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Case-Control Study

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Institutional Affiliation

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Case-Control Study

Case-control studies compare an infected group with a control group that is unaffected

by the disease. The study aims at discovering the risk factors relating to the group which

causes one group to be affected while the other remains unaffected. Such factors may include

gender, race, age, and the environment. One of the common characteristics of this study is

that it is an observational study, where no intervention or attempt is made to alter the cause of

the disease (Alexander et al., 2015). Secondly, data from the study regarding risk factors are

collected retrospectively, bringing rise to various selection biases. Lastly, the study uses

controls from the same sample population who are free from the disease outcomes.

Three important features in case and control selection are the criteria used for case

definition, accurate and efficient sources to identify causes, and Partial case ascertainment

when the population is definable (Aschengrau & Seage, 2018). The study uses both control

and case groups from the same population and ensures both groups match in characteristics.

The population enables the researcher to define and identify the case. However, researchers

may violate these features when the control group is selected from a different population or

study, especially if the selected population lacks a control group.

Questionnaires are used as the primary sources of data in case-control studies.

However, the validity of data collected depends on the ability of interviewees to correctly

read and interpret the questions, accurately remember and report the information (Aschengrau

& Seage, 2018). As a result, respondents may give false information, which will affect the

accuracy of the study. Alternative strategies for collecting data include pre-existing records

such as administrative and medical records and biomarkers such as urine, blood, and bone

levels. Furthermore, researchers can help jog the respondent’s memory using memory aids to

minimize recall bias.

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References

Aschengrau, A., & Seage, G. R. (2018). Essentials of Epidemiology in Public Health (4th

ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Alexander, L. K., Lopes, B., Ricchetti-Masterson, K., & Yeatts, K. B. (2015). Sources of

systematic error or bias: Information bias. ERIC Notebook. 2nd ed. Chapel Hill (NC):

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.