Prospective Research in Epidemiology

Prospective research is sometimes called a ______ cohort study.

Prospective studies are common in fields like ______, epidemiology, and healthcare.

A prospective cohort study is focused on following a group of people over a ______ of time.

In a cohort study, all participants must be at risk of developing the ______.

Prospective research allows scientists to watch the development of a ______ and compare risk factors.

Prospective research provides a stronger argument for potential ______ than retrospective studies.

STEP 2: MEASURE EXPOSURE TO RISK FACTORS Cohort studies should have a clear, unambiguous definition of the ______ at the outset.

Measurement can consist of records, environmental monitoring, lifestyle questionnaire or a clinical/biochemical/molecular ______.

STEP 3: FOLLOW UP This is a challenge.Dropouts affect the study's ______.

If the likelihood of dropping out is related to the ______ and outcome, then bias can result.

STEP 4: MEASURE DISEASE OUTCOME Outcomes must be defined in advance and should be clear, specific and ______.

Risk can be measured with relative risk (a measure of the extent to which those exposed to a risk factor are likely to get the disease compared with the non-exposed group); absolute risk (this is the incidence rate for a group exposed to a risk factor): attributable risk (this is the difference in the incidence of a disease between the exposed and the non-exposed ______).