This textbook presents epidemiology in a practical manner, contextualized with discussions of theory and ethics, so that students and professionals from all academic backgrounds may develop a deep appreciation for how to conduct and interpret epidemiological research. Readers will develop skills to: -Search for and appraise literature critically, -Develop important research questions, -Design and implement studies to address those questions, -Perform and interpret fundamental statistical estimations and tests, -Consider the ethical implications of all stages of research, -Report findings in publications, and -Advocate for change in the public health setting. Epidemiology is and will remain a discipline in motion, and this textbook aims at reflecting this dynamism and keeping pace with its momentum. This textbook is not only a classroom tool with high utility but also an essential reference and guide for those engaging in research involving human subjects.
Epidemiology has been defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of health states or events in defined populations and its application to the control of health problems. Psychiatric epidemiology has continued to develop and apply these core principles in relation to mental health and mental disorders. This long-awaited second edition of Practical Psychiatric Epidemiology covers all of the considerable new developments in psychiatric epidemiology that have occurred since the first edition was published. It includes new content on key topics such as life course epidemiology, gene/environment interactions, bioethics, patient and public involvement in research, mixed methods research, new statistical methods, case registers, policy, and implementation. Looking to the future of this rapidly evolving scientific discipline and how it will to respond to the emerging opportunities and challenges posed by 'big data', new technologies, open science and globalisation, this new edition will continue to serve as an invaluable reference for clinicians in practice and in training. It will also be of interest to researchers in mental health and people studying or teaching psychiatric epidemiology at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Practical Epidemiology: Using Epidemiology to Support Primary Health Care builds on the successful Manual of Epidemiology for District Health Management, that was published by the WHO Geneva in 1989. This title focuses on the importance of using epidemiological concepts and skills by health workers in Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), in particular to investigate, plan and deliver primary health care services and to strengthen district level public health programmes. It also includes illustrations and examples relevant to a hypothetical district population of 200,000 people. The book outlines the importance of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Health Organisation's principles for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and then focuses on the role of district health systems in supporting national primary health care and the use of epidemiological and demographic information in the planning of local and national health services and programmes. Chapters include the collection of health information, outbreaks due to communicable diseases, use of investigations and health surveys, data analysis and statistics, and importance of communicating health findings and policies. Using a systems approach together with epidemiological methods it demonstrates how district health planning and primary health care can be strengthened and how progress can be monitored and evaluated, including for improvements in access, quality and coverage of health services and public health programmes. Ethical principles and tackling inequalities are considered throughout the book. A full chapter on the A B C of epidemiological definitions and terms is also included. This book will be particularly relevant for undergraduate and postgraduate university training courses for health professionals and for in-service short and revision courses for a wide range of health workers.
Applies traditional epideiologic methods for determining disease etiology to the real-life applications of public health and health services research. This text contains a chapter on the development and use of systematic reviews and one on epidemiology and the law.
A guide in basic statistics emphasises its practical use in epidemiology and public health, providing understanding of topics such as study design, data analysis and statistical methods used in the execution of medical research. This title includes sections on Correlation and Linear Regression, as well as exercises reflecting working life.
It is an inescapable fact that causation, both generally (in populations), and specifically (in individuals), cannot be observed. Rather, causation is determined when it can be inferred that the risk of an observed injury or disease from a plausible cause is greater than the risk from other plausible causes. While many causal evaluations performed in forensic medicine are simplified by the fact that the circumstances surrounding the onset of an injury or disease clearly rules out competing causes (eg, a death following a fall), there are many cases that present a more complicated picture. It is these types of investigations, in which an analysis of comparative levels of risk from competing causes is needed to arrive at a reliable and accurate determination of the most likely cause, that forensic epidemiology (FE) is directed at.In Forensic Epidemiology, the authors present the legal and scientific theories underlying the methods by which risk is used in the investigation of individual causation. Methods and principles from epidemiology are combined with those from a multitude of other disciplines, including general medicine, pharmacology, forensic pathology, biostatistics, and biomechanics, inter alia, as a basis for investigating the plausibility of injury and disease exposures and mechanisms. The ultimate determination of the probability of causation (PC) results from an assessment of the strength of association of the investigated relationship in the individual, based on a comparison between the risk of disease or injury from the investigated exposure versus the risk of the same disease or injury occurring at the same point in time in the individual, but absent the exposure. The principles and methods described in Forensic Epidemiology will be of interest to those who work and study in the fields of forensic medicine, epidemiology, and the law. - Historical perspective on how epidemiologic evidence of causation has been used in courts in the US and Europe - Theory and science underlying the use of risk to assess individual causation - Primer on epidemiologic methods, and various measures used to arrive at individualized comparative risk assessments and PC - The use of statistical methods applied to publicly available data for ad hoc analysis of PC applicable to the specific circumstances of a case - Background on complementary disciplines, including forensic pathology, death investigation, biomechanics, and survival analysis - Examples of applied FE in the investigation of traffic injury and death, automotive and other product defect litigation, medical negligence, and criminal prosecution and defense
Written by nurses for nurses, this graduate-level text disseminates the core principles of epidemiology within a population health framework and provides practical knowledge nurses can use to analyze and improve healthcare in the community. Informed by the evolution of epidemiological science resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, this book demonstrates how epidemiology can have a profound impact on health. It showcases a variety of settings and epidemiological roles demonstrating the importance and practicality of this discipline. Clear and concise, this text explains the basics of population health followed by epidemiology concepts and designs. It is distinguished by its application-based case studies, analytical tools of epidemiology, and calculations, which foster skill development and necessary familiarity of the subject. Also included is an important Biostatistics Primer, relevant content from Healthy People 2030, and an "Epidemiology in Practice" section focusing on examples from different epidemiology arenas. Key Features: Includes application-based cases, tools, and calculations throughout to help students develop practical epidemiologic skills Provides background and understanding of health disparities and determinants of health Includes relevant information from Healthy People 2030 Includes discussion questions, learning objectives, terminology review, tables, and figures in each chapter Delivers up-to-date information on epidemiology in the time of Covid-19 Includes access to an Instructor's Manual with additional case studies
Quantitative Research Methods for Health Professionals: A Practical Interactive Course is a superb introduction to epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology for the whole health care community. Drawing examples from a wide range of health research, this practical handbook covers important contemporary health research methods such as survival analysis, Cox regression, and meta-analysis, the understanding of which go beyond introductory concepts. The book includes self-assessment exercises throughout to help students explore and reflect on their understanding and a clear distinction is made between a) knowledge and concepts that all students should ensure they understand and b) those that can be pursued by students who wish to do so. The authors incorporate a program of practical exercises in SPSS using a prepared data set that helps to consolidate the theory and develop skills and confidence in data handling, analysis and interpretation.