title: [Types of studies published in the journal Atencion Primaria between 1984-1990].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and the main methodological characteristics of the epidemiological designs used in the research studies published in the journal Atencion Primaria between 1984 and 1990.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included are all the articles presenting data produced by the authors themselves in the context of a research study and published in the sections of original articles, special contributions or clinical notes in the issues of the journal Atencion Primaria between 1984 and 1990.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A data-gathering questionnaire was used, whose concordance was previously assessed blindly by two observers. There were 324 articles included. Of these, 93% were descriptive studies, out of which 27% were prevalence studies. Of these prevalence studies, 15.7% were conducted among the population as a whole. A questionnaire, which had been previously validated in 47.7% of cases, was used in 13.5% of the studies. Experimental research accounted for 21 studies (6.5%), of which 85% had an explicit control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a small proportion are analytical studies. The majority of descriptive studies are carried out among the population attending for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Barcelona.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiménez Villa
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carré Llopis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Argimon Pallás
mesh_terms: D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
vernacular_title: Tipos de estudio publicados en la revista Ateención primaria (1984-1990).