Epidemiologists use various methods to identify causal pathways:
Observational Studies: These include cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies that observe the relationship between exposure and outcomes. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Considered the gold standard for determining causality, RCTs randomly assign subjects to exposure or control groups to assess the effect of interventions. Biological Mechanisms: Understanding the biological processes that link exposure to outcomes helps to elucidate the causal pathway. Statistical Methods: Techniques like regression analysis, path analysis, and structural equation modeling help in quantifying the relationships between variables in a pathway.
