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When is enough, enough? Understanding and solving your sample size problems in health services research
Victoria Pye1, Natalie Taylor2, Robyn Clay-Williams3
1Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia. Victoria.pye@mq.edu.au.
BMC Research Notes
|February 13, 2016
Summary
This guide simplifies sample size calculation for health services research, addressing common barriers like technical literature and methodologist access. It offers practical steps and resources to improve research planning and execution.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Biostatistics
- Research Methodology
Background:
- Health services researchers encounter challenges in sample size calculation.
- Obstacles include specialized literature and limited access to methodologists during research planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide pragmatic sample size calculation guidance for health services studies.
- To simplify and generalize the sample size determination process for researchers.
- To enhance understanding and implementation of sample size calculation in research practice.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing key factors and considerations for determining sample size.
- Developing practical, step-by-step guidance illustrated with a case study.
- Compiling a list of resources for further sample size calculation assistance.
Main Results:
- A simplified and generalizable process for sample size calculation is presented.
- Practical steps and a case study are provided for direct application.
- Resources are offered to support researchers in subsequent calculation stages.
Conclusions:
- The guidance aims to improve health services researchers' capacity for accurate sample size calculation.
- Implementation of these steps can lead to more robust study designs.
- This resource addresses critical needs in health services research methodology.
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