What type of study would be most appropriate if a nurse researcher wants to answer a question about a patient's likely course in a disease trajectory?
A) Experimental
B) Longitudinal
C) Cross-sectional
D) Methodological
E) Quasi-experimental

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A nurse researcher interested in studying a patient's likely course in a disease trajectory would likely benefit most from a longitudinal study. Longitudinal studies follow a group of individuals over an extended period of time, and they are well-suited for exploring changes in outcomes or variables over time, such as disease progression. Longitudinal studies allow researchers to track the same individuals repeatedly over time, which enables the examination of patterns and trends in outcomes that may not be apparent from cross-sectional or single time-point studies. In contrast, experimental, cross-sectional, methodological, and quasi-experimental studies are less suitable for answering questions about disease trajectories. Experimental studies manipulate variables and observe outcomes, while cross-sectional studies examine a sample of individuals at a single time point. Methodological studies focus on research methods, and quasi-experimental studies manipulate variables but lack the random assignment of participants to conditions that characterizes true experimental studies.

What Type of Study Would Be Most Appropriate If a Nurse