25. ASSOCIATION VS CAUSATION Flashcards
1
Q
- What were Aristotle’s first thoughts on Causality?
A
- all causes of things are beginnings
- we obtain scientific knowledge when we establish the
cause - to understand something’s existence is to understand
the reason why it exists
2
Q
- How could we Paraphrase Aristotle’s thoughts on Causality?
A
- scientific knowledge requires explanations
- thee state the causes of outcomes
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO IDENTIFY A CAUSE:
- that causes an effect on health
3
Q
- What is a Valid Association?
A
- a valid association is an exposure-outcome association
that upholds 3 important criteria
4
Q
- What are the criteria that a Valid Association upholds?
A
- Chance
- Bias
- Confounding
5
Q
- What is meant by “Chance”?
A
- chance has to be excluded as a possible explanation
for the association
6
Q
- What provides information on “Chance”?
A
- the p-value
- the 95% Confidence Interval
7
Q
- What is meant by “Bias”?
A
- bias has to be excluded as a possible explanation for
the association
8
Q
- What provides information on “Bias”?
A
- there has to be a thorough check for errors
- this happens during Sample Selection and during the
Assessment of Variables
9
Q
- What is meant by “Confounding”?
A
- this has to be excluded as a possible explanation for
the association
10
Q
- What provides information on “Confounding”?
A
- the identification and adjustment of all the potential
confounders
11
Q
- Can every Valid association automatically be proven as a Causation?
A
- no
- association does not equal causation
12
Q
- What is a Causal Association?
A
- this is one in which the exposure directly or indirectly
causes the outcome of interest - the exposure can also contribute to the development
13
Q
- What exists in order to help us decide whether there is a Causal Association present?
A
- the Bradford Hill criteria for Causation
14
Q
- What are the 9 parameters of the Bradford Hill Criteria?
A
- Temporality
- Strength
- Biological Gradient
- Reversibility
- Consistency
- Plausibility
- Analogy
- Coherence
- Specificity
NB:
- the first 6 are the major and important criteria
15
Q
- What is meant by “Temporality”?
A
- the exposure must precede the outcome
- the exposure must chronologically come before the
outcome
IN OTHER WORDS:
- the suspected cause of the disease must happen
before the actual disease occurs
16
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- a Temporal Association
- it makes reference to “early life”
- the exposure is chronologically preceding the outcome
17
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- a Non-Temporal association
- it makes reference to current situations
- the exposure and the outcome are happening
simultaneously
19
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- a Strong Association
THE RISK RATIO IS HIGH:
- since those who smoke are 4 times as likely to
experience lung cancer than those who do not
THE CONFIDENCE INTERVAL:
- is also very high
20
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- a weak Association
THE RISK RATIO IS A RELATIVELY LOW:
- since those who smoke are 10% more likely to
experience lung cancer than those who do not
THE CONFIDENCE INTERVAL:
- is also low
22
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- this is a Dose-Response association
- the dose and the response increase proportionally
23
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- this is not a Dose-Response association
- the dose and the response do not increase
proportionally
28
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- this is a Consistent Association
29
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- this is not a Consistent Association
31
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- this is a biologically PLAUSIBLE association
32
Q
- What is this an example of?
A
- as association that is not biologically PLAUSIBLE
- there is no proof of current evidence
