Hills criteria of causation

1. HILLS CRITERIA OF
CAUSATION
Mohan Bastola
BPH 2ND Semester
EDENBURGH INTERNATIONAL
COLLAGE

2. The Bradford hill criteria also known
as hill’s criteria for causation, are a
group of six principles, established in
1965 by the English epidemiologist Sir
Austin Bradford Hill. They can be
useful in establishing epidemiologic
evidence of a causal relationship
between a presumed cause and an
observed effect and have been widely
used in public health research.

3. 1) Temporal Relationship : Exposure
always proceeds the outcome
term porv the onset of a disease
which is purported to produce to
allow for any necessary period
induction and latency. This
requirement is basic to the causal
concept.

4. 2) Dose-Response Relationship : As
the dose of exposure is increase,
if a dose response relationship
are present and then it represents
strong evidence for causal
relationship. Absence of it doesn’t
necessarily rule out a causal
relationship. For e.g. : heavy
smoker have been showed to be
at a higher risk of lungs cancer
than light smoker.

5. 3) Consistency of Association : The
association is consistent, if the
results are replicated when
studied in different setting and by
different method.

6. 4) Biological plausibility : Causal
association is supported if there
is biological credibility to the
association i.e., the association
agrees with current
understanding of the response of
cells, tissues, organs and system
to stimuli.

7. 5) Coherence of Association : This
should be compatible with
existing theory and knowledge. It
is necessary to evaluate claims of
causality within the context of the
current state of knowledge within
a given field and in related field.

8. 6) Experimental Evidence : Well
designed randomized controlled
trials and randomize community
trials can provide strong
corroboration of suspected causal
association.

9. Thank you !