Case-Control Studies

A Case-control study is an observational research design usually performed when a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is not feasible. A case-control study is particularly helpful when the outcome of interest is harmful, the outcome is rare or the outcome takes a long time to develop. In this chapter, readers will be introduced to this particular study design. The reader will learn how to appraise a Case-Control study that appears in the surgical literature. The surgeon-investigator will learn the key methodological steps that need to be considered before attempting to answer a clinical problem with this study design.