A cross-sectional study is a research design used to gather data from a population or representative subset at a specific point in time. It involves collecting information on a particular phenomenon of interest, such as prevalence or incidence, and exploring its relationship with other factors. This type of study is often used to examine the distribution of health-related behaviors, conditions, or outcomes in a population. A good example of a cross-sectional study is the research conducted by Karimi-Mobarake et al. to investigate the prevalence of genu varum and genu valgum in school children in Iran. Other synonyms for cross-sectional study include prevalence study, snapshot study, and observational study. Related terms to cross-sectional study include longitudinal study, retrospective study, and prospective study.
Cross-sectional Study: A cross-sectional study is a research design that involves gathering data from a population or representative subset at a specific point in time.