Conducting an Observational Epidemiological Study

This concise, user-friendly book provides an accessible guide for anyone wishing to pursue an epidemiological study. It provides the essential tools to understand what epidemiology is, how to choose the correct observational study design for a research question, and how to collect or access data to conduct the study.

The book begins by considering, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of epidemiological studies, as well as highlighting key issues such as bias, causality, and ethics. There are then chapters on the different types of observational epidemiological studies, including case studies, ecological and mixed methods, and the data sources available to researchers.

Following this, and central to the book, is a step-by-step case study on how to conduct a cross-sectional project. Concluding by guiding readers from conducting the research to publishing its findings, this is the ideal companion for students, researchers, or healthcare professionals approaching epidemiological research for the first time.

Dr. Sarah Cuschieri graduated as a medical doctor in 2011. After completing her medical training, she took up a full-time academic and research career at the University of Malta in 2013. In 2023, she was appointed as an Adjunct Research Professor with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, within the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, at Western University, London, Canada. In addition, she was elected as Vice-President of the chronic diseases section of EUPHA (European Public Health Association) in 2023.

She studied for a postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Diabetes Mellitus type 2 at the Cardiff University, Wales, obtaining a distinction in both between 2012 to 2015. Additional to her Masters’ degree she was awarded the silver award of excellence by Cardiff University, Wales. In 2019, she completed her Ph.D. studies focusing on the “Burden of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, dysglycaemia and their co-determinants in the adult population of Malta”. During the same year (2019), Dr. Cuschieri also obtained a certificate in Public Health Epidemiology by the University of Utrecht. In 2021, she won the “Academic leadership and accomplishment” award as part of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP), Junior Chamber International (JCI).

The Faculty of Public Health UK elected her to Membership through Distinction in 2022. She became a fellow of higher education (AdvanceHE) in 2024.

Dr. Cuschieri's research interest focuses on population health, mainly involving non-communicable diseases (diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity), COVID-19, Long COVID as well as medical education. She made it in the top 2% of the most cited scientists in the world for the years 2020, 2021, 2022. Dr. Cuschieri is the author of the three books “To Do or Not to Do a PhD? Insight and Guidance from a Public Health PhD Graduate”, “A Roadmap to Successful Scientistic Publishing, The Dos, the Don’ts and the Must-Knows” and “A Pocket Guide for Medical Students, from Enrollment to Job Interviews”. Additionally, she has authored several book chapters focusing on her research interests. She also has been invited as a keynote speaker in international and local conferences.

Currently she is the principal investigator (PI) for the Horizon Europe Project RAPIDE (Regular and Unplanned Care Adaptive Dashboard for Cross–Border Emergencies). Additionally she is actively involved in a number of collaborative research projects, particularly in the area of the burden of disease, small European states and Long COVID.