Essential basics on sampling of subjects in medical studies

Abstract

Sampling is an essential basic requirement for research methodology in drawing inferences on populations of interest. An outline of key considerations in methodology on various aspects of sampling may help biomedical students and investigators when they begin their research studies. The sample should be representative of the population to give an accurate estimation of statistics and to test research hypotheses. A representative sample from a population is selected by using random methods of drawing samples in observational studies and allocating subjects to treatment groups through randomization. The methods of random sampling and random allocation help in avoiding bias and in making the data collected from medical studies valid for appropriate interpretation. In the conduct and reporting of medical studies, it is an important component of research methodology to take an appropriate sample of subjects in observational studies and allocate patients randomly in randomized controlled trials. Some basic sampling procedures adopted in medical studies are described in this communication.

Keywords

• sampling
• medical studies
• random sample
• randomization
• study design