Critical appraisal of published epidemiologicalstudies using coded data.
Healthcare
Please look up in the instruction of assignment 1 in the attached file 
Assignment 1 (Individual Assignment:
Critical appraisal of published epidemiologicalstudies using coded data.
Weighting: 15%
Due time/date: 9.00 am., Monday April 8, 2013.
Length: 12,000 words
Issuessurrounding the use ofICD‐coded data in clinical and epidemiologicalresearch
?Amajor purpose for gathering descriptive statisticsisto allow comparisons of data overtime and
among different places. In the case of public health it has been particularly importanttomake
such comparisons utilising diagnostic information.Without a standardmeasuring tool which
remainsfixed for periods oftime and which is applied uniformly fromplace to place,meaningful
comparative analyses of diagnostic information would not be possible. The International
Classification ofDiseasesissuch a standard tool.?
1
As health information practitioners we are often the ?experts? to whomresearchersrefer when they wish
to undertake research utilising data which has been coded with the International Classification ofDiseases.
Asthe ?expert? you need to be aware ofthe positive and negative aspects associated with the use ofthis
coded data.
Using the knowledge you have gained through yourstudiesin varioussubjects(eg. coding, integrating
evidence into practice, analysis of health data, applied health research etc) you will need to undertake a
review ofthe use of coded data in two empiricalresearch studies.
You will be randomly allocated two papers which have used ICDcoded data in some aspect oftheirstudy
design.
Part A: (approx 700 words)
For each paper you will need to
1. Provide a brief outline ofthe study paperincluding study aim, design,sampling techniques and
sample size, data collection tools, and analyticaltechniques
2. Explain how thisstudy fulfilsthe criteria forthe study design you have identified (ie. how do know
itis an RCT, cohort, case‐control etc.)
3. Identify the codes, and how they have been used
4. Discussissuessurrounding the use of coded data in the context ofthe study ie. whatissuesmust
the researcher consider when using the coded data.
5. Evaluate the overall validity ofthe paper.
Part B:(approx 300 words)
1. Compare and contrastthe use ofthe coded data between the two papers.
2. Determine whether or not you wouldmake any changesto the study designs. Support your
decision.
