In which one of the following study designs can the relative risk be calculated DIRECTLY?

• A Case-control study
• B Case-crossover study
• C Cross-sectional study
• D Prospective cohort study ✓

Explanation

A prospective cohort starts with exposure status known and follows both groups to observe incidence, giving incidence in exposed and unexposed groups whose ratio is the relative risk directly. In a case-control study, sampling fractions of cases and controls differ and denominators are unavailable, so only the odds ratio can be computed. The cross-sectional study yields prevalence ratios, not incidence-based risks.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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