Vobecky J S, Vobecky J, Froda S
Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
J Clin Epidemiol. 1988;41(3):261-5. doi: 10.1016/0895-4356(88)90130-8.
This study raises the question of the validity of conclusions based on recalled data by testing the maternal ability to report vital events on her newborn infant after 8 years. First, the retrospective information given by the mother was compared to the prospective data collected immediately after birth. Second, the validity of statistical analyses based on retrospective data was discussed. A dispersion model was used and discrepancies were found between the two sets of data collected in two different ways on the same subjects. It was concluded that the use of retrospective information can lead to false results in regression analyses and could invalidate comparisons in case-control studies because of the difference in variability between cases and controls.
本研究通过测试母亲在8年后报告其新生儿重要事件的能力，对基于回忆数据得出的结论的有效性提出了质疑。首先，将母亲提供的回顾性信息与出生后立即收集的前瞻性数据进行比较。其次，讨论了基于回顾性数据的统计分析的有效性。使用了离散模型，发现在同一受试者上以两种不同方式收集的两组数据之间存在差异。得出的结论是，回顾性信息的使用可能会导致回归分析得出错误结果，并且由于病例组和对照组之间变异性的差异，可能会使病例对照研究中的比较无效。
