Behavioral Epidemiology: Principles and Applications

by Ray M. Merrill, Cara L Frankenfeld, Michael D. Mink, Nancy Freeborne

Overview

Behavioral Epidemiology: Principles and Applications is the first of its kind to bring together the disciplines of the social/behavioral sciences and epidemiology. The text reviews how we study health in relation to behaviors, the complexities of such studies, ways to minimize these complexities, and how to use this knowledge to prevent and control disease in human populations. By combining these disciplines, this book provides a foundation for students and researchers in the methods used to study behavior, drawing upon mutually successful methods, and discussing what to do when these disciplines overlap or interact. This text is ideal for master’s level or early doctoral graduate students in the behavioral sciences, epidemiology, or public health, as well as researchers from other fields interested in an introduction to population-based research of behavior and health. © 2016 | 300 pages

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781449648275
Publisher:	Jones & Bartlett Learning
Publication date:	08/05/2015
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Ray M. Merrill, Ph.D., M.P.H. has been actively involved in epidemiology and biostatistics'since his professional career began in 1995. As a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute, he worked with leading researchers in the area of cancer epidemiology. In 1998 he joined the faculty in the Department of Health Science at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, where he continued his research in epidemiology. Since 1999 he has also held an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. In 2001, he spent a sabbatical working in the Unit of Epidemiology for Cancer Prevention at the International Agency for Research on Cancer Administration, Lyon, France. He has won various awards for his research in cancer epidemiology.Dr. Merrill'currently teaches introductory and advanced level classes in epidemiology and biostatistics. He has over 100 professional publications in epidemiology and public health journals. He is currently a full professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Brigham Young University.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xi

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Public Health and Epidemiology 1

Behavioral Sciences 3

Behavioral Epidemiology 4

Descriptive Epidemiology of Health Behaviors 6

Natural History of Disease 7

Behavior and the Epidemiologic Transition 10

Summary 12

References 13

Chapter 2 Behavioral Sciences Research 15

Basic Research in the Behavioral Sciences 16

Applied Research in the Behavioral Sciences 17

Behavioral Psychology 19

Group Influences on Behavior 22

Health Behavior in the Workplace 23

Health Behavior Affected by Larger Systems 24

Linking Health Behaviors with Health Outcomes 34

Adjunct Areas of Research 35

Summary 36

References 37

Chapter 3 Health Behavior and Theory 45

Health Behavior and Disease Prevention 46

Prolonged Life 47

Health Education and Promotion 51

Health Behavior Theories 54

Summary 65

References 66

Chapter 4 Determinants of Behavior 69

Cause and Effect 70

Decision Making 71

What Is a Behavioral Determinant? 72

Taxonomy of Behavioral Determinants 75

Common Behavioral Determinants 77

Summary 89

References 90

Chapter 5 Behavioral Epidemiologic Research 93

Elements of the Study Plan 94

The Question 94

Background and Significance 95

Research Design 96

Study Participants 101

Variables 101

Statistical Issues 102

Validity 106

Communicating the Results 107

Research Ethics 108

Summary 112

References 113

Chapter 6 Frequency Measures in Epidemiology 115

Data 116

Exposure Data 117

Outcome Data 120

Ratios, Proportions, and Rates 122

Additional Epidemiologic Measures for Describing Cohort Data 138

Summary 140

References 141

Chapter 7 Sources and Uses of Available Population-Based Behavior Data 143

Secondary Data Analysis 144

Ancillary Studies 153

Systematic Reviews 153

Summary 159

References 160

Chapter 8 Data Collection, Misclassification, and Missing Data 163

Sampling 164

Methods of Sampling 165

Sample Size 167

Questionnaires, Interviews, and Online Surveys 172

Interviewer Training 180

Data Management 181

Sources of Error 182

Missing Data 186

Summary 187

References 188

Chapter 9 Statistical Application to Behavior Data 191

Descriptive Statistics 192

Probability 194

Statistical Inference 195

Statistical Techniques 203

Multiple Regression 212

Analysis of Variance 215

Chi-Square for Evaluating Ratios and Proportions 216

Summary of Statistical Techniques and Tests by Variable Type 219

Group Behavior Clusters 221

Summary 222

References 223

Chapter 10 Epidemiological Input for Selecting Behavioral Intervention Targets 225

Cause and Causal Inference 226

Historical Thinking about Causality 229

Causal Models 233

Causal Assumption in Epidemiologic Measures 243

Developing Interventions 244

Summary 249

References 251

Application Section 255

Case Study I Cigarette Smoking and Lung Cancer 257

Case Study II Oral Contraceptive Use and Ovarian Cancer 265

Case Study III Identifying Biomarkers That Predict Diabetes and Hypertension 271

Case Study IV Physical and Mental Health Predictors of Exercise/Physical Activity 277

Index 285

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Jennifer A Schlichting, PhD, MS (University of Iowa College of Public Health)
Description: This book succinctly, yet comprehensively, covers the underlying theories and application of health education and promotion and epidemiology to population health.
Purpose: According to the authors, the purpose "is to advance the field of public health by providing epidemiologic tools to behavioral scientists and behavioral context to epidemiologists." These are worthy objectives because, while there is some overlap in the practice of these public health fields, those in health education and promotion may find the application of the epidemiological methods and biostatistics helpful in identifying behavioral targets for public health interventions, while epidemiologists may find the health behavior and promotion theories informative when examining disease risk and prevention factors, many of which will involve human behaviors. The book largely meets the objectives, with a thorough discussion of epidemiology applied to behavioral disease risk factors. Additional discussion of how health behavior theory can inform epidemiological studies and their design would have furthered this objective.
Audience: The authors intend the book for behavioral scientists looking for epidemiological tools and epidemiologists looking for behavioral context. However, the book appears more geared to the former with a heavy emphasis on the application of basic epidemiological and biostatistical research methods, and less emphasis on orienting trained epidemiologists to human behavior theory. In any event, this would serve as a good entry-level book for beginner epidemiology students interested in behavioral causes of disease, as well as for behavioral scientists, especially those who trained outside of the public health field, interested in using epidemiological methods for their research.
Features: In addition to covering health behavior theory and epidemiological and biostatistical methods, the book lays out a beginning framework for the steps involved in conducting an epidemiological research study, including design, data collection and sources, and analysis. This will be a great resource for beginning epidemiology students interested in behavioral research, as well for behavioral researchers interested in conducting epidemiological studies. The book is relatively brief, and the summaries at the end of the chapters make for efficient reading and review. Figures clearly depict and enhance understanding of health behavior and epidemiological causation models, while the tables allow for quick review of theories and statistical formulas. The case studies at the end further enhance the application of the information.
Assessment: While other beginning books cover health behavior and promotion models as well as epidemiology, this book serves as a good, succinct resource, especially for beginning students with an interest in behavioral epidemiology. It appears geared toward behavioral scientists, especially those not trained in public health, looking for an introduction to epidemiologic methods, and the specific coverage of behavioral risk factors will likely be of more interest and value to this group than other introductory epidemiology books widely in use, such as Epidemiology: An Introduction, 2nd edition, Rothman (Oxford University Press, 2012) or Epidemiology, 5th edition, Gordis (Elsevier, 2014)).

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