Ray M. Merrill - Introduction to Epidemiology

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Merrill, Ray M, author.
Title: Introduction to epidemiology / Ray M. Merrill.
Description: Eighth edition. | Burlington, Massachusetts : Jones & Bartlett Learning, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019025620| ISBN 9781284171105 (paperback) | ISBN 9781284170702 (paperback)
Subjects: | MESH: Epidemiologic Methods | Epidemiology
Classification: LCC RA651 | NLM WA 950 | DDC 614.4--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019025620

6048

Printed in the United States of America
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Dedication

To my uncle, Grant, who has inspired me throughout my life.

Jamesbin/Shutterstock

Jamesbin/Shutterstock

E pidemiology is sometimes referred to as the basic science of public health. It is a scientifically driven discipline based on systematic observation and analysis of specified populations. The primary aim of epidemiology is to identify causes and risk factors of disease, events, and behaviors so as to successfully prevent and control health problems. Many individuals have helped shape this discipline, from Hippocrates, who attempted to explain disease from a rational perspective; to Thomas Sydenham (2,000 years later, in the 1600s), who studied diseases and epidemics from an observational viewpoint; to William Farr (200 years later, in the 1800s), who organized and developed a modern vital statistics system; to a number of people today who have identified various risk factors for disease, injury, and death and helped describe the natural history of many diseases and advanced methods for conducting epidemiologic research.

Historically, the main causes of death were due to a single pathogen, a single cause of disease. Epidemiologists had the challenge of isolating a single bacterium, virus, or parasite. In modern times, advances in nutrition, housing conditions, sanitation, water supply, antibiotics, and immunization programs have resulted in a decrease in infectious diseases as the primary cause of death, and an increase in many noninfectious diseases and conditions as the primary cause of death. Consequently, the scope of epidemiology has expanded to include the study of acute and chronic noninfectious diseases and conditions. Advances in biology, medicine, statistics, and social and behavioral sciences have greatly aided this progression in epidemiologic study.

This book was written as an introductory epidemiology text for the student who has minimal training in the biomedical sciences and statistics. Introduction to Epidemiology is based on the premise that the advanced analyses of empirical research studies, using advanced statistical methods, are more akin to biostatistics than to epidemiology and, therefore, receive less attention in this book. Many recent books bearing the title of epidemiology are in fact biostatistics books, with limited information on the basics of epidemiological investigations or the study of epidemics. Epidemiology is unique from biostatistics in that emphasis is placed on completing the causal picture in human populations. Identifying causal factors and modes of transmission, with the assistance of statistical tools and biomedical information, reflects the primary aim of epidemiology. This book maintains that focus.

develops epidemiology from a clinical perspective.

The eighth edition of this classic text, like its previous editions, continues its mission of providing a comprehensive introduction to the field of epidemiology. Emphasis is placed on application of the basic principles of epidemiology according to person, place, and time factors so as to solve current, often unexpected, serious public health problems. Direction is given for how to identify and describe health-related states or events, formulate research hypotheses, select appropriate research study designs, manage and analyze epidemiologic data, interpret study results, and apply the results in preventing and controlling disease and health-related events. Real-world public health problems involving both infectious and chronic diseases and conditions are presented throughout the text.