Choosing the right study design for the causal question
We are proud to share that a paper co-authored by Jessica Young is among the Top 10 most-cited papers in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety for 2024.
The paper, “Core Concepts in Pharmacoepidemiology: New-User Designs,” explores how the target trial framework can support clearer causal inference in real-world studies.
It highlights three essential design choices:
•New-User vs. Non-User → initiation vs. no therapy
•Active Comparator (ACNU) → comparison between treatment options
•Prevalent New-User (PNU) → treatment switching or discontinuation
Aligning the study design with the causal question is essential for valid RWE.
At Quantify Research, we see this daily: robust methodology is the foundation of credible RWE.
Congratulations to all co-authors and collaborators on this recognition.
Read the open-access paper: Here
What design considerations do you find most critical when aiming for causal clarity in RWE?
