Epidemiology For Dummies

Become a disease detective with this easy-to-understand resource

Epidemiology For Dummies is packed with key concepts, practical applications, and real-life examples in the study of disease transmission and control. It's a must-have for students in all public-health-related fields, and for curious learners, too. This Dummies guide will help you conquer even the trickiest epidemiological concepts. In this introduction to the fascinating, complex science, you’ll learn—in terms anyone can understand—all the basic principles of epidemiology, plus how those concepts translate to public health outcomes and policy decisions.

• Learn the basic principles and concepts of epidemiology
• Discover real-world examples and public health threats
• Understand the complex social factors that influence health
• Embark on a public health career or just pass your epidemiology course

Anyone who wants or needs to understand the fundamentals of epidemiology and the science behind public health will love Epidemiology For Dummies.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Epidemiology 5

Chapter 1: Entering the World of Epidemiology 7

Chapter 2: Epidemiology 101 — Understanding the Basics 17

Chapter 3: Exploring the Development of Epidemiological Thinking 41

Chapter 4: Eyeing the Milestones in Public Health 59

Chapter 5: Recognizing Diseases and Controlling Them 77

Part 2: Understanding Disease Causation 103

Chapter 6: Tackling the Epidemiologic Triangle 105

Chapter 7: Inspecting Descriptive Epidemiology: Person, Place, and Time 117

Chapter 8: Viewing Disease Patterns 135

Chapter 9: Linking Demography and Disease 149

Chapter 10: Digging into Math: Calculating Rates and Risks 163

Part 3: Prevention Is Better Than a Cure 187

Chapter 11: Focusing on the Levels of Prevention 189

Chapter 12: Preventing Disease with Vaccine 199

Chapter 13: Recognizing Methods of Disease Surveillance 223

Chapter 14: Investigating an Outbreak 231

Chapter 15: Identifying Disease by Screening 247

Part 4: Examining a Study Finding 265

Chapter 16: Figuring Out Whether an Association Is Causal 267

Chapter 17: Investigating the Types of Epidemiologic Studies 287

Chapter 18: Encountering Bias and Confounding 313

Chapter 19: Focusing On Ethics in Health Research 329

Part 5: The Part of Tens 343

Chapter 20: Ten Careers with a Degree in Epidemiology 345

Chapter 21: Ten Tips for Acing Your Epidemiology Classes 351

Glossary 357

Index 363

Amal K. Mitra, MD, DrPH, is an internationally recognized scientist and public health leader with more than 25 years of experience in higher education and health research. He is a Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Become a “disease detective” with epidemiology

Are you studying epidemiology in college or are you a concerned citizen who wants to understand the causes and effects of disease in your community? In Epidemiology For Dummies, you’ll get easy-to-follow help learning about the crucial aspects of public health. From epidemiology’s basic concepts to the most up-to-date descriptions of contemporary epidemiologic methods, this handy guide gets you up to speed with real-world examples and the latest public statistics. You’ll also find out about disease prevention and how to properly read a scientific study in your favorite medical journal.

Inside…

• Understand epidemiological basics
• Examine disease causation
• Find out how to prevent disease
• Discover disease surveillance methods
• Investigate outbreaks
• Spot disease patterns
• Make essential calculations
• Interpret scientific studies