There are several types of epidemiological study designs, each with its own strengths and limitations. The choice of study design depends on the research question and the feasibility of conducting the study. Common study designs include:
Cohort Studies: Follow a group of people over time to assess the development of outcomes. Case-Control Studies: Compare individuals with a disease (cases) to those without (controls) to identify risk factors. Cross-Sectional Studies: Assess the prevalence of outcomes or exposures at a single point in time. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Randomly assign participants to intervention or control groups to evaluate the effect of an intervention.
