The duration of an epidemiological study is important for several reasons:
Incubation Periods: Some diseases have long incubation periods, and a short study duration may fail to capture new cases. Long-term Outcomes: Chronic diseases often require long follow-up times to observe the development of outcomes. Resource Allocation: Longer studies usually require more resources in terms of time, money, and personnel. Statistical Power: Longer durations can increase the statistical power of a study by providing more data points.
