Essential Epidemiology: An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals

by Penelope Webb, Chris Bain, Andrew Page

Overview

Epidemiology is fundamental to public health, providing the tools required to detect and quantify health problems and identify and evaluate solutions. Essential Epidemiology is a clear, engaging and methodological introduction to the subject. Now in its fifth edition, the text has been thoroughly updated. Its trademark clear and consistent pedagogical structure makes challenging topics accessible, while the local and international examples, including from the COVID-19 pandemic, encourage students to apply theory to real-world cases. Statistical analysis is explained simply, with more challenging concepts presented in optional advanced boxes. Each chapter includes information boxes, margin notes highlighting supplementary facts and question prompts to enhance learners' understanding. The end-of-chapter questions and accompanying guided solutions promote the consolidation of knowledge. Written by leading Australian academics and researchers, Essential Epidemiology remains a fundamental resource and reference text for students and public health practitioners alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009415361
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/31/2024
Edition description:	5th ed.
Pages:	458
Product dimensions:	0.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Penelope Webb, MA (Cambridge), DPhil (Oxford), is a Distinguished Scientist and Senior Group Leader at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia, and an Honorary Professor in the School of Public Health, University of Queensland. She taught basic and intermediate epidemiology to public health students across Australia for five years and has worked as a visiting scientist at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in France, and at Harvard University in the United States. She has published more than 400 original research papers in the field of epidemiology.

Chris Bain, MB BS (UQ), MPH, MSc (Harvard), formerly Reader in Epidemiology, University of Queensland, taught epidemiology to public health and medical students for over three decades and has co-authored a book on systematic reviews, as well as many research papers. He has had wide exposure to international epidemiological practice and teaching in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Andrew Page, BA(Psych) Hons (Newcastle), PhD (Sydney), is Professor of Epidemiology in the Translational Research Institute and School of Medicine at Western Sydney University, Australia. He has been teaching basic and intermediate epidemiology and population health courses to health sciences students for over fifteen years and has published more than 250 research articles and reports across a range of population health topics. He is also a senior research associate with the Center for Mind and Culture in the United States, has been a research associate at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom and previously held academic appointments at the University of Queensland and University of Sydney.

Table of Contents

1. Epidemiology is…; 2. How long is a piece of string? Measuring disease frequency; 3. Who, what, where and when? Descriptive epidemiology; 4. Healthy research: study designs for public health; 5. Why? Linking exposure and disease; 6. Heads or tails: the role of chance; 7. All that glitters is not gold: the problem of error; 8. Muddied waters: the challenge of confounding; 9. Reading between the lines: reading and writing epidemiological papers; 10. Who sank the boat? Association and causation; 11. Assembling the building blocks: reviews and their uses; 12. Public health surveillance: collecting data for public health action Martyn Kirk, Penelope Webb and Chris Bain; 13. Clusters, outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics Martyn Kirk and Penelope Webb; 14. Prevention: better than cure?; 15. Early detection: what benefits at what cost?; 16. Epidemiology and the public's health.

Editorial Reviews

'In this book, the authors have succinctly outlined the key concepts in modern epidemiology … the way forward is to 'think smarter' - this book provides the ideal starting point for those wanting to do just that.' International Journal of Epidemiology

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Eric S. Kontowicz, MPH (University of Iowa College of Public Health)
Description: This book introduces the broad field of epidemiology and directs readers to additional resources if they wish to delve deeper into a certain topic.
Purpose: The overall aims of the book are to give students a good understanding of the fundamental principles common to all areas of epidemiology and to show the essential role epidemiology plays in broad range of health monitoring and research activities. The authors want the book to be approachable and engaging, minimizing jargon and complex language while maintaining accuracy and stimulating thought. These are indeed worthy objectives, and the authors meet them.
Audience: The intended audience is masters-level epidemiology students, but it seems to be a good starting spot for most students at any level in their college career.
Features: This book covers many topics that are essential for current and future epidemiologists. General overviews of the different fields of epidemiology, i.e. infectious disease, hospital, cancer, etc., are presented as well as guidance on how to critically evaluate epidemiological studies for shortcomings. Other well-covered areas are confounding, bias, and error. One of the helpful features of the book is the inclusion of where to find additional and more in-depth discussion of various topics covered in the chapters.
Assessment: This is a great introduction to the field of epidemiology. The prompts to check further literature that appear throughout the book are very helpful.

Doody's Review Service