Epidemiologic Methods

This second edition of Epidemiologic Methods offers a rigorous introduction to the concepts and tools of epidemiologic research. Aimed chiefly at future epidemiologists, the book offers clear descriptions, practical examples, and question/answer sections for each of the science's key concepts. Authored by two award-winning epidemiology instructors, this book is ideally suited for use as a text in a graduate-level course sequence in epidemiologic methods. The book's chapters are organized around three main themes: general concepts and tools of epidemiology; major study designs; and special topics, including screening, outbreak investigations, and use of epidemiology to evaluate policies and programs. With addition exercises at the end of each chapter and expanded attention to topics such as confounding, this new edition Epidemiologic Methods is an indispensable resource for the next generation of epidemiologic study. Covers many concepts in greater depth than most other introductory books, making it an ideal course text or practical reference for those learning and conducting epidemiologic studies Uses real-life examples to make material more consequential and applicable Provides thought-provoking questions and answers at the end of nearly every chapter Addresses a well-balanced set of topics in the key content areas of a graduate-level course in epidemiologic methods Includes material on several topics rarely covered in other introductory texts, including temporal aspects of exposure-disease associations, approaches to enhance the "sensitivity" of epidemiologic studies, use of epidemiologic methods for evaluation of policies and programs, and ecological/multi-level studies Noel S. Weiss, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, and Thomas D. Koepsell, Professor, Departments of Health Services and Epidemiology, University of Washington CONTENTS Preface 1 Introduction: An Epidemic of Blindness in Young Children 2 Diseases and Populations 3 Disease Frequency: Basic 4 Disease Frequency: Advanced 5 Overview of Study Designs 6 Sources of Data on Disease Occurrence 7 Person, Place, and Time 8 Inferring a Causal Relation Between Exposure and Disease 9 Measures of Excess Risk 10 Measurement Error 11 Confounding and its Control: Basic 12 Confounding and Its Control: Advanced 13 Randomized Trials 14 Cohort Studies 15 Case-Control Studies 16 Ecologic and Multi-Level Studies 17 Induction Periods and Latent Periods 18 Improving the Sensitivity of Epidemiologic Studies 19 Screening 20 Outbreak Investigation 21 Evaluating the Effects of Policies on Health