Case-control study
What it is
A case-control study compares people with an outcome to selected people without it and examines prior exposures.
What it does
It can be useful for studying uncommon outcomes.
Research context and ingredient forms
Control selection and exposure recall can affect the comparison; the design is different from a randomized trial.
Using this information
Identify how cases, controls, and exposures were defined before interpreting an association as causal.
Scientific Research & References
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: case control study
National Cancer Institute
Limitations: Terminology support only; not evidence of benefit for a particular intervention.
Source assessment recorded.
- Designing and Conducting Analytic Studies in the Field
Brendan R. Jackson, Patricia M. Griffin
2024 · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Limitations: Study-design methods, not an intervention trial or evidence of a particular treatment effect.
Source assessment recorded.
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Products containing it
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