Differentiating between Prospective and Retrospective cohort studies
Prospective cohort studies
Investigator
- Starts the study (from the beginning) with the identification of the population and the exposure status (exposed/not exposed groups)
- Follows them (over time) for the development of disease
- Takes a relatively long time to complete the study
Retrospective cohort studies
Investigator
- Uses existing data collected in the past to identify the population and the exposure status (exposed/not exposed groups)
- Determines at present the (development) status of disease
- spends a relatively short time to study population (and the exposed/not exposed groups) from past data
- Determine disease status at the present time (no future follow-up)