Epidemiology for Canadian Students

Epidemiology for Canadian Students introduces students to the principles and methods of epidemiology and critical appraisal, all grounded within a Canadian context. This context is crucial--epidemiologic research in Canada most often uses data from Canadian registries, Canadian special purpose cohorts, provincial health administrators, national statistical agencies and other sources that will be important to Canadian students during their careers.

Dr. Scott Patten draws on more than 20 years’ experience teaching epidemiology to present core concepts in a conversational tone and pragmatic sequence. This introductory textbook is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students, health professionals and trainees.

About Scott Patten

Dr. Scott Patten obtained an MD from the University of Alberta in 1986, and subsequently completed an FRCPC in psychiatry (1991) and a PhD in epidemiology (1994) at the University of Calgary. He is a professor in the department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary and is a senior health scholar with Alberta Innovates, Health Solutions. He has over 20 years experience teaching epidemiology and supervising graduate students. As a researcher, he has published more than 400 scientific papers and is the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.

Table of Contents
Cover	1
Contents	6
PART I FIRST PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY	8
1 What is epidemiology?	9
2 Epidemiological reasoning	17
PART II FUNDAMENTAL DESCRIPTIVE PARAMETERS	28
3 Basic measures based on frequencies and rates	29
4 Specialized mortality rates and composite measures of disease burden	42
PART III VULNERABILITY TO ERROR OF DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES	58
5 Random error from sampling	59
6 Measurement error that leads to misclassification	72
7 Misclassification bias in descriptive studies	84
8 Selection error and selection bias in descriptive studies	91
9 Confounding in descriptive studies	102
PART IV STUDY DESIGNS AND THEIR VULNERABILITY TO ERROR	118
10 Cross-sectional studies	119
11 Case-control studies	132
12 Differential and nondifferential misclassification bias in analytical studies	151
13 Prospective cohort studies	158
14 Confounding and effect modification in analytical studies	171
15 Stratified analysis and regression modelling in analytical studies	187
16 Other study designs	202
17 Other measures of association in epidemiology	215
PART V EVALUATING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES	222
18 Causal judgement in epidemiology	223
19 Steps in critical appraisal	233
Answers to questions	251
Glossary	271
References	282
Index	291

About Scott Patten

Table of Contents

Epidemiology for Canadian Students, 2nd ed.

Principles, Methods and Critical Appraisal

Book details