Juárez-Bengoa A, Figueroa-Damián R

Language: Spanish
References: 17
Page: 218-225
PDF size: 90.66 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Case-control studies are suitable methods in clinical research if the outcome in study is uncommon or a long time is demanded. A sample must be selected from the target population and to identify clearly the cases, which are the subjects that suffer the clinical event or sickness, as well as the controls, who are the subjects who do not suffer the resulting event. A very important characteristic in these studies is that they start from the identification of cases and controls in present time but the information about exposure to the risk factor is obtained from the past time, usually from interviews, questionnaires or hospital records. The main weakness of this method of research is the way for obtaining information because it can be either not enough or inadequate, which produces uncertainty about its reliability. On the other hand, they can be used to investigate uncommon health problems or diseases with a long period between exposure to the risk factor and the start of the disease, the required time is short, the cost is low and a great amount of information is obtained from a few number of subjects. In this review, a practical way to perform control-case studies is presented as well as statistical basis to decide the truthfulness of the results.

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