Prospective cohort studies use existing longitudinal data to look back for a temporal relationship between exposure factors and outcome development.

The appropriate choice is based on the definition of prospective cohort studies. In this type of study, researchers recruit participants and then follow them over time to observe the outcomes after they have been exposed to certain risk factors or interventions. This means that the data on exposure is collected before the outcomes occur, allowing for a direct assessment of how exposure influences the development of outcomes as they unfold.

Unlike retrospective studies that look back in time using existing data to assess relationships between past exposures and outcomes, prospective cohort studies work with data collected forward from a specific point in time. This forward-looking approach provides a clearer temporal relationship, which is crucial for establishing causality rather than mere correlation.

Consequently, the assertion that prospective cohort studies use existing longitudinal data to look back is inaccurate, reinforcing that the correct response is that the statement is false.