The limits of precision in risk-factor epidemiology, and some practical lessons in communicating it

Carl V. Phillips; Igor Burstyn

doi:10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100339

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The limits of precision in risk-factor epidemiology, and some practical lessons in communicating it

Journal article

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The limits of precision in risk-factor epidemiology, and some practical lessons in communicating it

Carl V. Phillips and Igor Burstyn

Dialogues in health, p100284

Aug 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100339

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Abstract

Authors and consumers of epidemiology research need to understand just how imprecise the results of epidemiology studies are. As a start on this, authors need to stop implicitly claiming orders-of-magnitude more precision than is warranted by their methods and data. The present paper briefly summarizes why everyone should understand this, and provides a bit of advice to authors about reducing incorrect and potentially harmful claims of precision.

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Title: The limits of precision in risk-factor epidemiology, and some practical lessons in communicating it
Creators: Carl V. Phillips (Corresponding Author) - Southern New Hampshire Medical Center
Igor Burstyn - Drexel University
Publication Details: Dialogues in health, p100284
Publisher: Elsevier
Resource Type: Journal article
Language: English
Academic Unit: Environmental and Occupational Health
Other Identifier: 991022201581804721

The limits of precision in risk-factor epidemiology, and some practical lessons in communicating it

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Abstract

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