Table 1 Issues and proposed solutions for reforming observational studies
From: Observational studies must be reformed before the next pandemic
Issue | Proposed solutions | Contribution to social value |
|---|---|---|
Addressing the right research question | Master protocols to establish priority research questions | Allocates scarce scientific resources to the most pressing questions in an epidemic |
Methodological issues | Master protocols and data standards to harmonize study design, data collection, analysis and reporting | Increases methodological rigor of studies and reduces scientific waste |
Small sample sizes | Collaborate and consolidate data to improve study quality | Generates externally valid knowledge for clinical or public health practice |
Misinterpretation by stakeholders such as health policy-makers, journalists and the public | Lay scientific methods summary in publications | Mitigates the risk of misinterpretation of observational study results |
