Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics

by Szklo, Moyses; Nieto, F. Javier

• ISBN13: 9781449604691
• ISBN10: 1449604692
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-11-07
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Summary

Written for those who are familiar with the basic strategies of analytic epidemiology, Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics takes readers through a more rigorous discussion of key epidemiologic concepts and methods such as study design, measures of association, research assessment, and more. With real-life examples throughout, the book avoids complex statistical formulations and is an invaluable resource for intermediate students and practicing epidemiologists who wish to expand their knowledge of epidemiology and its role in the medical and public health sciences.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xii
About the Authors	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Basic Study Designs in Analytical Epidemiology	p. 3
Introduction: Descriptive and Analytical Epidemiology	p. 3
Analysis of Age, Birth Cohort, and Period Effects	p. 4
Ecologic Studies	p. 14
Studies Based on Individuals as Observation Units	p. 19
References	p. 39
Exercises	p. 42
Measures of Disease Occurrence and Association	p. 45
Measuring Disease Occurrence	p. 47
Introduction	p. 47
Measures of Incidence	p. 49
Measures of Prevalence	p. 71
Odds	p. 73
References	p. 74
Exercises	p. 75
Measuring Associations Between Exposures and Outcomes	p. 79
Introduction	p. 79
Measuring Associations in a Cohort Study	p. 79
Cross-Sectional Studies: Point Prevalence Rate Ratio	p. 90
Measuring Associations in Case-Control Studies	p. 90
Assessing the Strength of Associations	p. 101
References	p. 104
Exercises	p. 105
Threats to Validity and Issues of Interpretation	p. 107
Understanding Lack of Validity: Bias	p. 109
Overview	p. 109
Selection Bias	p. 111
Information Bias	p. 116
Combined Selection/Information Biases	p. 133
References	p. 147
Exercises	p. 150
Identifying Noncausal Associations: Confounding	p. 153
Introduction	p. 153
The Nature of the Association Between the Confounder, the Exposure, and the Outcome	p. 156
Theoretical and Graphical Aids to Frame Confounding	p. 162
Assessing the Presence of Confounding	p. 164
Additional Issues Related to Confounding	p. 171
Conclusion	p. 179
References	p. 180
Exercises	p. 182
Defining and Assessing Heterogeneity of Effects: Interaction	p. 185
Introduction	p. 185
Defining and Measuring Effect	p. 186
Strategies to Evaluate Interaction	p. 186
Assessment of Interaction in Case-Control Studies	p. 196
More on the Interchangeability of the Definitions of Interaction	p. 203
Which is the Relevant Model? Additive Versus Multiplicative Interaction	p. 205
The Nature and Reciprocity of Interaction	p. 207
Interaction, Confounding Effect, and Adjustment	p. 211
Statistical Modeling and Statistical Tests for Interaction	p. 212
Interpreting Interaction	p. 214
Interaction and Search for New Risk Factors in Low-Risk Groups	p. 219
Interaction and "Representativeness" of Associations	p. 221
References	p. 222
Exercises	p. 224
Dealing with Threats to Validity	p. 227
Stratification and Adjustment: Multivariate Analysis in Epidemiology	p. 229
Introduction	p. 229
Stratification and Adjustment Techniques to Disentangle Confounding	p. 230
Adjustment Methods Based on Stratification	p. 234
Multiple Regression Techniques for Adjustment	p. 248
Alternative Approaches for the Control of Confounding	p. 282
Incomplete Adjustment: Residual Confounding	p. 293
Over-Adjustment	p. 295
Conclusion	p. 296
References	p. 301
Exercises	p. 305
Quality Assurance and Control	p. 313
Introduction	p. 313
Quality Assurance	p. 313
Quality Control	p. 318
Indices of Validity and Reliability	p. 328
Regression to the Mean	p. 358
Final Considerations	p. 359
References	p. 360
Exercises	p. 363
Issues of Reporting and Application of Epidemiologic Results	p. 367
Communicating Results of Epidemiologic Studies	p. 369
Introduction	p. 369
What to Report	p. 369
How to Report	p. 373
Conclusion	p. 385
References	p. 386
Exercises	p. 388
Epidemiologic Issues in the Interface with Public Health Policy	p. 391
Introduction	p. 391
Causality: Application to Public Health and Health Policy	p. 392
Decision Tree and Sensitivity Analysis	p. 408
Meta-Analysis	p. 413
Publication Bias	p. 416
Summary	p. 420
References	p. 421
Exercises	p. 426
Standard Errors, Confidence Intervals, and Hypothesis Testing for Selected Measures of Risk and Measures of Association	p. 431
Test for Trend (Dose Response)	p. 455
Test of Homogeneity of Stratified Estimates (Test for Interaction)	p. 459
Quality Assurance and Quality Control Procedures Manual for Blood Pressure Measurement and Blood/Urine Collection in the ARIC Study	p. 461
Calculation of the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient	p. 469
Answers to Exercises	p. 473
Index	p. 501
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