correlating risk factors

• What should you be able to describe by the end of the video?

  How to determine whether risk factors are linked to a non-communicable disease
• What is the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases?

  Communicable diseases are spread from person to person, while non-communicable diseases are caused by risk factors
• What is a good example of a non-communicable disease mentioned in the video?

  Lung cancer
• Why couldn't scientists carry out experiments on humans to determine the causes of lung cancer?

  It would be unethical to experiment on humans
• What is the study of patterns of disease to determine risk factors called?

  Epidemiology
• How did scientists link cigarette smoking to lung cancer?

  By studying people's lifestyle habits and observing correlations
• What type of correlation did scientists find between the number of cigarettes smoked and the risk of developing lung cancer?

  A positive correlation
• What does a correlation between two variables not prove?

  It does not prove causation
• What did scientists plot to determine the correlation between smoking and lung cancer?

  A scatter graph
• What is a causal mechanism?

  A scientific explanation of how one factor can cause another
• What harmful substances in cigarette smoke are known to increase the risk of cancer?

  Carcinogens
• What conclusion did scientists reach regarding smoking and lung cancer?

  Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer
• What is the potential problem with sampling in epidemiology?

  Samples may be biased and not represent the entire population
• Why is it important to take a large and random sample in epidemiological studies?

  To avoid bias and ensure representativeness
• What should you not do when drawing conclusions from a sample?

  Draw conclusions from a small or non-random sample
• What are the key points regarding sampling in epidemiology?

  • Avoid bias by taking a large sample
  • Ensure the sample is as random as possible
  • Do not draw conclusions from small or non-random samples
• What type of questions can be found in the provided workbook related to the video content?

  Questions on correlation and sampling
• What is the relationship between the number of years a person smoked and the risk of developing lung cancer?

  There is a positive correlation
• How do scientists determine if a risk factor is linked to a disease?

  By studying correlations and causal mechanisms