EPI 390 Study Guide - Final Guide: Government Database, Environmental Monitoring, Observational Error
Document Summary
Analytic epidemiology involves the systematic evaluation of suspected relationships, for example between an exposure and a health outcome. These studies have a narrower focus and typically provide stronger evidence concerning particular relationships. These studies usually involve the testing of hypotheses. Case-control studies; comparison of people who develop a condition with people who do not. Follow up studies (retrospective, prospective): a comparison of people with and without a characteristic in relation to a health related event. Intervention trials (clinical, community); comparison of a subsequent experience exhibited by people to whom a treatment or preventative intervention has been given, to that of people not provided that intervention. Summaries of disease and injury reporting systems and registries. Environmental monitoring systems e. g. measures of air pollution. The most quantifiable error is sampling error, which is the distortion that can occur from the "luck of the draw" Reject the null hypothesis when it is false. Do not reject the null hypothesis when it is true.
