DD advantages/disadvantages

Advantages of a trial study design

- Most scientifically sound - best measure of exposure

Advantages of case-control study design

- can study rare diseases - relatively less expensive and relatively fast - good for rare diseases - good for long latency periods

Advantages of a cross-sectional study

- fastest - least expensive - good for more than one outcome

Disadvantages of a cross-sectional study

- least confidence in findings - possible time-order confusion

Advantages of a cohort study design

- most accurate observational study - good measure of exposure - correct time sequence - good for rare exposures - easy risk calculation

disadvantages of case-control study design

- possible time-order confusion - error in recalling exposures - only one outcome

Disadvantages of a trial study design

- time consuming - unethical for harmful exposures - most expensive

Disadvantages of a cohort study design

- time consuming - expensive - bad for rare diseases - possible loss of follow-up