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Epidemiology and Public Health Intelligence

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Public Health Intelligence

Abstract

This chapter provides an introduction to epidemiology. It covers the key epidemiological concepts such as bias and confounding, as well as providing an overview of the nature, history and types of epidemiology. The main epidemiological study designs are described, including case series, ecological, cross-sectional, case–control, cohort, randomised controlled trial and systematic review. The advantages and disadvantages of each are summarised, and some of the ethical issues in doing research are considered. The ‘hierarchy of evidence’ framework is contrasted with an approach which recognises the most appropriate study design to answer different questions about population health. This chapter will examine the role of epidemiology in public health intelligence and develop students’ or learners’ knowledge and skills to carry out thorough, rigorous and meaningful research and investigation relevant to public health.

After reading this chapter you should be able to:

  • Define epidemiology and differentiate between descriptive epidemiology and analytical epidemiology

  • Describe the basic study designs, principles and methods used in epidemiology

  • Explore key issues related to the design and conduct of studies

  • Recognise the role of epidemiology in public health intelligence

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems.

From Last 2001—Dictionary of Epidemiology

The original version of this chapter was revised. An erratum to this chapter can be found at DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-28326-5_13

An erratum to this chapter can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28326-5_13

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK

    Isabelle Bray

  2. Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury Campus, IHR-32, Luton, LU2 8LE, UK

    Krishna Regmi

Authors
  1. Isabelle Bray
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  2. Krishna Regmi
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Correspondence to Isabelle Bray .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom

    Krishna Regmi

  2. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Ivan Gee

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Bray, I., Regmi, K. (2016). Epidemiology and Public Health Intelligence. In: Regmi, K., Gee, I. (eds) Public Health Intelligence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28326-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28326-5_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28324-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28326-5

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