epidemiology
Sign in to saveEpidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent diseases.
AI overview
Epidemiology is the study of how diseases and health conditions spread through populations—looking at who gets sick, when, and where—so that scientists can figure out what causes these patterns. This knowledge helps doctors and public health officials prevent diseases and protect people's health.
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Article
29 sectionsContents
- History
- Modern era
- 21st century
- Types of studies
- Case-control studies
- Cohort studies
- Causal inference
- Bradford Hill criteria
- Legal interpretation
- Population-based health management
- Applied field epidemiology
- Humanitarian context
- Characterization, validity, and bias
- Epidemic wave
- Validities
- Random error
- Systematic error
- Selection bias
- Information bias
- Design-related bias
- Confounding
- The profession
- COVID-19
- See also
- References
- Citations
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent diseases.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. Epidemiologists help with study design, collection, and statistical analysis of data, amend interpretation and dissemination of results (including peer review and occasional systematic review). Epidemiology has helped develop methodology used in clinical research, public health studies, and, to a lesser extent, basic research in the biological sciences.