Causal analyses in longitudinal observational studies in oral health: A scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Causal analysis including causal inference and causal mediation is pivotal to inform effective interventions. In modern epidemilogy, causal analysis involves four key steps: formulating causal questions, employing directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), conducting data management and selecting statistical strategies. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to assess how longitudinal observational studies (LOSs) in dental field have integrated these four steps to contribute leverage evidence that inform oral public health interventions.

Methods

LOSs focusing on determinants of dental caries published from 2012 to 2024 were systematically retrieved from five major databases. The Joanna Briggs Institute-scoping review guidance and the Covidence application were employed

SUBMITTER: Dao ATM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11754146 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature