Causal inference from observational data in neurosurgical studies: a mini-review and tutorial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Establishing a causation relationship between treatments and patient outcomes is of essential importance for researchers to guide clinical decision-making with rigorous scientific evidence. Despite the fact that randomized controlled trials are widely regarded as the gold standard for identifying causal relationships, they are not without its generalizability and ethical constraints. Observational studies employing causal inference methods have emerged as a valuable alternative to exploring causal relationships.

Methods

In this tutorial, we provide a succinct yet insightful guide about identifying causal relationships using observational studies, with a specific emphasis on research in the field of neurosurgery.

Results

We first emphasize the importance of

SUBMITTER: Liu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11813971 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature