Reconsidering the Use of "Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study"

Abstract

Ahmad Farid Daanish

Precise methodological terminology is essential for the validity, interpretation, and reproducibility of scientific research. The term “cross-sectional retrospective study” has increasingly appeared in the medical literature, although its interpretation remains inconsistent and may introduce conceptual ambiguity. A PubMed search identified more than 13,000 publications using the terms “cross-sectional retrospective study” or “retrospective cross-sectional study”. Cross-sectional studies are designed to estimate prevalence or assess exposures and outcomes at a single point in time without temporal follow-up, whereas retrospective approaches generally involve backward temporal inquiry or the use of pre-existing data. Although this issue has previously been discussed in the methodological literature, the terminology continues to appear frequently in published studies. This commentary further examines the conceptual distinction, discusses possible sources of ambiguity, provides additional clarification, highlights the potential consequences of imprecise terminology, and encourages the use of clearer alternative expressions.

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