Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of distribution and determinants of health status in human populations. As such, it is the critical scientific discipline underpinning preventative medicine and health promotion. The long-awaited second edition of this very successful text looks at epidemiology from a uniquely Australian perspective, with reference to the latest Australian health data and public health research. It retains the refreshing, jargon-free style that made the first edition so highly regarded by medical students, nurses and students of other health professions. This second edition has been updated and extended to include a new chapter on diagnostic tests, and the sections on statistics have been substantially reorganized and streamlined. Beginning with measures of disease occurrence, the text shows how data sources and patterns of disease in Australia may be used in setting priorities in health care. It covers the basic methods of standardization; the assessment of probable causation; methods of measuring risk; and the principles of research design and strategy. it features an introduction to relevant statistical concepts, and at the end of each chapter, exercises and model answers have been included to illustrate the principles discussed. Highly recommended for all medical and nursing study reading lists.Christie, David is the author of 'Epidemiology' with ISBN 9780868401867 and ISBN 0868401862.