Epidemiologic speculations and research findings increasingly blaze across media headlines and heighten anxiety among the public. Understanding the foundations of such news can be daunting. Now in its third edition, Epidemiology for Public Health Practice has become a favorite textbook for undergraduate and graduate students new to epidemiology by providing a comprehensive look at all major topics, from study designs and descriptive epidemiology, to quantitative measures and terminology. Distinguishing itself from other texts with its accessible writing style and immediacy of information presented, the Third Edition has been extensively revised, with updated data and statistics essential to understanding the importance of epidemiology to public health.

Ch. 1 History and Scope of Epidemiology 1 Ch. 2 Practical Applications of Epidemiology 49 Ch. 3 Measures of Morbidity and Mortality Used in Epidemiology 93 Ch. 4 Descriptive Epidemiology: Person, Place, Time 141 Ch. 5 Sources of Data for Use in Epidemiology 203 Ch. 6 Study Designs: Ecologic, Cross-Sectional, Case-Control 241 Ch. 7 Study Designs: Cohort Studies 283 Ch. 8 Experimental Study Designs 327 Ch. 9 Measures of Effect 361 Ch. 10 Data Interpretation Issues 385 Ch. 11 Screening for Disease in the Community 409 Ch. 12 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases 437 Ch. 13 Epidemiologic Aspects of Work and the Environment 489 Ch. 14 Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology 529 Ch. 15 Psychologic, Behavioral, and Social Epidemiology 575 Ch. 16 Epidemiology as a Profession 613 Appendix A Guide to the Critical Appraisal of an Epidemiologic/Public Health Research Article 635 Appendix B Answers to Selected Study Questions 641 Glossary 651 Index 668