Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

In a prospective cohort study, what is primarily measured?

1. Incidence of disease

2. Accessibility to treatment

3. Historical treatment outcomes

4. Retrospective attitudes towards exposures

The correct answer is: Incidence of disease

In a prospective cohort study, the primary focus is on measuring the incidence of disease among participants over time as they are followed forward from exposure to outcome. This type of study design begins with a group of individuals who are initially free of the disease and assesses them for new occurrences of the disease as they are exposed to certain risk factors or interventions. By tracking the cohort over time, researchers can determine the rate at which new cases of the disease develop, which provides valuable information about the potential relationships between exposures and the onset of disease. This dynamic allows for the observation of changes and the identification of causal links that may not be evident in other study designs. Other answer choices explore different aspects that are not the main focus of a prospective cohort study. Accessibility to treatment refers to healthcare availability, which is not the primary measurement objective. Historical treatment outcomes look back at data from past treatments rather than assessing future disease incidence. Retrospective attitudes towards exposures involve subjective analysis of past behaviors or exposures, which is not the methodological foundation of a prospective cohort study. Thus, the measurement of the incidence of disease stands out as the central goal of this study design.