A Dictionary of Epidemiology [Paperback]

John M. Last (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0195141695 | ISBN-13: 978-0195141696 | Edition: 4

Dictionary making never ends because languages are always changing. Widely used throughout the world, this book will continue to serve as the standard English-language dictionary of epidemiology in its Fourth Edition. It covers all the common terms used in epidemiology and many from related fields such as biostatistics, infectious disease control, health promotion, genetics, clinical epidemiology, health economics, and medical ethics. The definitions are clear and concise, but there is space for some brief essays and discussions of the provenance of important terms. Sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association, the dictionary represents the consensus of epidemiologists in many different countries. All the definitions were reviewed repeatedly by an international network of contributors from every major branch of epidemiology. They are authoritative without being authoritarian. The Fourth Edition contains well over 150 new entries and substantial revisions of about the same number of definitions, plus a dozen new illustrations. Many of the new terms relate to methods used in environmental and clinical epidemiology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From reviews of previous editions:

"This book needs no recommendation as its predecessor has already made its name. We should thank Professor Last and all his contributors for providing us with such a useful tool."--International Journal of Epidemiology

"The production of a second edition of A Dictionary of Epidemiology after only five years is a tribute to its success and a function of the rate of change of both the subject matter and the methods of epidemiological research...Buy the book. You will not regret it."--Canadian Journal of Public Health

"Reflects an impressive array of contributors....A most useful help to precision in the use of epidemiological terms and ought to find a place on most library and department shelves."--British Medical Journal

"A unique and authoritative source of reference that should be widely available wherever epidemiological work is being undertaken."--Community Health Studies

"Many definitions are substantially more informative that their standard dictionary counterparts."--Annals of Internal Medicine

"Consider this an essential companion to serious reading of the medical literature."--Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine

"Last has performed a great service for students and professionals alike....A reference book that few college libraries--and certainly no medical library--will want to be without."--Choice

About the Author

John M. Last is at University of Ottawa.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 4 edition (December 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195141695
• ISBN-13: 978-0195141696
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great help to resident, February 16, 2002

By 

Zeyad Morcos "Zeyad" (Fall River, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Dictionary of Epidemiology (Paperback)

As a resident, I frequently prepared journal clubs, where we have to carefully discuss and scrutinize studies. I gained some introduction from "Appleton and Lange's Review of Epidemiology and Biostatistics for the USMLE". But preparing for journal clubs was quite different. There are many of statistical and epidemiological terminology in each article, some I am familiar with, but others are confusing and new. In this very helpful "dictionary" I was able to find more than 95% of the terms with brief definition and good short explanation that successfully allowed me to soundly evaluate the studies and prepare an impressive brief, neat handouts. The great thing about this dictionary was its well organization and ease to find what you are looking for. My friends frequently borrowed when they have to prepare their journal clubs, and found it really helpful.
It is a dictionary; i.e., arranged alphabetically sequencing the terms, and if a term has more than one name, they mention them all, before the explanation.
I highly recommended to every resident, as it will not only will help during residency, but also surely during real life and practice, especially a with hundreds of "trials, studies" appears in medical journal daily.
I gave it four not five stars, because few explanation were rather short, despite informative, and lack of illustration and pictures, which may require you to use a regular textbook in Epidemiology, this happened maybe almost 1 from every 10 terms.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The" dictionary of epidemiology, June 12, 2000

By 

Edward Panacek "agentornange" (Orangevale, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Dictionary of Epidemiology (Paperback)

One of the major problems with studying the field of epidemiology is the inconsistency of terminology that is used. This is because the field is relatively young, is actively evolving and has developed from multiple other disciplines including the social sciences as well as the medical sciences and statistics. As a result, it can be both confusing and frustrating for the student. This dictionary is the "bible" of terminology for the fireld, in part because there is no other. This should be an absolute requirement for the shelf of every student in the field of epidemiology. Even experienced epidemiologists are encouraged to have a copy for reference purposes. The only caution is that a new edition is due out soon. It can only be better than the first edition. Get it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new edition that incorporates the most recent developments in epidemiology, November 24, 2008

By 

Alfredo Morabia - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Dictionary of Epidemiology (Paperback)

The Dictionary of Epidemiology, sponsored by the International Epidemiology Association, is a 290-page book containing approximately 2600 definitions of words, acronyms and concepts used in epidemiology. It comprises a short reader guide on how best to use the Dictionary, and a reference section complemented by a bibliography.
Compared to the four previous editions, the fifth edition incorporates the developments of epidemiologic activity over the last ten years: evidence-based medicine, genetic epidemiology, causal models and graphs. The Dictionary can be of interest to a wide audience of people, scientists or not, who either just discovered or are familiar with epidemiology.