Difference Between Cross Sectional And Cohort

Cross sectional studies are different from the others we have discussed.

Difference between cross sectional and cohort. One key difference between cohort and case control study is that the cohort study is prospective while the case control study is retrospective. They are relatively quick and easy but do not permit distinction between cause and effect. Because they measure events in chronological order they can be used to distinguish between cause and effect.

This study can be prospective or retrospective in nature barría 2018. Through this article let us further examine the differences between a cohort study and a case control study. With this design an investigator samples a source population cross sectionally and then retrospectively assesses subjects histories of exposures and outcomes over a specified time period.

The opposite of a cross sectional study is a longitudinal study while cross sectional studies collect data from many subjects at a single point in time longitudinal studies collect data repeatedly from the same subjects over time often focusing on a smaller group of individuals that are connected by a common trait. Cross sectional vs longitudinal studies. Cross sectional studies are used to determine prevalence.

Analytical studies that are observational in nature are called as cohort studies and are derived from latin meaning unit. Cohort studies are used to study incidence causes and prognosis. Then they would set up a longitudinal study to study cause and effect.

In this observational study the prevalence of the exposure and the health outcome are measured at the same time. They are relatively quick and easy bu. That s why researchers might start with a cross sectional study to first establish whether there are links or associations between certain variables.

Cross sectional studies are used to determine prevalence. While the other studies measure the incidence of a particular health outcome over time a cross sectional study measures prevalence. For a retrospective cohort study the exposure was assessed at some point in the past and the outcome status is assessed.