Epidemiology

This resource reviews the current status of cancer epidemiologic research and training — rationale, requisite infrastructure, methodologic principles, and illustrative examples in low- and middle-income countries — in order to facilitate future advances by trained health professionals. It summarizes and reviews research studies that are in progress concerning major prevalent cancers of the breast, uterine cervix, lung and bronchus, upper aerodigestive tract, stomach, liver, colon, and HIV-associated cancers. It also covers specific studies conducted in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East, as well as studies in Australia, Europe, North America, and in populations that migrate from LMICs to developed countries. The result is a valuable resource for both program leaders as well as graduate and post-graduate students pursuing careers in international cancer epidemiologic research.Less

Epidemiology is a population science that underpins health improvement and health care, and is concerned with the pattern, frequency, trends, and causes of disease. This book teaches its applications to population health research, policy-making, health service planning, health promotion, and clinical care. The book emphasizes concepts and principles. In 10 chapters, the book explains what epidemiology is; illustrates the basis of epidemiology in populations; provides a framework for analysing diseases by time, place, and person; introduces error, bias, and confounding; explains how we move from association to causation; considers the natural history, spectrum, and iceberg of disease in relation to medical screening; discusses the acquisition and analysis of data on incidence and prevalence of risk factors and diseases; shows the ways in which epidemiological data are presented, including relative and absolute risks; provides an integrated overview of study designs and the principles of data analysis; and considers the theoretical and ethical basis of epidemiology both in the past and the future. The emphasis is on interactive learning, with each chapter including learning objectives, theoretical and numerical exercises, questions and answers, and a summary. The text is illustrated, with detailed material in tables. The book is written in plain English, and the necessary technical and specialized terminology is explained and defined in a glossary. The book is for postgraduate courses in epidemiology, public health, and health policy. It is also suitable for clinicians, undergraduate students in medicine, nursing and other health disciplines, and researchers.Less

This book presents a system of critical appraisal applicable to clinical, epidemiological and public health studies and to many other fields. It assumes no prior knowledge. The methods are relevant to students, practitioners and policymakers. The book shows how to assess if the results of one study or of many studies show a causal effect. The book discusses study designs: randomised and non-randomised trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and surveys, showing the presentation of results including person-time and survival analysis, and issues in the selection of subjects. The system shows how to describe a study, how to detect and assess selection biases, observation bias, confounding, and chance variation, and how to assess internal validity and external validity (generalisability). Statistical methods are presented assuming no previous knowledge, and showing applications to each study design. Positive features of causation including strength, dose-response, and consistency are discussed. The book shows how to do systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and discusses publication bias. Systems of assessing all evidence are shown, leading to a general method of critical appraisal based on 20 key questions in five groups, which can be applied to any type of study or any topic. Six chapters show the application of this method to randomised trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case-control studies. An appendix summarises key statistical methods, each with a worked example. Each main chapter has self-test questions, with answers provided.Less

Current Topics in Occupational Epidemiology is an in-depth study of contemporary issues and emerging themes in the field. Divided into seven parts it discusses 'new' occupational diseases such as pneumonia in welders, as well as 'older' diseases including morbidity and mortality among miners. Societal trends have encouraged the application of occupational epidemiological methods to new issues such as the ageing workforce, return to work after illness, and the migration of workers. This resource tackles these issues, as well the extension of epidemiology to surveillance systems, systematic reviews, and economic analyses.Less

This volume provides a practical, hands on guide to the design, planning, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiological studies. The learning points are applicable to all human studies of health and disease that require the collection and analysis of data to answer questions on disease risk, health outcomes, and the effects of interventions in ‘real world’ populations. It summarizes the main study designs used in epidemiological from purely quantitative studies to assess incidence and prevalence, to the range of observational studies used in the modern practice of epidemiology. A substantial section is devoted to the practical aspects of conduct of epidemiological studies, balancing scientific quality with practicality: the latter covering issues such as costs and ethics. This book also provides a detailed menu of activities that takes the investigator through all the necessary steps following the collection of individual subject data through to generating the statistically robust results necessary to reach conclusions about the questions asked. It provides insights into how to use existing data (secondary data analysis) to answer epidemiological questions, an increasing activity in this era of ‘big data’. Similarly, with a growing epidemiological literature, with multiple studies seemingly addressing the same question, the volume explores how practically to synthesize the results of such multiple investigations and the role of meta-analysis. The book’s ultimate goal is to provide a practical toolkit to enable the successful completion of questions appropriate for applying epidemiological methods.Less

