Research Paper

Observational research designs can be an important complement to randomized trials. In this review, you
will investigate a medical study that was conducted with observational data.
DETAILS:
For this review, you are asked to read and summarize the following article:
Høgh, A., Lindholt, J.S., Nielsen, H., Jensen, L.P. , and Johnsen, S.P. (2013). Beta-blocker Use and Clinical
Outcomes after Primary Vascular Surgery: A Nationwide Propensity Score-Matched Study. European
Journal of Vascular and Endovascular SurgeryLinks to an external site., 46(1), 93-102. (ATTACHED TO
FILES)
Specific Questions:
In your summary, be sure to address the following questions:
1. Why was an observational study selected to evaluate the primary research questions?
2. Looking at the characteristics that were measured at the beginning of the study, what were some of the
main differences between the patients who took beta blockers and those who did not?
3. How did the researchers try to create greater balance between these cohorts and more fairly examine
the impact of using beta blockers?
4. Do the steps taken to create balanced cohorts eliminate the concerns? What limitations remain?
5. What were the important findings of the study, and how would they impact the choices of medical doctors
with regard to using beta blockers?
STRUCTURE:
Your paper should be structured as a narrative in paragraph form. Do not answer the questions in bulleted
points or in a disjointed manner. Instead, work on creating a story that introduces and explains the work in
a coherent way. This document should be comprehensible to other people in your organization or team
(both technical and non-technical).
ASSESSMENT:
Your work will be assessed based on the quality of your writing, evidence that you have read the article, a
demonstration that you have made a good-faith effort to understand and interpret the design of the
research, and that you are able to articulate the benefit of conducting research.