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The importance of causal relationships in medicine and health care 

The importance of causal relationships in medicine and health care
Chapter:
The importance of causal relationships in medicine and health care
Author(s):

Mark Elwood

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199682898.003.0002
Page of

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date: 11 April 2021

This shows the importance and relevance of causal relationships in clinical medicine, public health, and wider healthcare and social issues. It gives a definition of causation, and distinguishes necessary, sufficient, and general quantitative causation. Randomised trials are discussed as showing a direct test of causation. Epidemiological methods of counting disease are explained, showing mortality, incidence, prevalence, disease duration, the relationship between these, and cumulative incidence.

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