Chapter 5 (epidemiology)

Causal association

exposure x really does lead to outcome y, x→y

Non-causal association

Association that is due simply to chance, disease actually causes the exposure (y→x)

Necessary Cause

factor needs to be present in order for disease/condition to develop, does not mean the person will automatically get the disease

Contributory Cause

a factor or characteristic that facilitates the development of a disease/condition, (overweight → type 2 diabetes) isn't full proof

Sufficient Cause

level in which all contributory and necessary causes required to bring about a disease/outcome in a given individual are present

Strength

The stronger the association is the more likely it is to be casual

Consistency

is association found (replicated) in other studies?

Temporal Sequence

exposure must proceed outcome

Dose-response

if the severity of outcome increases or decreases as exposure increases or decreases

Biologic Plausibility

explains how the exposure can cause the outcome due to understanding human body

Analogy

Have other studies have similar effects from the exposure?

Reversibility

If you remove the possible cause does the disease decrease as well

Consideration of alternative explanations

Looks at confounding variable, bias, reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness for casual agents