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Methodological issues in outcome studies of at-risk infants
1School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL 62794-9658, USA. gaylward@siumed.edu
Objective:
To identify methodologic problems found in follow-up studies of infants at biologic and environmental risk and provide solutions and recommendations.
Methods:
This article is a literature review.
Results:
Problems fall into four groupings: (1) conceptualization/design issues, 2) subject population concerns, 3) procedural issues, and 4) measurement/outcome concerns.
Conclusions:
Main-effect models are not useful; confounding and mediating variables must be identified. In addition, the following are needed: alternative analytic techniques, more precise subject selection and characterization of risk factors, geographically defined samples, broadened scope of outcome measures, and use of epidemiologic techniques.