[Evidence-based medicine. Input of epidemiologic studies]

Rev Med Liege. 2000 Apr;55(4):211-5.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Epidemiological studies, more specifically those related to analytical epidemiology are a major determinant of evidence-based medicine. When classifying the value of the different epidemiological studies, based on their level of causality, cohort studies are ranked higher than case-control studies, mainly due to the fact that they allow direct collection of information on exposition to risk factors and health consequences. However, case-control studies can also provide an important information, if a specific effort is dedicated to the analyses of the circumstances of the exposition. Meta-analysis increases, by pooling them, the statistical power of individual studies of limited size. Meta-analysis can also be considered as an important source of evidence in the perspective of evidence-based medicine.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Epidemiologic Studies*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine*
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Research Design