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Validity of Epi Studies 2019
Validity of Epi Studies 2019
Inference
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Session objectives
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References
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Validity of epidemiologic studies
• refers to correctness of study findings
epidemiology”):
– Sampling error
– Systematic error
– Confounding
– Interaction?
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Sampling error/random error/chance
• Survival bias
• Temporal bias
– Invalid instrument/tool
• Solutions:
– Standardization of procedures
– Pre-testing
Confounding
association association
Smoking
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Confounding: solutions
• Solutions:
– prevent during design: restriction, matching or randomization
variable
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Confounding: solutions
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Interaction/Effect modification
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Temporality
• Refers to the necessity that the cause occurs preceding the
effect
sequence?
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Strength of association
• Refers to magnitude of measure of association
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Dose-response relationship
populations
– From systematic reviews and meta-analysis
association
– It might be due to missing unknown component cause
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Biologic Plausibility (1)
• Coherence with current scientific knowledge on
pathogenesis of the disease
– E.g. 1– smoking and lung ca; substances in the cigarette
smoke have been shown to cause histopathological changes
in respiratory epithelium of animals
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Biologic Plausibility (2)
• However, lack of plausibility may reflect lack of current
scientific knowledge on pathogenesis
• Doubts about acupuncture and homeopathy is partly due to
absence plausible biological mechanism
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Reversibility
• removal of the factor results in a reduced disease risk
– E.g. – cessation of smoking reduces risk of HTN
• for causes that leads to rapid irreversible changes
– reversibility cannot be a condition for causality
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Study Design
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Judging the evidence
• There are no completely reliable criteria, uncertainty remains
• Evidence is stronger when several criteria are met
– More weight is given to plausibility, consistency and dose–response
relationship; correct temporality is essential
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