[2] Class 20-21: Case-control Studies Flashcards
Why are observational studies lower on pyramid than interventional?
They cant prove causation like interventional can
Increasing evidence for obs study
Case reports/series-> Ecological-> Cross-sectional-> Case-control-> Cohort
Obs studies allowing researcher to be a passive observer of natural events occurring in individuals w/ the Dz/ condition of interest
Case-control studies
People who don’t have the Dz of interest
Control
Supplies info. About the expected baseline risk-factor profile in the population from which the cases are drawn
The control group
How are group-assignments made?
Based on Disease Status
When is a case control study useful?
When studying a rare disease or investigating an outbreak
What type of randomization is used in case control studies?
IT’s not! Subjects are randomly selected but they’re not randomized!
Obs studies and random selection:
Sometimes the Dz population is so high that you only need a fraction of the population. Randomly pick from that population.
Case-controls commonly generate an ____________ for each, then an _____________ as a measure of asso.
Odds of exposure; odds ratio (OR)
2x2 table Where is Dz
On top of the column
What conclusion can be drawn from case-control studies?
Strong, weak, no association
Know how to calculate an odds ratio
Odds-exp. of interest / odds-placebo
Reasons to use case-control design (4):
- Unable to force group allocation [randomize]
- limited resources
- rare Dz of interest/little known
- can be retrospective/prospective
Case-control design retro or prospective?
Interventional?
Both;
Interventional can only be prospective
Case-control studies are typically conducted in a ______________ fashion
Retrospective
Strengths of case-control study (in general) [6]:
- can assess multiple exposures of one outcome
- useful w/ rare Dz
- Determining asso.
- Less expensive
- useful for ethical limitation w/ interventional
- useful for long induction/latent period of Dz
Determining selection of cases :
Objectively, consistently, accurately, and w/ validity
Best: clinically-supportable/definable criteria
WHo determines selection of cases?
The investigator
Labeling patients _________ is ideal
Correctly