Module 2: Association & Causation in Epidemiology

Question 1

Temporal relationship

Answer 1

Exposure to risk factor must have occurred before the disease has developed; considered as evidence of a causal relationship

Question 2

Strength of association

Answer 2

The stronger/larger the association, as measured by the relative risk or odds ratio, the more likely it is that the relationship is causal

Question 3

Dose-response relationship

Answer 3

As the amount or dose of the exposure/risk factor increases, the risk of the disease increases; considered as evidence of a causal relationship

Question 4

Reversibility

Answer 4

If a factor causes a disease, the risk of the disease can be expected to decline when exposure is reduced or eliminated

Question 5

Consistency

Answer 5

Replication of consistent findings across a wide array of study designs provide evidence of causality

Question 6

Biologic plausibility

Answer 6

The risk factor/outcome relationship is logical and reasonable given current biological knowledge

Question 7

Coherence

Answer 7

The extent to which a hypothesized causal association agrees with existing theory and knowledge

Question 8

Causation

Answer 8

A cause of a disease is an event, condition, or characteristic that plays an essential role in producing an occurrence of disease

Question 9

Counterfactual ideal

Answer 9

Observe the same person reliving the same experience twice –

once with risk factor
once without

Question 10

Relative risk

Answer 10

Ratio comparing incidence among those with risk factor vs. incidence among those without risk factor

Question 11

Prevalence ratio

Answer 11

Ratio comparing prevalence among those with risk factor vs. prevalence among those without risk factor

Question 12

Odds ratio

Answer 12

Ratio comparing the odds of disease among those with risk factor vs. odds of disease among those without risk factor