Epidemiologic Methods: Studying the Occurrence of Illness

by Noel S. Weiss, Thomas D. Koepsell

Overview

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 additional exercises at the end of each chapter and expanded attention to topics such as confounding, this new edition of Epidemiologic Methods is an indispensable resource for the next generation of epidemiologic study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199387786
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/03/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	560
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Noel S. Weiss, MD, DrPH, has been a faculty member at the University of Washington and at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center since 1973. His research has been in the areas of cancer epidemiology and clinical epidemiology. He has authored or co-authored more than 600 publications, including three books. At the University of Washington he has received awards for teaching and mentoring, and in 2011 was selected by the Congress of Epidemiology as the first winner of the Alfred Evans Award for teaching and mentoring. Thomas D. Koepsell, MD, MPH, is Professor Emeritus and past Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington. He has conducted research on a wide variety of noninfectious diseases, and has over 375 publications. He is also Professor Emeritus in the Department of Health Services and has applied epidemiologic methods in the evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention programs. Dr. Koepsell has received three prizes for outstanding teaching and served as President of the Society for Epidemiologic Research.

Table of 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

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Margaret L Chorazy, MPH, PhD (University of Iowa College of Public Health)
Description: This is the second edition of at once an introductory and intermediate book of epidemiological methods. The experience is enriched with real-world examples and challenging end-of-chapter exercises.
Purpose: According to the authors, the purpose is to provide "an introduction to the field for people who intend to conduct epidemiologic research themselves, or who need methodological expertise to interpret and synthesize properly the results of epidemiologic research produced by others."
Audience: It is intended for beginning and intermediate students of epidemiology. It would be appropriate for both masters- and doctoral-level epidemiology students, but may be beyond the reach of undergraduate public health students. Medical students, clinicians, and public health practitioners may also find it useful. The authors are both recognized epidemiological experts and award-winning instructors at the University of Washington.
Features: This book provides a foundation in epidemiological data and measures, study design, causal inference, and threats to validity. Chapters also provide examples of epidemiological methods in practice - screening, outbreak investigation, and program evaluation. Two topics - measures of disease frequency and confounding - are divided among two chapters each, the first providing an introduction and the second providing an advanced treatment of the subject. It is perhaps the end-of-chapter questions that steal the show. The questions will challenge both beginning and advanced students, with answers oftentimes requiring application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation rather than rote memorization of the chapter's contents.
Assessment: The second edition expands upon important topics such as confounding and use of epidemiological methods in program and policy evaluation. This may be an appropriate textbook for use across either or both Epidemiology I and Epidemiology II courses or as a companion to other introductory or advanced epidemiology textbooks.

Doody's Review Service

"The second edition expands upon important topics such as confounding and use of epidemiological methods in program and policy evaluation. This may be an appropriate textbook for use across either or both Epidemiology I and Epidemiology II courses or as a companion to other introductory or advanced epidemiology textbooks." — Doody's Health Sciences Review

From the Publisher