Epidemiology Foundations

Peter J. Fos is provost and professor of health sciences at the University of Texas at Tyler. He is an internationally known decision scientist and epidemiologist. He maintains adjunct faculty positions at the University of Southern Mississippi College of Health and at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, School of Health-Related Professions, and is a visiting scholar at the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Health Professions.

• Figures ixTables xiPreface xvThe Author xixChapter 1: Why Epidemiology? 1Introduction 2Public Health and Community Medicine 2Defi nition of Epidemiology 3Population Health 9Population Trends 10Health Costs 15Global Health Threats 17Summary 17Chapter 2: History of Epidemiology 21Historical Perspectives 22Uses of Epidemiology 29Examples of Cohort Studies 30Summary 31Chapter 3: Health and Disease 35Defi nitions 36Distinction Between Health and Disease 37Disease Progression 39Cause and Effect 43Summary 49Chapter 4: Describing Health and Disease 53Descriptive Epidemiology 54Hypotheses 55Descriptive Variables 56Examples of Use of Descriptive Information 75Summary 76Chapter 5: Measuring Health and Disease 79Morbidity 80Mortality 90Other Measures 97Graphing Health and Disease Measurements 102Confounding 105Summary 108Chapter 6: Epidemiology Study Designs: Observational and Experimental Studies 113Defi nition of Observational Studies 114Framework and Types of Observational Studies 114Descriptive Studies 115Analytical Studies 119Examples of Observational Studies 123Definition of Experimental Studies 124Framework and Types of Experimental Studies 125Clinical Trials 126Bias and Validity 131Examples of Experimental Studies 132Summary 133Chapter 7: Uses of Epidemiological Studies 137Introduction 137Observational Studies 139Experimental Studies 152Summary 153Chapter 8: Epidemics 159Definition 160Transmission 161Response to Epidemics 165Surveillance 170Reportable Diseases 171Examples 171Summary 174Chapter 9: Epidemiology and Society 179Introduction 180Social Determinants 181Socioeconomic Factors and Health 183The Built Environment 185Summary 188Chapter 10: Screening for Disease 193Prevention and Epidemiology 194Screening 195Accuracy of Screening Tests 196Summary 207Chapter 11: Community Public Health 211Introduction 212Community Health Workers 213Community Level Planning and Evaluation 214Examples 218Public Health Programs 219Public Health Agencies 224Summary 225Chapter 12: Epidemiology Today 229Emergency Preparedness 230Global Health 232Emerging Diseases 236Chronic Diseases 247Summary 256Notes 259Index 275