Concepts of Epidemiology: An integrated introduction to the ideas, theories, principles and methods of epidemiology

Concepts of Epidemiology: An integrated introduction to the ideas, theories, principles and methods of epidemiology

by JohnLast (Author), RajBhopal (Author)

Synopsis

Epidemiology concerns the frequency, pattern, and causes of disease in populations. It is one of the most important modern sciences underpinning health and healthcare - including medicine, public health and professions allied to medicine. Concepts of Epidemiology explains and illustrates the key concepts (language, principles and methods) that underpin the science of epidemiology and its applications to policy making, health service planning and health promotion. Richly illustrated, there are exercises to help readers deepen their understanding, with detailed material captured in tables. Each chapter ends in a summary, and all technical and specialised terminology is explained and defined in a glossary. The book places heavy emphasis on integrating the ideas of epidemiology.Topics include: the nature and scope of epidemiology; the epidemiological concept of population; variation in disease by time, place and person; error, bias, risk modification and confounding; cause and effect; the concepts of natural history, spectrum, iceberg, population patterns and screening; risk and measures of disease frequency; presentation and interpretation of epidemiological data on risk; study design; and theoretical, ethical, contextual, practical and critical foundations of epidemiology.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 25 Apr 2002

ISBN 10: 0192631551
ISBN 13: 9780192631558
Book Overview: Entered for the Society of Authors and the Royal Society of Medicine Medical Book Awards 2002

Media Reviews
What I like about this book is that it gives a thorough introduction to epidemiology. This subject can be taught in a very difficult and complex manner, and scare everybody away. Bhopal's Concepts of Epidemiology leads the reader through the different themes in a very nice manner; the language is easy to understand, as are the definitions and explanations of concepts and the many useful illustrations. It's a great introducory book for the novice as well as a useful reference book for the seasoned researcher. A reviewer on Amazon.com I particularly liked the overarching approach of the book that raised epidemiology to rather more than sums applied to sick people. It firmly embeds epidemiology as an important part of a multidisciplinary and holistic... public health. A Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, January 2007 this is a book that introduces the philosophy behind epidemiology first, before getting onto the details of how it is done. Reading it makes one feel that that is probably the best way to teach the subject, and I heartily recommend this book. It will form a welcome addition to my own shelf. Public Health This is a marvellous intermediate level textbook on epidemiology. It explains (without too much confusing dependence on formulae and methodological detail) and focuses on concepts rather than minutiae. It makes clever use of boxes to encourage the reader to reflect on key ideas before giving a robust and simple explanation. The other great strength of this superb book is that it brings together different ideas in explanation of the basic ideas of epidemiology. British Medical Association Book Awards Committee 2003 A great source for [the] beginner and intermediate medical student learning epidemiology. The author manages to explain the basic concepts of epidemiology and allow medical students to widen their scope. At the same time, more complex phenomena are explained in an easy and intuitive manner, allowing students to fully understand the principles underlying modern epidemiological concepts ... I would recommned this book to all students who are new to public health concepts for its clear style and easy knowledge transfer, as well as those who are interested in epidemiology in a deeper level. Reviewer on Amazon.com This is a well-presented text for the serious graduate student of epidemiology - it address the conceptual basis of epidemiology in a stimulating way. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Instructors can expect the book to lighten their task, and students the endeavour to learn a new subject eased. International Journal of Epidemiology A brilliant synthesis of the ideas, theories, principles and methods of epidemiology which will be of interest to both beginners and connoisseurs alike. The book is peppered with questions and mental exercises to keep readers on their toes. His closing thoughts on the future of epidemiology are particularly worth reading. Dr Laurence Gruer, Director for Postgraduate and Continuting Education in Public Health Medicine, Public Health Institute of Scotland It can be recommended, not only to the target readership, but to many others with, perhaps, a more casual interest in the explanation of the distribution of diseases in human populations, and the understanding of their causes, prevention and control. British Dental Journal Professor Bhopal's book is a model of what a decent epidemiological text should be... The book is notable for its openness, a quality too often lacking in medical texts. The limitations and problems of the epidemiological approach are explored along with the strengths, triumphs and possibilities. I recommend this text most sincerely to all students of the subjects and even to those who think they know it all already. Review posted on Amazon.co.uk Innovative and fresh... stands out from the vast majority of other Epidemiology texts... exceptionally clearly written... should very quickly establish itself as one of the important Epidemiology texts. Review posted on Amazon.co.uk For a health care professional that was going back to school after 8 years, one of the things I dreaded was dreary textbooks. The intricate blend of other disciplnes such philosophy and history, as well as real life cases and experiments used, brought epidemiology alive for me. I ended up reading the book thrice, and didn't have a boring moment! Review posted on Amazaon.co.uk