Based on the concept of ?conjecture and refutation? from the Popperian philosophy of science, i.e. looking for alternative causes, this book simplifies the design and inferences of human observational studies into two types: descriptive and causal. It clarifies how and why causal inference should be considered from the search for alternative explanations or causes, and descriptive inference from the sample at hand to the source population. Furthermore, it links the health policy and epidemiological concept with decisional questions, for which the basic measurement can be quality-adjusted survival time or quality-adjusted life year.
Principles of Epidemiology: A Self-Teaching Guide consists of a series of problem-solving exercises designed to introduce and guide readers toward an understanding of the principles and methods of epidemiology, rather than the epidemiology of specific diseases or subject areas such as ""infectious disease"" or ""chronic disease"" epidemiology. The guide has been formulated to be used by itself or as a supplement to standard textbooks. It illustrates and illuminates the principles and concepts of epidemiology and provides the reader an opportunity to practice the application of these principles in a logical sequence. The guide is divided into 14 exercises. Each exercise will help readers to understand principles or methods used by epidemiologist. Topics covered include the patterns of disease, populations at risk and risk assessment, screening for disease, investigation of an epidemic, etiology of disease, principles of causation, study design in epidemiologic investigation, data interpretation, and the uses and applications of epidemiology.
This book will serve as a primer for both laboratory and field scientists who are shaping the emerging field of molecular epidemiology. Molecular epidemiology utilizes the same paradigm as traditional epidemiology but uses biological markers to identify exposure, disease or susceptibility. Schulte and Perera present the epidemiologic methods pertinent to biological markers. The book is also designed to enumerate the considerations necessary for valid field research and provide a resource on the salient and subtle features of biological indicators.
The Forum on Emerging Infections was created in 1996 in response to a request from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. The goal of the forum is to provide structured opportunities for representatives from academia, industry, professional and interest groups, and government to examine and discuss scientific and policy issues that relate to research, prevention, detection, and management of emerging infectious diseases. A critical part of this mission has been the convening of a series of workshops. Public Health Systems and Emerging Infections summarizes the fourth in a series of five workshops. With a focus on our knowledge and understanding of the role of private and public health sectors in emerging infectious disease surveillance and response, the participants explored the effects of privatization of public health laboratories and the modernization of public health care. The issues discussed included epidemiological investigation, surveillance, communication, coordination, resource allocations, and economic support.
In the late 1980s, the National Cancer Institute initiated an investigation of cancer risks in populations near 52 commercial nuclear power plants and 10 Department of Energy nuclear facilities (including research and nuclear weapons production facilities and one reprocessing plant) in the United States. The results of the NCI investigation were used a primary resource for communicating with the public about the cancer risks near the nuclear facilities. However, this study is now over 20 years old. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requested that the National Academy of Sciences provide an updated assessment of cancer risks in populations near USNRC-licensed nuclear facilities that utilize or process uranium for the production of electricity. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1 focuses on identifying scientifically sound approaches for carrying out an assessment of cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear facility, judgments about the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical power, ability to assess potential confounding factors, possible biases, and required effort. The results from this Phase 1 study will be used to inform the design of cancer risk assessment, which will be carried out in Phase 2. This report is beneficial for the general public, communities near nuclear facilities, stakeholders, healthcare providers, policy makers, state and local officials, community leaders, and the media.
Written by the best-selling author of Introduction to Epidemiology, this interactive workbook will engage your students in learning and prepare them to successfully evaluate public health programs and effectively communicate information that can inform public health officials and individuals. Divided into five chapters, the book covers assessment, disease etiology and investigation, clinical topics, evaluation, and communication. Definitions of statistical concepts and terms used in medical and epidemiologic literature are provided throughout. Perfect as a companion resource to any introductory Epidemiology text, Principles of Epidemiology Workbook provides an introduction to epidemiologic methodology for conducting public health assessment. Readers will come away with solid foundation of basic causal theory for identifying determinants of adverse health-related states or events and will gain a better understanding of the biological principles underlying the natural course of disease.
Epidemiologic Research Principles and Quantitative Methods DavidG. Kleinbaum, Ph.D. Lawrence L. Kupper. Ph.D. Hal Morgenstern,Ph.D. Epidemiologic Research covers the principles and methodsof planning, analysis and interpretation of epidemiologic researchstudies. It supplies the applied researcher with the mostup-to-date methodological thought and practice. Specifically, thebook focuses on quantitative (including statistical) issues arisingfrom epidemiologic investigations, as well as on the questions ofstudy design, measurement and validity. EpidemiologicResearch emphasizes practical techniques, procedures andstrategies. It presents them through a unified approach whichfollows the chronology of issues that arise during theinvestigation of an epidemic. The book's viewpoint ismultidisciplinary and equally useful to the epidemiologicresearcher and to the biostatistician. Theory is supplemented bynumerous examples, exercises and applications. Full solutions aregiven to all exercises in a separate solutions manual. Importantfeatures * Thorough discussion of the methodology of epidemiologicresearch * Stress on validity and hence on reliability * Balanced approach, presenting the most important prevailingviewpoints * Three chapters with applications of mathematical modeling
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.