Causality Flashcards Preview

Semester 1- HaDPop > Causality > Flashcards

Flashcards in Causality Deck (14)
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1
Q

Describe an ‘epidemiological approach’

A

Only look at the start and end steps of a study

2
Q

What are the 3 Henle-Kochs Postulates?

A

A cause must be necessary, specific and sufficient

3
Q

What is a ‘cause’ with relation to a disease?

A

An exposure or factor that increases the probability of getting a disease

4
Q

List 3 reasons why a link may not be causal

A

Bias
Confounding factors
Chance

5
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘strength of association’

A

A causal link is more likely with a strong association

6
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘specificity of association’

A

A causal link is more likely when an outcome is associated with a specific factor

7
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘consistancy of association’

A

A causal link is more likely if the observation is observed in different studies and different sub-groups of a study

8
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘temporal sequence’

A

A causal link is only likely if exposure to the expected exposure precedes the outcome

9
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘dose responce’

A

A causal link is more likely if different levels of exposure to the believed factor leads to different risks of acquiring the outcome

10
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘reversibility’

A

A causal link is very likely if removal or prevention of the believed factor leads to a reduced or non-existent risk of acquiring the outcome

11
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘coherence of theory’

A

A causal link is more likely if the observed association conforms with current knowledge

12
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘biological plausibility’

A

A causal link is more likely if a biologically plausible mechanism is likely or demonstrated

13
Q

Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality:

Describe ‘analogy’

A

A causal link is more likely if an analogy exists with other diseases, species or settings

14
Q

Describe a ‘reductionist approach’

A

Breakdown each step of a study from start to end