A cross-sectional study is a type of observational study that analyzes information collected from a population, at a specific point in time. It involves looking at people who differ on one key characteristic at one specific point in time. The data is collected at the same time from people who are similar on other characteristics but different on a key factor.
Cross-sectional studies involve data collected at a defined time. They are often used to assess the prevalence of acute or chronic conditions, or to answer questions about the causes of disease or the results of intervention. They may also be described as censuses. Cross-sectional studies may involve special data collection, including questions about the past, but they often rely on data originally collected for other purposes.
