Principles of Applied Epidemiology

This course applies traditional epidemiologic methods for determining disease etiology to the “real-life” applications of public health and health services research. This course covers the basic epidemiologic methods as related to the practice of public health. Epidemiology is the diagnostic discipline of public health – this course bridges the gap between theoretical epidemiology and public health practice.

Content

The topics covered are basic epidemiologic principles, concepts, and procedures generally used in the surveillance and investigation of health-related events.
Principles of Applied Epidemiology are descriptive and analytic epidemiology, a study of public health surveillance, and a lesson covering outbreak investigation are presented in this course. The course also addresses how to calculate and interpret frequency measures (ratios, proportions and rates) and measures of central tendency, and how to use tables, graphs, and charts to organize, summarize, and display data.

Materials

Portions of this course were developed by the PHTN in collaboration with the Epidemiology Program Office, CDC.

Applied Epidemiology: Theory to Practice
Edited by Ross C. Brownson and Diana B. Petitti

Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, (17th Edition)
Editor: James Chin, MD, MPH, Washington, D.C. An official report of the American Public Health Association, 2000.

Audience

Principles of Applied epidemiology is intended for public health workers, and professionals that use epidemiologic methods and reasoning for disease surveillance or investigation. It will be a practical and informative tool in academic institutions, federal agencies with significant educational missions, state and local public health agencies, and health care organizations.

Prerequisites