Frequently Asked Questions
Glossary
Project
A project is a collaborative, funded endeavor, that occurs over a defined period of time, involving research, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.
A planned initiative aim to respond the specific population's needs through the implementation of targeted and coordinated actions.
Study
A study is a program of data collection and/or analysis of the data collected using a methodology to answer a particular research question.
An approach that enables knowledge to be acquired, using a methodology and objectives specific to the research question.
Data Collection
A data collection is a systematic gathering of data in order to answer a specific research question.
A process aim to obtain relevant and specific information in order to answer a research question
Design
Framework, or the set of methods and procedures used to collect and analyze data on variables specified in a particular research problem.
Cross-sectional study
This is a transversal study, in which individuals are selected from a previously defined population and provide information on exposure and outcomes in a single point in time without any follow-up.
dos Santos Silva, I. (1999). Cancer epidemiology: principles and methods. IARC.
Cohort studies (longitudinal)
An observational epidemiological study in which subsets of a defined population can be identified who are, have been, or in the future may be exposed or not exposed to a factor or factors hypothesized to influence the occurrence of a given outcome.
Porta M (ed) (2014) A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Prospective cohort
The study is performed by tracking exposure to outcome from the present (prospective).
Belbasis, L., & Bellou, V. (2018). Introduction to epidemiological studies. Genetic Epidemiology: methods and protocols, 1-6.
Retrospective cohort
The study goes back in time to identify the cohorts and follows them up to the present (retrospective).
Belbasis, L., & Bellou, V. (2018). Introduction to epidemiological studies. Genetic Epidemiology: methods and protocols, 1-6.
Case – control studies
Study groups include cases, selected based on the outcome of interest, and controls (comparison group without the outcome of interest); information on relevant exposures is collected retrospectively by the researchers.
dos Santos Silva, I. (1999). Cancer epidemiology: principles and methods. IARC.
Nested case-control study/ Case-cohort study
A type of case-control study in which cases and controls are drawn from the population in a cohort study.
Porta M (ed) (2014) A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Intervention studies
An investigation involving intentional change in some aspect of the status of the subjects, e.g., introduction of a preventive or therapeutic regimen or an intervention designed to test a hypothesized relationship.
Porta M (ed) (2014) A dictionary of epidemiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Age Group (WHO)
- Adult: Aged between 18-65 years
- Senior: Aged 66 years or over
- Neonate: Newborn up until 28 days of age
- Child: Aged between 29 days and 17 years
- All: People from all age ranges
- Mixed: People from two or three different age groups
EPI studies
An observational study that compares two groups of people that are similar in every way other than for one variable, for example, two demographically similar populations living in similar conditions other than one population is exposed to a potentially damaging chemical
Activity pattern data
Data that characterize the habits/behaviour of the target population (WHO/IPCS, 2004, part 2).
Activity pattern
Habits/behaviour of the target population
Biological Sex
Refers to the physical and physiological characteristics of an individual. It is determined by anatomy (genitalia, reproductive organs), chromosomes (XX, XY, or variations), and hormones (such as estrogen and testosterone)
Gender identity is how individuals perceive themselves and how they identify, which may not necessarily align with their biological sex.