Includes bibliographical references and index

CONTENTS

What is epidemiology? The nature, scope, variables, principal measures, and designs of a biological, clinical, social and ecological science
The epidemiological concept of population
Variation in disease by time, place, and person: background and a framework for analysis of genetic and environmental effects
Error, bias and confounding in epidemiology
Cause and effect: the epidemiological approach
Interrelated concepts in the epidemiology of disease: natural history and incubation period, time trends in populations, spectrum, iceberg, and screening
The concept of risk and fundamental measures of disease frequency: incidence and prevalence
Summarizing, presenting and interpreting epidemiological data: building on incidence and prevalence
Epidemiological study designs and principles of data analysis: a conceptually integrated suite of methods and techniques
Epidemiology in the past, present and the future: theory, ethics, context, and critical appraisal

Epidemiology is a population science that underpins health improvement and health care, by exploring and establishing the pattern, frequency, trends, and causes of a disease. Concepts of Epidemiology comprehensively describes the application of core epidemiological concepts and principles to readers interested in population health research, policy making, health service planning, health promotion, and clinical care