Misclassification can significantly impact the results and conclusions of an epidemiological study.
Bias: Non-differential misclassification generally biases the association towards the null, reducing the apparent strength of the association. Differential misclassification can either overestimate or underestimate the association. Reduced validity: It undermines the internal validity of a study, making it less likely to reflect the true relationship between exposure and outcome. Reduced statistical power: Misclassification can lead to increased variability, thereby reducing the statistical power to detect a true association.
