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Case-control studies are a type of observational study commonly used in healthcare research to assess the association between exposures and outcomes. Unlike randomized controlled trials, which randomly assign participants to different groups to receive or not receive treatment, case-control studies retrospectively compare individuals who have already developed a certain disease or condition (cases) to individuals who do not have the disease or condition (controls). This allows researchers to identify potential factors that may have contributed to the development of the disease or condition.
Let us review some key aspects of case-control studies
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Case-Control Study | An observational study design often used in epidemiology, where two groups are compared: one with the disease or outcome of interest (cases) and another without (controls). |
| Case | An individual in the study who has the disease or outcome of interest. |
| Control | An individual in the study who does not have the disease or outcome and is comparable to the case group in other characteristics. |
| Odds Ratio (OR) | A measure of association between an exposure and an outcome, indicating the odds of an outcome in exposed individuals relative to those unexposed. |
| Matching | A technique used to control for confounding by selecting controls so that they... |
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