An institutional review board is reviewing multiple research protocols. Match each proposed clinical research scenario with the epidemiological study design that best describes its methodology.
- Investigators identify patients newly diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and compare their occupational histories to those of patients without the disease.Case-control study
- A research team enrolls healthy adults, categorizes them by their weekly exercise duration, and tracks them for 15 years to monitor the incidence of cardiovascular disease.Prospective cohort study
- Using an existing electronic medical record system, researchers identify patients who were prescribed a specific anti-epileptic drug in 2018 and analyze the database to determine their rate of bone fractures over the following 5 years.Retrospective cohort study
- A city-wide questionnaire is distributed to assess the current prevalence of chronic migraine headaches and its association with current reported stress levels among residents.Cross-sectional study
Answer
The correct matches align each research scenario with its fundamental defining methodology regarding temporal direction and subject selection.
Each scenario accurately describes the core mechanics of its respective study design: case-control starts with disease; prospective cohort starts with present exposure; retrospective cohort starts with past exposure; cross-sectional takes a snapshot in time.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Epidemiological study designs are primarily distinguished by how subjects are selected (by exposure or by outcome) and the temporal relationship between the assessment of exposure and outcome.
Estimated Time:1m 30s