CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A cohort study is primarily characterized by a focus on the exposure and incidence of disease over time. In this type of study, a group of individuals (the cohort) is followed over a certain period to observe how different exposures or interventions affect the incidence of a particular outcome, such as a disease. Researchers collect data at multiple time points, which allows for the examination of temporal relationships between exposure and disease development. This longitudinal aspect is crucial as it helps establish the sequence of events and the potential causal links between exposure and outcomes.

The other options do not align with the defining features of a cohort study. For instance, a design limited to one-time data collection would pertain to cross-sectional studies rather than cohort studies, which require repeated observations. A comparison of individuals with and without a disease is typical of case-control studies, not cohort studies, which are more concerned with looking at differences in outcomes based on exposure status. Lastly, while retrospective evaluations may play a role in some cohort studies, especially when using existing records to define exposures or outcomes, the primary characteristic of cohort studies is their prospective nature, tracking changes over time.