[The application of counter-matching design in epidemiological research].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the application of counter-matching design in epidemiological research.


METHODS
Through elaboration of the study about gene-environment interactions in the etiology of breast cancer, methodology regarding counter-matching design and statistic methods was introduced.


RESULTS
This design improved the potential for detecting gene-environment interactions for diseases when both gene mutations and the environmental exposures of interest were rare in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
Counter-matching appearsed to be more appropriate than most traditional epidemiologic methods for the study of interactions involving rare factors.
Hu
Xiao-yun
XY
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
Wang
Jian-hua
JH
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male