Epidemiology is the study of the changing patterns of disease and its main aim is to improve the health of populations. It's a vital field, central to the health of society, to the identification of causes of disease, and to their management and prevention. Epidemiology has had an impact on many areas of medicine; from discovering the relationship between tobacco smoking and lung cancer, to the origin and spread of new epidemics. However, it is often poorly understood, largely due to misrepresentations in the media. In this Very Short Introduction Rodolfo Saracci dispels some of the myths surrounding the study of epidemiology. He provides a general explanation of the principles behind clinical trials, and explains the nature of basic statistics concerning disease. He also looks at the ethical and political issues related to obtaining and using information concerning patients, and trials involving placebos.
CONCIOUSNESS A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
SUSAN BLACKMORE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MARINE BIOLOGY A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
PHILIP V. MLADENOV
THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
WILLIAM BYNUM
The History of Life A Very Short Introduction
MICHAEL J. BENTON
CELL A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
TERENCE ALLEN
Astrobiology A Very Short Introduction
DAVID C. CATLING
FOOD A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
JOHN KERBS
Genes A Very Short Introduction
JONATHAN SLACK
Fill up your details to notify you when this book will be available