Overview of Analytic Studies

We search for the determinants of health outcomes, first, by relying on descriptive epidemiology to generate hypotheses about associations between exposures and outcomes. Analytic studies are then undertaken to test specific hypotheses. Samples of subjects are identified and information about exposure status and outcome is collected. The essence of an analytic study is that groups of subjects are compared in order to estimate the magnitude of association between exposures and outcomes.

The course covers:

• Cohort type studies
• Prospective and retrospective cohort studies
• Summarizing data in a cohort study
• Case control studies
• Determining which study design is best

Developed by: Wayne LaMorte, MD, PhD, MPH