Cause– Effect Relationships: A Key Feature of the “Discussion” and “Conclusion” Sections of a Medical Article

A critical appraisal of etiological studies is based on the step-by-step evaluation of such studies. This requires careful review and assessment of each element in the study-from the research thesis to the selections of subjects and groups for the study through to the analysis and extrapolation of findings-to the original population and setting and beyond, individual patients, other groups, or health problems.