Lecture 11 CONCLUSIONS Flashcards
Epidemiological studies are susceptible to…..
many sources of error
_______ may suggest an association where none exists
confounding factors
bias may be introduced in which 3 ways?
-In the selection of cases or controls
-In the reporting of exposures or outcomes
-Through disproportionate loss of subjects
can epidemiology prove cause and effect?
NO
Which are more likely to be valid - studies with large numbers of subjects or smaller?
large numbers of subjects
A high relative risk and a high odds ratio indicates what?
likely to indicate a true cause and effect relationship
a _______ relationship that shows increasing risks from higher exposures adds to the validity of the study
dose-response relationship
a known _______ for an association between an exposure and a disease makes epidemiological evidence more convincing
a known biological explanation
Do observational studies have a large amount of potential for harming people?
no - very little potential for harm
many ethical questions have been raised about…
clinical trials
clinical trials and other epidemiological studies are required to be approved by committees known as….
IRBs - Institutional Review Boards
Why do IRBs exist?
to ensure that patient’s rights will be protected
Despite its flaws, epidemiology is _______ to Public Health
central
Why is epidemiology central to public health?
epidemiological data - when confirmed by repeated, well-designed studies and supported by the results of biomedical science- provides POWERFUL INDICATORS ABOUT THE CAUSES AND CURES OF HUMAN DISEASE
Because epidemiological studies studies humans…..
there are many limits to how research can be conducted and there are many pitfalls in interpreting results
