The case-referent (case-control) study in occupational health epidemiology.

Epidemiologic studies play an important role in the elucidation of health hazards in industrial work environments. These studies have usually been undertaken as specific research projects and have methodologically often been rather expensive. Since it is desirable, however, to accomplish epidemiologic surveillance of various worker populations more often and rather routinely for the achievement of an effective identification and control of various risk factors, simple, effective, and, therefore, inexpensive methods should be applied. The intent of this communication is to discuss the case-referent (case-control) study design as an often suitable approach in occupational health epidemiology.