110 likes | 215 Views
Understanding real research 2. Case control studies. What can studies do?. Describe the situation: Descriptive . Explain the situation: Analytical . Compare approaches: Experimental . Study designs. Descriptive Cross-sectional, longitudinal. Analytic Case-control studies.
E N D
Understanding real research 2. Case control studies.
What can studies do? Describe the situation: Descriptive. Explain the situation: Analytical. Compare approaches: Experimental.
Study designs. • Descriptive • Cross-sectional, longitudinal. • Analytic • Case-control studies. • Cohort studies. • Quasi-experimental • Natural experiments, policy interventions. • Experimental • Randomised controlled trial.
Past Present Future Cross-sectional Case-control Cohort From Altman. Practical Statistics for Medical Research, 1991.
Case control studies: Key features. Retrospective, i.e. backward looking. Relate an effect or outcome to a probable cause. Individuals with disease (cases) compared to individuals without disease (controls).
Case control study. From: http://library.downstate.edu/EBM2/2500.htm
Appraising case control studies Methodological approach: Are cases and controls similar, except for exposure to the putative cause? Is collection of retrospective data objective? Is there evidence of “causation”? Statistical reporting: Type of data – influences statistical analysis. Reporting of risk.