Epidemiologists use various study designs to identify causes and risk factors:
1. Observational Studies: These include cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. Observational studies are particularly useful for studying risk factors. 2. Experimental Studies: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for determining causality. These studies involve manipulating one or more factors to observe their effect on disease outcomes. 3. Statistical Methods: Techniques like regression analysis and multivariate analysis help in understanding the relationship between potential risk factors and disease outcomes.
