Case Control Study

Observational studies constitute an important category of the research study designs. A case–control study, one of the subtypes of observational study, is widely used to find answers for various research questions. It shows a more accurate link between the cause and effect, gives reliable results quickly with less work and is cost-effective. As the study is also easily understandable, this can be done even by a novice researcher/epidemiologist. It is often the first choice for research during disease outbreaks or when studying rare diseases. However, case-control studies are more prone to biases. To ensure more reliable results, it is essential to have a clear hypothesis, carefully select case and control groups and conduct thorough follow-ups.