Essentials of Environmental Epidemiology for Health Protection guides front-line public health practitioners through the decisions they are likely to face when dealing with environmental health problems, and shows how to integrate relevant aspects of environmental science, communication sciences, toxicology, and environmental epidemiology skills to conduct initial investigations.Less

This completely updated edition offers a practical introduction to exposure assessment methodologies in environmental epidemiologic studies. In addition to methods for traditional methods -- questionnaires, biomonitoring -- this new edition is expanded to include geographic information systems, modeling, personal sensoring, remote sensing, and OMICs technologies. In addition, each of these methods is contextualized within a recent epidemiology study, maximizing illustration for students and those new to these to these techniques. With clear writing and extensive illustration, this book will be useful to anyone interested in exposure assessment, regardless of background.Less

Infectious disease epidemiology is the application of methods and approaches used to understand the distribution and determinants of health and disease to the study of infections. This handbook provides a comprehensive and succinct overview of the subject and covers related specialist areas needed to understand the epidemiology of infections. The book is divided into two parts. The first section introduces basic concepts in infectious disease epidemiology; how to design studies and investigate outbreaks, statistical analysis, and more specialist subjects such as economic analysis, mathematical modelling, and spatial, molecular, and immuno-epidemiology. The second half of the book describes the epidemiology of infectious diseases of global significance, either due to their current burden or their potential for causing morbidity and mortality. The handbook is organized in such a way that a reader can sequentially read chapters or dip in to revise particular concepts.Less

This book is based on the content covered during the non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention short course at the University of Oxford. It provides theoretical background and ‘real life case studies’ helping readers to apply the learnings to their day-to-day work. It covers case studies from both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. This book is structured around the four stages of the policy cycle: (1) problem definition; (2) solution generation; (3) resource mobilization and implementation; and (4) evaluation. Chapters 2–7 focus on problem definition, which involves understanding the burden of NCDs, its risk factors, the sociopolitical landscape, the role of advocacy, and screening and surveillance. Chapters 8–10 are about solution generation, which involves examining the evidence for potential costs and benefits of interventions, while also considering contextual factors, including the ethical and political dimensions of different solutions. Chapters 11–13 are on implementation and the mobilization of resources, both the money needed for material aspects of the interventions and the people required to plan for and carry out the interventions. Chapter 14 is about evaluation and monitoring, which may be designed to assess whether interventions met their aims and objectives. Given the cyclical nature of the policy cycle, the final chapter is about returning to the various stages. NCD prevention does not always follow the stages of the policy cycle in a strict sequence and often, NCD interventions will need revisiting in light of the experiences and lessons learned from earlier stages.Less

This online resource provides a concise review of preventive medicine and public health topics that are relevant to any practitioner in preventive medicine, occupational medicine, internal medicine, or aerospace medicine needing a comprehensive review of the topics in preventive medicine and public health. It will also serve as an ideal review before preventive medicine board examinations for candidates taking them for the first time and those taking them for recertification.Less

This comprehensive resource not only summarises the management of common symptoms and disorders but also outlines the increasing evidence base for the efficacy of these techniques. This new edition has been fully revised to appeal to the whole rehabilitation team. Less

The Oxford Textbook of Community Mental Health is the most comprehensive and authoritative review published in this field.

The Oxford Textbook of Infectious Disease Control discusses the issues of geographical spread of human communicable diseases. Split into six chapters it tackles surveillance, quarantine, vaccination, and forecasting for disease control. A wide selection of representative maps and diagrams are used to illustrate the ideas explored. Less

The Oxford Textbook of Zoonoses comprehensively provides a systematic, cross disciplinary approach to the science and control of all zoonoses - diseases naturally transmissible between vertebrate animals and man.Less

