Essential Epidemiology: Introduction For Students And Health

Description:
This is an accessible, easily readable, and modern introduction to epidemiology for students of medicine and public health. It combines a strong public health perspective and rationale with modern methodological insights in a coherent and straight forward way. It emphasises the fundamental principles common to all areas of epidemiology and, unlike many other texts, integrates both public health and clinical epidemiology and the study of infectious and chronic diseases. It aims to give health professionals a good understanding of the methods and potential problems underlying epidemiological data and reports but also provides a thorough introduction for would-be epidemiologists. The 'nuts and bolts' of epidemiology are embedded in the wider health perspective and the concluding chapter explores future possibilities and emphasises the integration of the various strands of the discipline. The basic messages are reinforced through numerous examples and questions, with answers provided.

Review:
'In this book, the authors have succinctly outlined the key concepts in modern epidemiology. ... the way forward is to 'think smarter' - this book provides the ideal starting point for those wanting to do just that.' International Journal of Epidemiology

Table of Contents:
1. Epidemiology is ...; 2. How long is a piece of string? Measuring disease frequency; 3. Who, what, where and when? Finding and using public health data; 4. Watching not waiting: surveillance and epidemiological intelligence; 5. Why? Linking exposure and disease; 6. Solid foundations: research designs for public health; 7. All that glitters is not gold: the problem of error; 8. Muddied waters: the challenge of confounding; 9. Bringing it together: reading and writing papers in practice; 10. Who sank the boat? Association and causation; 11. Assembling the building blocks: reviews and their uses; 12. Outbreaks, epidemics and clusters; 13. Prevention: better than cure?; 14. Early detection: what benefits at what cost?; 15. A final word ...