RT Journal
A1 Bryant, Dianne M.
A1 Willits, Kevin
A1 Hanson, Beate P.
T1 Principles of Designing a Cohort Study in Orthopaedics
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2009
FD May 1
VO 91
IS Supplement_3
SP 10
OP 14
DO 10.2106/JBJS.H.01597
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.H.01597
AB A well-designed and executed prospective cohort study can provide high-quality evidence in the evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical interventions. In designing a cohort study to evaluate orthopaedic interventions, it is important to recognize the limitations of the design as well as the methodological features that can be incorporated to strengthen the validity of the conclusions. In this article, we discuss the importance of the appropriate selection of participants for a control group, the management of confounders, the selection of outcomes with established measurement properties (reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change), the blinded assessment of outcomes, and the impact of nonparticipants and patients lost to follow-up.