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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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