Different Study Designs in the Epidemiology of Cancer: Case-Control vs. Cohort Studies

It is only since the 1950s that most of the epidemiology studies on cancer have been conducted. The principal study designs for epidemiologic study of cancer etiology are case-control and cohort studies. These study designs have complimentary roles and distinct advantages and disadvantages. This chapter provides historical perspectives, description of the traditional and variant designs of case-control and cohort studies, and the relative advantages and disadvantages of these study designs.