causal pathway

A depiction, in a schematic, for example, of the direct and indirect linkages between interventions and outcomes.

Note: For a clinical problem, this method typically includes a subject population, one or more intervention modalities (e.g. screening, diagnoses or treatment), intermediate outcomes (e.g. biological markers) and health outcomes. Causal pathways are intended to clearly and explicitly define the questions to be addressed in an assessment, and they are useful in identifying pivotal linkages for which scientific data may be lacking.

Syn.: analytical framework.