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Health Research Study Designs

A cross-sectional study is an observational study that analyses data from a population at a single point in time. It is used to examine the prevalence, associations, or patterns of health conditions, behaviours, or other variables within a defined group.

Cross-sectional studies are appropriate for researching prevalence of an outcome or exposure at a specific point in time.

It is efficient and cost-effective, but cannot determine whether one variable caused another.

Requirements:

  • 4-18 months and at least 3 team members with appropriate expertise. 
  • Cross-sectional studies should adhere to the STROBE Statement.
  • You may need to obtain ethics approval and informed consent.

How to do a cross-sectional study

  1. Develop a hypothesis and aim
  2. Search the literature
    1. You may need assistance from a librarian
  3. Develop the study methodology
    1. Consider target population, sampling methods, and inclusion/exclusion criteria.
  4. Obtain approval 
  5. Obtain informed consent
  6. Write and register the protocol
  7. Collect data
  8. Analyse data
    1. You may need assistance from a biostatistician
  9. Write up the research
  10. Reference your sources
  11. Publish your research
Examples
Dessinioti, C., et al. (2018). A cross-sectional study of the perceptions about triggering factors in acne patients. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 32(4), e137–e139. 
Paiva, B.S.R., et al. (2021). Prevalence of burnout and predictive factors among oncology nursing professionals: a cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo medical journal, 139(4), 341–350.

Recommended resources:

Cochrane Mental Health. (2019). Cross-sectional studies.