Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide for Exam Success

The type of study in which individuals with a disease are compared to those without the disease is known as a case-control study. In this study design, researchers start by identifying participants based on the presence (cases) or absence (controls) of a specific condition or disease. This retrospective approach allows investigators to examine previous exposures, risk factors, or outcomes that may have contributed to the development of the disease.

Case-control studies are particularly useful for studying rare diseases or conditions, as they focus on individuals already diagnosed with the disease and look back in time to identify potential associations with various exposures. This method helps to establish a correlation between risk factors and outcomes, facilitating further understanding of the disease's etiology.

Cohort studies, in contrast, follow individuals over time based on their exposure status to see how many develop the disease, while cross-sectional studies assess data at a single point in time without distinguishing between cases and controls. Clinical trials are experimental studies designed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for recognizing why case-control studies specifically focus on comparing those with and without the disease.