similar characteristics, such as people with similar cancer types receiving the same treatment, a control group will also be established. This control group contains people who are more or less identical except for one key factor. For example, people studying the use of gamma knife surgery for brain cancer could run a cohort study of patients who received this surgery and compare those patients to people who received more conventional treatments, to see which treatment offers the best outcome for the patient.
These studies usually create a mass of data that can be applied in various ways. Researchers involved in a cohort study may involve other researchers if they discover interesting information in the process of the study. The results can be published over time in specialized journals, as well as being summarized at the end of the study.
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