Study on bias and confounding in 'Spatial Epidemiology'.

Author: Yi-biao ZHOU ¹ ; Qing-wu JIANG ; Gen-ming ZHAO
Author Information

1. The Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
MeSH: Bias; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology); Ecology; Epidemiology; Geographic Information Systems; Geography; Humans; Socioeconomic Factors; Space-Time Clustering
From: Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2005;26(2):135-139
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo explore the biases and confoundings in Spatial Epidemiological studies.
METHODSPossible bias and confounding and their impact on study results in Spatial Epidemiology were analyzed in given examples.
RESULTSIn Spatial Epidemiology, biases related to ascertainment/numerator/denominator induced by the choice of the disease induction/latency period and mis-specification of exposure-disease model, exposure inaccuracy, spatial dependency, significance tests etc. were involved, as well as to ecological, socio-economic confoundings factors.
CONCLUSIONThe sources of bias in 'Spatial Epidemiology' were both numerous and complex, that might be overestimated or underestimated on the study results. Hence, careful interpretation of such studies was needed.