Research Methods in Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship-Quasi-Experimental Designs.
Quasi-experimental studies evaluate the association between an intervention and an outcome using experiments in which the intervention is not randomly assigned. Quasi-experimental studies are often used to evaluate rapid responses to outbreaks or other patient safety problems requiring prompt, nonrandomized interventions. Quasi-experimental studies can be categorized into 3 major types: interrupted time-series designs, designs with control groups, and designs without control groups. This methods paper highlights key considerations for quasi-experimental studies in healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship, including study design and analytic approaches to avoid selection bias and other common pitfalls of quasi-experimental studies. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1-6.
1Department of Internal Medicine,Carver College of Medicine,University of Iowa,Iowa City,Iowa.
Marin L
ML
Schweizer
3Department of Health Services Research,The Joint Commission,Oakbrook Terrace,Illinois.
Barbara I
BI
Braun
4Department of Pediatrics,Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
Aaron M
AM
Milstone
D000073602:Antimicrobial Stewardship; D015982:Bias; D035061:Control Groups; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D065186:Interrupted Time Series Analysis; D012107:Research Design