Observational research in epidemic settings: a roadmap to reform.

Journal: BMJ global health

Volume: 10

Issue: 2

Year of Publication: 2025

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA emily.ricotta@usuhs.edu. Epidemiology and Data Management Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Division of Intramural Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Department of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. Department of Philosophy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. Center for Global Health Science & Security, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Office of Strategic Initiatives, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Division of Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. CDISC, Austin, Texas, USA. Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA. Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Quantitative Sciences Unit, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA. Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Department of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Bureau of Immunization, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, New York, USA. Global Center for Health Security, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract summary 

Observational studies are critical tools in clinical research and public health response, but challenges arise in ensuring the data produced by these studies are scientifically robust and socially valuable. Resolving these challenges requires careful attention to prioritising the most valuable research questions, ensuring robust study design, strong data management practices, expansive community engagement, and access and benefit sharing of results and research materials. This paper opens with a discussion of how well-designed observational studies contribute to biomedical evidence and provides examples from across the clinical literature of how these methods generate hypotheses for future research and uncover otherwise unattainable insights by providing examples from across the clinical literature. Then, we present obstacles that remain in ensuring observational studies are optimally designed, conducted and communicated.

Authors & Co-authors:  Ricotta Emily E EE Bustos Carrillo Fausto A FA Angelli-Nichols Samuel S Barugahare John J Benton Adia A Carlson Colin J CJ Chang-Rabley Emma E Dean Natalie E NE Duda Stephany N SN Federer Lisa L Fill Mary-Margaret A MA LeRoy Elizabeth C EC Linton Natalie M NM Lipsitch Marc M Mathur Maya B MB Phelan Alexandra L AL Rid Annette A Rosen Jennifer B JB Sauer Lauren L Sullivan Sheena G SG Zendt Mackenzie M Evans Nicholas N

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Ricotta EE, Rid A, Cohen IG, et al. Observational studies must be reformed before the next pandemic. Nat Med. 2023;29:1903–5. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02375-8.
Authors :  22
Identifiers
Doi : e017981
SSN : 2059-7908
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Epidemiology;Health policy;Public Health
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
England