Hospital-Based, Case-Control Study in Maharashtra With Cancer Patients: Research Methodology and Its Practical Challenges

Case-control studies can be challenging when conducted with a hospital-based control group. This case study provides a reflection on the methods and the practical challenges of carrying out face-to-face interviews and clinical examinations in a hospital-based case-control study through the personal experience of the lead researcher. The aim of the study was to find an association of behavioral risk factors like tobacco, alcohol, and poor oral hygiene with the increased of upper aero-digestive tract cancers. In this case study, I intend to highlight the perspective of the lead researcher to plan and implement the study on ground with specific focus on pre-study planning and data collection which are the backbone of any study to achieve valid outcomes in a realistic and time bound manner.