Final Paper

This Final Paper involves the critical review and analysis of a published epidemiological research study, using the epidemiological concepts covered in Modules 1-6.

You do not choose your own study; your Instructor will provide the research study to review and analyze. The audience for this 5-8-page scholarly paper is other epidemiological researchers.

The Final Paper must include, but is not limited to, the following:

Part I. Study Summary (2-3 pages)

(Note: this summary must be in your own words)

• The study objective/research question

• Primary exposure(s) and outcome(s) of interest

• Identification of study design

• Description of study population and the sampling/selection process

• Description of the statistical analysis used and the primary measures of association reported

• Identification of potential confounders (if any) and the technique used to minimize them or analyze their effects

• Identification of potential effect modifiers (if any) and the technique used to analyze their effects

• Summary of major study results

Part II. Critical Analysis (3-5 pages)

• Discussion of random error and how it might have affected the results

• Explanation of possible selection bias and how it might have affected the results, including a discussion of the size and direction of any possible bias

• Explanation of possible misclassification (information) bias and how it might have affected the results, including a discussion of the size and direction of any possible bias

• Evaluation of the other limitations of the study

• Critique of the discussion section of the paper and whether it adequately addresses the strengths and limitations of the study

• Description of the potential generalizability of the study results

• Critique of the authors' conclusions and whether or not they are appropriate given the study findings

• Descriptions of future studies that would be appropriate given the study findings.

Article : Factors Associated with Early Mortality Among Patients with De Novo Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Study.