Contents Part OneFundamental Epidemiology Chapter 1 Introduction 1. What is epidemiology? 2. Brief history of epidemiology 3. An overview of methods of epidemiologic studies 4. Goals of epidemiology 5. Natural history of disease 6. Epidemiology and three levels prevention 7. Epidemiology and clinical medicine Summary Study Questions References Chapter 2 Measures in Epidemiology and Sources of Data 1. Introduction to measures in epidemiology 2. Measures of disease occurrence 3. Other descriptive population health measures 4. Sources of data Summary Study Questions References Chapter 3Communicable Diseases 1. What is a communicable disease? 2. Some key concepts of communicable diseases 3. Approaches to the control of communicable disease 4. Infectious disease process 5.The descriptive epidemiology of communicable disease 6. Public health surveillance 7. Epidemic or outbreak investigation Summary Study Questions References Chapter 4Survey and Crosssectional Studies 1. Introduction 2. Steps in designing and conducting a survey 3. Sampling 4. Data gathering approaches 5. Biases in health surveys 6. Advantages and pitfalls associated with crosssectional studies Summary Study Questions References Chapter 5Cohort Studies 1. What is a cohort study 2. Design of cohort study 3. Cohort selection 4. Data collection 5. Analysis and result interpretation 6. Sample size consideration for a cohort study 7. Potential biases in cohort studies 8. Advantages and disadvantages of a cohort study Summary Study Questions References Chapter 6Casecontrol Studies 1. What is casecontrol study? 2. Design of casecontrol study 3. Data analysis 4. Biases in casecontrol study 5. Sample size consideration 6. Advantage and problems of casecontrol study 7. Nested casecontrol study: brief introduction 8. Comparison of characteristics of casecontrol study and cohort study Summary Study Questions References Chapter 7Experimental Studies 1. Introduction 2. Example of clinical trials 3. Study designs for randomized controlled trial 4. Sample size consideration 5. Analysis and result interpretation 6. Advantages and disadvantages of experimental studies and compliance 7. Ethical aspects of experimentation with human subjects 8. Assessing the quality of a trial Summary Study Questions References Chapter 8Association and Causation 1. Concept of cause in epidemiology 2. Association and causal association 3. Evaluating causal association Summary Study Questions References Chapter 9Bias and Confounding 1. Introduction 2. Overview of bias 3. Impact of bias 4. Confounding Summary Study Questions References Chapter 10Screening and Early Detection 1. Introduction to screening and early detection 2. Criteria for establishing a screening program 3. Population screening tools 4. Validity, reliability and error 5. Evaluation of screening programs Summary Study Questions References Part TwoApplications of Epidemiology Chapter 11Application of Epidemiology in Clinical Practice 1. Prognosis 2. Clinical decision analysis 3. Evidencebased medicine References Chapter 12Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology 1. Definitions and distinction 2. Study methods References Chapter 13Application of Epidemiology on Public Health Service 1. Public health and public health operations 2. Epidemiological model of the delivery of health care services 3. Epidemiology and the public policy process 4. Translational research and translational epidemiology References Chapter 14Descriptive Epidemiology in Cancer: Measures of the Cancer Burden 1. Cancer incidence and prevalence 2. Cancer mortality 3. Survival rates 4. Temporal trends 5. Geographic variation of cancer References