cohort study cohort study
Research that collects data from or about a group of participants over time to see whether a specific outcome happens.
Example of cohort study in a sentence
The goal of a cohort study is to see if there is a relationship between risk factors or exposures and an outcome.
More Info
A cohort study is a type of observational study that can be prospective (collecting new data) or retrospective (like chart reviews) to answer a research question.
The participants can also be grouped in a cohort study. For example, people who smoke vs. people who don’t smoke to see whether a particular health outcome occurs.
The Framingham Heart Study is an example of a cohort study. The study recruited participants and collected data about them over a period of time to see what may contribute to heart disease.
Other info to think about when joining a study
You might see the term “cohort study” used in study documents or consent forms.
You could ask the study team how long they think this study is expected to continue. Some cohort studies last for years. You may also want to consider if you want to be in a study that could last a period of time.
You could also ask the study team how they plan to collect data. They may send you questionnaires or surveys. Additionally, the study team could also call you to ask questions over the phone.
