Principles of Epidemiology

AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I. Basic Tenets of Epidemiology Exercise 1. Patterns of Disease I. Risks II. Rates III. Population at Risk IV. The "Person-Place-Time" Model V. The "Host-Agent-Environment" Model VI. Epidemics Suggested Responses Exercise 2. Population at Risk I. Age- and Cause-Specific Rates II. Definition of the Term Population at Risk III. Populations Useful in Identifying Epidemiologic Problems IV. Cohort Analysis Suggested ResponsesPart II. Measurement Exercise 3. Assessing Risk I. Categories of Measurement II. Misleading Numbers III. Measurement of Morbidity, Mortality, and Natality IV. Denominators: Using Midyear Population versus Person-Time Units V. Standardization—Direct and Indirect Adjustment of Rates VI. Relative Risk and Attributable Risk VII. Definition of Formulas Suggested Responses Exercise 4. Presentation of Data I. Methods for Presenting and Interpreting Health-Related Data II. Improperly Prepared Graphs III. Dividing Data into Categories IV. Dependent and Independent Variables Suggested Responses Exercise 5. Classification Systems I. Definition and Purpose of Classification II. Clinical and Epidemiologic Classification of Diseases III. The International Classification of Diseases IV. Effect of Grouping on Interpretation of Data V. Defining the Numerator: What is a Case? Suggested Responses Exercise 6. Screening for Disease I. Definition of Screening II. Sensitivity and Specificity III. The Effect of Prevalence on Screening Test Results IV. The Effect of Combinations of Tests Suggested ResponsesPart III. Epidemiologic Strategy Exercise 7. Investigation of an Epidemic I. Types of Epidemics II. Mode of Transmission III. Control Measures for Epidemics IV. Outline for Epidemic Investigations V. Investigation of a Food-Borne Epidemic VI. Design of Epidemiologic Record Forms Suggested Responses Exercise 8. Etiology of Disease I. Blindness X, a Noninfectious Disease II. Cholera in London, 1854 Suggested Responses Exercise 9. Principles of Causation I. Concept of Causation II. Historical Concepts of Causation III. Epidemiologic Criteria of Causation. The Association between Smoking and Lung Cancer Suggested ResponsesPart IV. Study Design and Interpretation of Data Exercise 10. Study Design in Epidemiologic Investigation I. Identification of an Epidemiologic Problem and Formulation of a Research Question II. Objectives of Epidemiologic Studies III. Design of a Study: Identifying Advantages and Limitations IV. Considerations in the Design of Epidemiologic Investigations: Selecting Alternatives Suggested Responses Exercise 11. Problems in the Design or Presentation of Data of Epidemiologic Studies I. Comparability of Case and Comparison (Control) Groups II. Period of Exposure to Risk III. Volunteers IV. Associations, Correlations, and Trends V. Inferences Derived in the Absence of a Population at Risk Suggested Responses Exercise 12. Bias in Epidemiologic Investigations I. Definition of Bias II. Berkson's Bias III. Attrition Bias IV. Sources of Bias V. Avoiding Bias VI. Examples of Biased Data Suggested Responses Exercise 13. Evaluation of Epidemiologic Reports I. Outline for Evaluating an Epidemiologic Report II. Reports to be Evaluated Suggested Responses Exercise 14. Uses and Applications of Epidemiology I. Who Needs Epidemiology? II. Surveillance III. Risk Factors and Prevention of Disease IV. Epidemiology in Health Services Research Suggested ResponsesAppendix I. Bibliography of Readings in Epidemiology and Public HealthAppendix II. Suggested Examination Questions for Coursework Evaluation