Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

A study that looks at the causation of a disease is a(n) ______________ study.

1. Cross-sectional.

2. Descriptive.

3. Evaluative.

4. Systemic review.

The correct answer is: Evaluative.

A study that investigates the causation of a disease is best characterized as an evaluative study. Evaluative studies focus on establishing relationships between potential risk factors and health outcomes, aiming to determine how certain factors lead to specific health conditions or diseases. This type of study typically employs methodologies such as cohort, case-control, or randomized controlled trials to assess causation effectively. In contrast, cross-sectional studies examine data at a single point in time and are generally descriptive rather than causal. Descriptive studies provide insights into the characteristics of a population or phenomenon without delving into cause-and-effect relationships. Systematic reviews, while valuable in summarizing existing research, do not directly study causation themselves but instead synthesize findings from multiple studies. Thus, evaluative studies are specifically designed to analyze and establish causative links, making it the appropriate choice for the question.