Principles of Epidemiology (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Principles of Epidemiology: A Self-Teaching Guide 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 8
Acknowledgments 12
Introduction 14
PART I: BASIC TENETS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY 23
Chapter 1. Patterns of Disease 24
I. Risks 24
II. Rates 24
III. Population at Risk 25
IV. The "Person-Place-Time" Model 26
V. The "Host-Agent-Environment" Model 39
VI. Epidemics 42
Suggested Responses 46
Chapter 2. Population at Risk 58
I. Age- and Cause-Specific Rates 59
II. Definition of the Term Population at Risk 61
III. Populations Useful in Identifying Epidemiologie Problems 67
IV. Cohort Analysis 98
Suggested Responses 107
PART II: MEASUREMENT 120
Chapter 3. Assessing Risk 120
I. Categories of Measurement 122
II. Misleading Numbers 123
III. Measurement of Morbidity, Mortality, and Natality 130
IV. Denominators: Using Midyear Population versus Person-Time Units 139
V. Standardization—Direct and Indirect Adjustment of Rates 143
VI. Relative Risk and Attributable Risk 147
VII. Definition of Formulas 152
Suggested Responses 157
Chapter 4. Presentation of Data 173
I. Methods for Presenting and Interpreting Health-Related Data 174
II. Improperly Prepared Graphs 190
III. Dividing Data into Categories 195
IV. Dependent and Independent Variables 200
Suggested Responses 202
Chapter 5. Classification Systems 206
I. Definition and Purpose of Classification 206
II. Clinical and Epidemiologic Classification of Diseases 208
III. The International Classification of Diseases 209
IV. Effect of Grouping on Interpretation of Data 214
V. Defining the Numerator: What Is a Case? 219
Suggested Responses 222
Chapter 6. Screening for Disease 229
I. Definition of Screening 229
II. Sensitivity and Specificity 231
III. The Effect of Prevalence on Screening Test Results 233
IV. The Effect of Combinations of Tests 236
Suggested Responses 240
PART III: EPIDEMIOLOGIC STRATEGY 245
Chapter 7. Investigation of an Epidemic 245
I. Types of Epidemics 246
II. Mode of Transmission 253
III. Control Measures for Epidemics 253
IV. Outline for Epidemic Investigations 255
V. Investigation of a Food-Borne Epidemic 267
VI. Design of Epidemiologie Record Forms 280
Suggested Responses 286
Chapter 8. Etiology of Disease 295
I. Blindness X, A Noninfectious Disease 295
II. Cholera in London, 1854 310
Suggested Responses 327
Chapter 9. Principles of Causation 332
I. Concept of Causation 332
II. Historical Concepts of Causation 346
III. Epidemiologie Criteria of Causation. The Association Between Smoking and Lung Cancer 348
Smoking and Cancer 363
Suggested Responses 365
PART IV: STUDY DESIGN AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 370
Chapter 10. Study Design in Epidemiologic Investigation 370
I. Identification of an Epidemiologic Problem and Formulation of a Research Question 371
II. Objectives of Epidemiologic Studies 374
III. Design of a Study: Identifying Advantages and Limitations 379
IV. Considerations in the Design of Epidemiologic Investigations: Selecting Alternatives 385
Suggested Responses 394
Chapter 11. Problems in the Design or Presentation of Data of Epidemiologic Studies 402
I. Comparability of Case and Comparison (Control) Groups 402
II. Period of Exposure to Risk 406
III. Volunteers 412
IV. Associations, Correlations, and Trends 413
V. Inferences Derived in the Absence of a Population at Risk 416
Suggested Responses 419
Chapter 12. Bias in Epidemiologic Investigations 428
I. Definition of Bias 428
II. Berkson's Bias 429
III. Attrition Bias 430
IV. Sources of Bias 431
V. Avoiding Bias 432
VI. Examples of Biased Data 433
Suggested Responses 440
Chapter 13. Evaluation of Epidemiologic Reports 445
I. Outline for Evaluating an Epidemiologic Report 446
II. Reports to be Evaluated 449
Suggested Responses 460
Chapter 14. Uses and Applications of Epidemiology 468
I. Who Needs Epidemiology? 468
II. Surveillance 470
III. Risk Factors and Prevention of Disease 480
IV. Epidemiology in Health Services Research 491
Suggested Responses 498
Appendix I: Bibliography of Readings in Epidemiology and Public Health 503
Appendix II: Suggested Examination Questions for Coursework Evaluation 527
A. ANALYSIS OF A DISEASE OUTBREAK 527
B. EVALUATION OF AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC REPORT 527