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Created: 30Dec97
Assessing Scientific Data: The Case-Control Study As It Applies to Dermatology Part 2: Interpreting the Results
Helen J. Heacock and Jason K. Rivers
Background: In order to interpret the results of case-control studies correctly and to assign causality to an exposure-disease association, one must be able to assess elements in the design and/or analysis that may lead to inaccurate conclusions.
Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe factors that may invalidate the results of a case-control study. Topics discussed include bias, confounding, and chance. Criteria used to judge causality between exposure and disease are highlighted. A brief checklist that can be used as a tool in the design and interpretation of case-control studies is provided.
Conclusion: Before one concludes that an exposure causes a disease, alternative explanations for the observations must be considered. Assuming that these threats to the validity of the study have been minimized, criteria for judging causality can be examined. In this way, it becomes possible to link a specific exposure with a specific outcome.
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 1997; 2(1):35-40
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