Confounding and Effect Modification

Question 1

What 3 aspects do researchers evaluate before declaring a real, true association?

Answer 1

> confounding or effect modification
bias
statistical significance

Question 2

What is a confounding variable (confounder)?

Answer 2

> a 3rd variable that distorts an association (RR/OR/HR) between the EXPOSURE and OUTCOME

> a 3rd variable that makes the groups NOT EXCHANGEABLE in terms of their associations

Question 3

A mixing of effects; an association (between exposure and outcome) is DISTORTED due to them being MIXED with another (3rd) factor which is also associated with the outcome AT THE SAME TIME?

Answer 3

> confounding

Question 4

A CONFUSION OF EFFECTS, where effect of exposure is DISTORTED because the effect of an extraneous (3rd) factor is mistaken for the effect of the exposure

Answer 4

> confounding

Question 5

What three criteria must a 3rd variable meet in order to be considered a confounder?

Answer 5

> associated with the exposure
associated with the outcome
not directly in the causal-pathway linking exposure to outcome (independent)