Case of the Long-Lived Orchestra Conductors
2016
This case introduces the public health practice of causal critical appraisal through using, as an example, the claim that orchestra conductors live longer than members of other occupational groups because they are conductors. Evaluating causal claims about exposures that keep us healthy, make us sick, and help us get better again, is central to public health practice but often complex, and requires one to “think like an epidemiologist.” This case is a suitable introductory case because it does not require subject matter expertise in theories of longevity or causes of death, as learners progress from basic to higher-level concepts. The case concludes by introducing confounding and confirmation bias.
This case includes guidance for instructors, including learning objectives and discussion questions. It is the eleventh in an 11-case collection written by students in the MPH class of the Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health at Western University, Canada. The cases may be freely copied and used for educational purposes by an accredited educational institution.
Case of the Long-Lived Orchestra Conductors
Source:
Speechley M. The Case of the Long-Lived Orchestra Conductors. Western Public Health Casebook. Public Health Casebook Publishing 2016. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/westernpublichealthcases/vol2016/iss1/17.