Variables
If the subjects in a study are all aged 50, then age is a constant in the study. If their ages range from 20 to 70, then age is a variable. A confounding variable is any variable which is associated with both the disease and the risk factor being studied (for example, smoking in the case of cooks and lung cancer). If such variables exist there is no way for the researcher to know whether the difference in the risk factor or the confounding variable is the one that is truly causing the disease.
trial (перен.) –эксперимент
bias – отклонение, пристрастие, предубеждение
confounding – смешанный
cohort – когорта – группа людей, являющаяся объектом эпидемиологического исследования
Exercises:
1. Complete the table.
Noun |
Verb |
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bias |
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control |
exposure |
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(person) |
participate |
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intervene |
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study |
2. Complete the sentences.
1. People who are not receiving the experimental treatment, but who are otherwise the same as those receiving it are ……………
2. A trial in which neither the subjects nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment is a ……………-…………… trial.
3. A study that follows the participants over many years is a …………… study.
4. A …………… is a group of people with similar characteristics.
5. Allocation to groups is …………… if all participants have equal chance of being in either group.
6. A harmless substance given to some participants to test the effect of a trial substance is a ……………
7. Something that might be a part of the cause of a disease is a ………… factor.
8. Something that might cause confusion about the cause of a disease is a ……………. variable.
Unit 22 Case History and Case Presentation
Lesson 1
A full case history
A full case history covers:
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Personal details
Normally, patients' personal details have been entered in their records by a nurse before a doctor sees them. However, on later consultations a doctor may wish to check details such as address, date of birth, occupation or marital status.
To find out or to check a patient's occupation, doctors ask:
P
atients
may
respond:
T
o
find out or to check a patient's marital status, doctors ask:
Patients may respond:
Talking about pain
Case notes are kept for each consultation. The Presenting Complaint section of case notes records the patient's symptoms. For example:
R. sided temporal headache, severe, throbbing. Lasts 24-48 hrs.
In this case, the patient complains of a headache. For a list of the questions the doctor asks the patient, and for patients' descriptions of other kinds of pain, see Appendix IV.