Counterpoint: epidemiology to guide decision-making: moving away from practice-free research

Am J Epidemiol. 2015 Nov 15;182(10):834-9. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwv215. Epub 2015 Oct 26.

Abstract

Analyses of observational data aimed at supporting decision-making are ideally framed as a contrast between well-defined treatment strategies. These analyses compare individuals' outcomes from the start of the treatment strategies under consideration. Exceptions to this synchronizing of the start of follow-up and the treatment strategies may be justified on a case-by-case basis.

Keywords: causal inference; decision-making; left truncation; survival curves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bias
  • Causality*
  • Decision Making*
  • Epidemiologic Methods*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Observational Studies as Topic / methods
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / methods
  • Research Design*
  • Time Factors