Challenges of undertaking a retrospective cohort study
نویسنده
چکیده
Aim. To highlight challenges and lessons learnt from using a retrospective cohort design and historical birth records to determine whether infants born growth restricted achieve the same health-related quality of life in adulthood as infants born at normal birthweights for gestation. Study design. The cohort consisted of 50-year-old adults who were born between 1954 and 1956 in the Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast. The exposure in this defined population group was intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The study group were born at term (≥37 weeks’ gestation) with IUGR (birthweight <10th centile) and the comparison group were born at term without IUGR (≥10th centile). A very personal journey is presented, addressing issues such as identifying appropriate resources to use, access and retrieval of historical birth records, sample selection, tracing the sample 50 years on, with discussion around the decision-making process involved. Conclusion. The key message from these lessons learnt is the irreplaceable contribution of data from good quality historical birth records, which give a privileged insight and detailed picture of maternity care provision over half a century ago.
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