What is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the method used to find the causes of health outcomes and diseases in populations. In epidemiology, the patient is the community and individuals are viewed collectively. By definition, epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global). It is also the application of this study to the control of health problems (Source: Principles of Epidemiology, 3rd Edition).
What public health problems or events are investigated?
Environmental exposures |
|
---|---|
Infectious diseases |
|
Injuries |
|
Non-infectious diseases |
|
Natural disasters |
|
Terrorism |
|
- Page last reviewed: June 17, 2016
- Page last updated: June 17, 2016
- Content source: