QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
Case-control studies may find a correlation or association between a certain exposure (a risk factor for a particular disease) and an outcome (the disease itself). However, as the study is retrospective, it cannot be proved that this link is definitely causal.
10027215
e
They are useful in confirming causal relationships between certain exposures and outcomes
QuestionChoice
Case-control studies may use different methods to obtain data. If the measures of health outcomes used were subjective, for example, self-reporting symptoms on a questionnaire, this could lead to false reporting by subjects. However, objective measures such as antibody levels or past medical documentation could not be falsely reported by the subject.
10027212
b
Subjects are less likely to falsely report health outcomes in a case-control study
QuestionChoice
In case-control studies, a group of subjects with the disease and a group of controls without the disease are selected, and their past exposure (risk factor) status is compared. Case-control studies are good for studying rare conditions, as a group of subjects with the disease is selected at the beginning of the study.
10027211
a
They are useful in the study of rare diseases
QuestionChoice
A confounding factor is something that is associated with the exposure (risk factor) and outcome (condition X) and can distort the apparent relationship between them. All observational studies, such as case-control studies, are subject to influence by confounding factors.
10027213
c
They reduce the chance of results being affected by confounding factors
QuestionChoice
Double-blinding is a feature where neither the subjects nor the researchers or clinicians know which group the subjects are in, and aims to reduce bias in the study. This can be implemented in interventional studies, such as randomised control trials, but does not apply to observational studies such as case-control studies.
10027214
d
They can be double-blinded, reducing bias
Concept
Chapter
2693
4353
Observational studies
Topic
178
Medical Statistics
17840
Which statement best describes an advantage of case-control studies?
a