A Dictionary of Epidemiology [Paperback]

Miquel Porta (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195314506 | ISBN-13: 978-0195314502 | Publication Date: July 3, 2008 | Edition: 5

The new, completely revised, and updated edition of this classic text --sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association (IEA) and previously edited by John Last-- remains the definitive dictionary in epidemiology worldwide. In fact, with contributions from over 220 epidemiologists and other users of epidemiology from around the globe, it is more than a dictionary: it includes explanations and comments on both core epidemiologic terms and on other scientific terms relevant to all professionals in clinical medicine and public health, as well as to professionals in the other health, life, and social sciences. Anyone seeking clarity on epidemiologic and methodological definitions important to human health will find it here. On the eve of a field trip to a foreign land, a health scientist remarked that if he had to limit his professional library to one volume on epidemiology, this would be the book he would choose.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This dictionary is a crucial addtion to any library or epidemiologist's bookshelf."--CHOICE

"...the Fifth Edition of A Dictionary of Epidemiology is an important and welcome source of authoritative information. It will undoubtedly be widely consulted by students, health practitioners and researchers in a multitude of social sciences and health-related disciplines."--Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

"The Dictionary can be of interest to a wide audience of people, scientists or not, who either just discovered or are familiar with epidemiology. This short and handy dictionary is definitely a creative knowledge object."--Preventive Medicine

"This is an absolute mine of information... The reach of this book is enormous and I for one will always have it on the lowest of my book shelves within easy reach... This is an excellent way of refreshing, revising and reminding yourself when memory has faded a little. It is in short a ''must have'' for any serious epidemiologist or student of epidemiology.."--Public Health

"....a good first reference to arbitrate discussions of definition. New students found definitions from the book to be approachable and quite clear. Students further along in their studies appreciated the straightforward definitions."--American Journal of Epidemiology

"...an important and welcome source of authoritative information. It will undoubtedly be widely consulted by students, health practitioners and researchers in a multitude of social sciences and health-related disciplines."--Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

About the Author

Miquel Porta is Professor and Head of the Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of Cancer Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigaci Do Medica; Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universitat Aut Donoma de Barcelona; Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 5 edition (July 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195314506
• ISBN-13: 978-0195314502
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,100 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
(REAL NAME)   

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.