Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study
A cross-sectional case-control study is an observational study design that combines elements of both cross-sectional and case-control methodologies.
Definition
A study that:
- Compares individuals with a particular condition (cases) to those without it (controls).
- Collects data on exposures and outcomes at a single point in time.
- Aims to find associations, not causality.
Key Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Timeframe | Single time point (cross-sectional) |
| Groups | Cases (with condition) vs. Controls (without condition) |
| Purpose | Assess association between exposure and outcome |
| Temporality | Cannot determine what came first: exposure or outcome |
| Data collection | Often via questionnaires, interviews, or records |
Example
Study investigating the relationship between childhood trauma and alcohol use disorder:
'Cases': Patients with alcohol use disorder'Controls': Individuals without alcohol use disorder'Data': Collected at one time using structured interviews
Advantages
- Relatively quick and inexpensive
- Useful for studying rare outcomes
- Good for hypothesis generation
Limitations
- Cannot establish causality
- Risk of recall and selection bias
- Unclear temporal relationship between exposure and outcome