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Recall Bias — NDEB AFK MCQ

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HardCommunity Dentistry & EpidemiologyRecall BiasNDEB AFK

Which of the following correctly defines a 'recall bias' in epidemiological studies?

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Correct answer: ESystematic error where participants with disease are more likely to recall past exposures than those without disease

Recall bias is a systematic error in case-control studies where cases (individuals with the disease) are more likely to remember and report past exposures (e.g., risk factors) than controls (individuals without the disease). This differential recall can lead to an overestimation or underestimation of the association between exposure and disease. For example, parents of children with cleft lip may more accurately recall prenatal drug exposures than parents of unaffected children.

Reference: Burt & Eklund – Dentistry, Dental Practice, and the Community, 7th ed., 2005