What the book chapter offers
This chapter provides a nice introduction to different types of longitudinal studies: prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and clinical follow-up studies. It breaks down complex epidemiological concepts into digestible, jargon-free explanations. Honest discussion of limitations (e.g., long follow-ups for chronic diseases) paired with pragmatic workarounds (retrospective designs, national controls) prepares learners for real research hurdles.
The other chapters in the book cover other types of observational studies such as surveys, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies and ecological studies, as well as experimental studies, and may also be of interest.
Who created it
This chapter is part of an online textbook Epidemiology for the Uninitiated, published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The authors are D Coggon, Reader in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton UK; Geoffrey Rose, Late Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London UK; and DJP Barker, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Director, Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton UK.
