Below are definitions on how ImproveCareNow Current Research is organized. Use the buttons on the Current Research page to to filter studies by the following categories.
By Research Type
- Retrospective Observational Research: Retrospective research is a type of observational/non-experimental study that analyzes or examines data already collected. This method involves analyzing existing records or data sets to identify patterns, outcomes, and relationships between variables.
- Prospective Observational Research: Prospective research is a type of study that is non-experimental (cohort study) and actively enrolls patients based on a specific feature or exposure, and then assesses if there is an association with a single or multiple outcomes of interest over time, or at specific pre-set time points. This type of research collects data as events unfold. In other words, it involves identifying a cohort of subjects and observing them over a period of time to track the occurrence of outcomes relative to exposure, certain factors, or conditions.
- Interventional Research: Interventional research, also known as experimental research or clinical trials, is a type of study in which the researcher actively manipulates one or more variables to observe the effects of this manipulation on certain outcomes. This type of research is often used to determine the effectiveness of new treatments, interventions, or programs by directly testing their impact under controlled conditions.
- Cross-sectional Research: Cross-sectional Research is a type of observational study that analyzes data from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time. This method is used to examine the prevalence of an outcome or to investigate the relationship between variables within the population. Both the exposure and outcome, or variables of interest, are collected at the same time point or within a specific narrow timeframe.
By Disease Type
- Crohn's Disease: Research that focuses on Crohn's Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis: Research that focuses on ulcerative colitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Research that focuses on both Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis
Note: some research studies may not fit in the categories listed above but can be found in the complete list of Current Research studies.