Lecture 13 - Association, Causal Inference & Causality Flashcards

1
Q

What is a cause?

A

A condition that is required for the occurrence of an outcome

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2
Q

List the types of association and define each.

A

Artifactual/False:

  • no true association
  • can come from bias and confounding

Non-causal:

  • disease may cause exposure
  • disease and exposure may be associated with a third factor (confounding)

Causal
-exposure cause outcome

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3
Q

List the types of causal relationships and define each.

A

Sufficient:
-if cause is present, outcome will always occur

Necessary
-cause is required for outcome to occur but does not always lead to disease

Component cause:
-cause that makes disease more likely (risk factor) but is not required for disease to occur

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4
Q

List the types of interaction and define each.

A

Synergism:
-the combined measure of effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects

Parallelism:
-when measure of effect is great if either component cause is present

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5
Q

Multiple __________ causes can work together to become a __________ cause.

A

Component; sufficient

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6
Q

What are Hill’s criteria used for and what are the criteria.

A

Used to help determine if an observed association can be considered causation.

  • strength
  • consistency
  • temporality
  • biological gradient
  • plausibility
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7
Q

Define strength as it relates to Hill’s criteria.

A

The further the measure of association is from one, the more likely the association might be causal

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8
Q

Define consistency as it relates to Hill’s Criteria.

A

Repeated observations of the same association under different circumstances increases its likelihood of being causal

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9
Q

Define temporality as it relates to HIll’s Criteria.

A

The proposed cause must precede the outcome

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10
Q

Define biological gradient as it relates to Hill’s Criteria.

A

Increase exposure to suspected cause should demonstrate and increased risk of outcome

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11
Q

Define plausibility as it relates to Hill’s Criteria.

A

There should be a biologically feasible mechanism through which explains how the cause triggers the outcome

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