Measuring outcomes in a longitudinal birth cohort.
Longitudinal studies are often focussed on specific outcomes to address predetermined hypotheses. Nevertheless, many discoveries have been made with data collected that were not part of the original design. Measurement of a broad range of outcomes is therefore important. Here we describe examples of the types of outcome that a birth cohort should collect, with emphasis on accuracy. We emphasise the use of continuous traits as well as of dichotomous outcomes, using a variety of examples.
Golding
Jean
J
Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. jean.golding@bristol.ac.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult