observational study - The Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard

observational study observational study

A study that collects health information about study participants without giving a treatment.

Example of observational study in a sentence

In an observational study, data will be collected about each participant but no one will be assigned to get a study treatment.

More Info

For example, a study to see whether those who smoke cigarettes report higher rates of lung cancer than those who do not would be an observational study.

Data are collected using methods like surveys and lab tests, as well as from other sources like medical records and historical datasets.

Other info to think about when joining a study

If you enroll in an observational study this means data will be collected about you but no study treatment will be assigned.

You may want to ask how the research team will collect data from you during your time in the observational study.

An illustration of a human icon representing a researcher in the center holding a clipboard. The researcher is observing various participants doing activities as indicated by three scenes to the left - the first is a person doing yoga in a room; the second is a person walking with a dog; the third is a person with a soccer ball beside a net. A paper report with bars indicating text and a chart and table is to the right of the researcher indicating study results.

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Other Resources

CDISC Controlled Terminology

NCI Thesaurus

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