Consistency is assessed through systematic reviews and meta-analyses where results from multiple studies are combined and analyzed. Epidemiologists look for patterns and similarities in the direction and magnitude of associations. Consistency can also be evaluated by considering the following questions:
Do different studies report similar associations? Are the results consistent across different populations and settings? Do the findings hold true using various study designs, such as cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies? Are the results consistent over time?