The association between mental health and physical health forms the core of this book. While it is recognized that serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia carry a reduced life expectancy, it is often assumed that suicide is the main cause of this disparity. But in actuality, suicide accounts for no more than a third of the early mortality associated with schizophrenia: the vast majority is due to cardiovascular factors. This book seeks to put this stark fact in context, detailing the extent of cardiovascular risk, sharing information regarding reasons for this excess, and outlining approved approaches for screening for and treatment of such risk factors in people with schizophrenia. As such, this book seeks to inform those caring for people with schizophrenia of these parameters and suggests ways in which they may be addressed, using a holistic model which embraces shared decision-making and which is compatible with the recovery framework. It provides guidance regarding monitoring as well as information about focused interventions that can help ameliorate risk. It also addresses those physical health factors apart from cardiovascular, that add to the burden of ill health amongst people with schizophrenia: pulmonary health, bone health, sexual health, and cancer risk are just some of these. In addition, the book provides patient and carer information material that can be used to try to ensure that all involved have a truly informed role in decision-making about their treatment and that both psychiatric and physical health issues are taken seriously.Less

Population health science is the study of the conditions that shape distributions of health within and across populations, and of the mechanisms through which these conditions manifest as the health of individuals. It is an emerging discipline, in the process of solidifying a theoretical framework and cannon of methods. In this textbook, nine principles of population health science are articulated. In addition, across 13 chapters, a detailed examination of these principles and their implications for the formation of theory, hypotheses, and data analysis to frame and inform the values with which population scientists conduct work are provided. The health challenges that place burdens on populations and individuals continue to require rigorous scientific effort; this book is a tool for both educators and researchers to use as a foundation for conducting research that will improve communities and shape health in the coming decades.Less

A Practical Guide to Using Qualitative Research with Randomized Controlled Trials focuses on qualitative research, emphasizing subjectivity, flexibility, open data collection, depth, and context, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), emphasizing objectivity, standardization, measurement, and a key goal of bias reduction. The differences between the two methodologies make their combination an interesting ‘extreme case’ of mixed methods research. The book is about how to use qualitative research when preparing for, undertaking, or implementing the results of an RCT. The focus is on a range of designs, including pilot and pragmatic RCTs. The book focuses on health research because the majority of RCTs are undertaken in this field. It is written for researchers who are undertaking or planning to undertake qualitative research with RCTs. The book may also be useful to researchers leading RCTs and graduate students. It does not explain how to do qualitative research or how to do RCTs. The book focuses on how to undertake qualitative research in the specific context of RCTs. The book is divided into three parts. Part 2 offers the practical guidance promised within the title of the book. Each chapter focuses on key steps when undertaking qualitative research in the context of RCTs: writing a proposal, selecting research questions, collecting data, analysing data, integrating qualitative and quantitative components, and publishing. Part 1 sets the scene for the practical aspects. Part 3 focuses on the human beings we work closely with during research and offers practical advice to ensure these interactions are positive and fruitful.Less

This resource provides a general introduction to epidemiological techniques for psychiatric research. As demand grows for evidence based practice in psychiatry, there is increasing use of epidemiological methods for studies into causes, prognosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders, although working in the field of mental health throws up its own particular challenges. This resource explains how to adapt the tried and tested methods used in generic epidemiology to the special circumstances of psychiatric epidemiology.Less

What is going to happen to me, doctor?’ ‘What outcomes am I likely to experience?’ ‘Will this treatment work for me?’ Prognosis—forecasting the future—has always been a part of medical practice and caring for the sick. In modern healthcare it now has a new importance, with large financial investments being made to personalize clinical decisions and tailor treatment strategies to improve individual health outcomes based on prognostic information. Prognosis research—the study of future outcomes in people with a particular health condition—provides the critical evidence for obtaining, evaluating, and implementing prognostic information within modern healthcare. This new book, written and edited by experts in the field, including clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, and other healthcare professionals, is a comprehensive and unified account of prognosis research in the broadest sense. It explains the concepts behind prognosis in medical practice and prognosis research, and provides a practical foundation for those developing, conducting, interpreting, synthesizing, and appraising prognosis studies. It recommends a framework of four basic prognosis research types, pioneered by the PROGRESS group, and provides explicit guidance on the conduct, analysis, and reporting of prognosis studies for each type. Key topics are overall prognosis in clinically relevant populations; prognostic factors associated with changes in prognosis across individuals; prognostic models for individual outcome risk prediction; and predictors of treatment effects. Examples are given of the impact of prognosis research across a broad range of healthcare topics, and the book also signals the latest developments in prognosis research, including systematic reviews and meta-analysis of prognosis studies, and the use of electronic health records and machine learning in prognosis research.Less